Active Learning Toolkit

What & Why - What is Active Learning and Why is it Important?

What is Active Learning?

Active learning is an instructional approach that "involves students in doing things and thinking about the things they are doing" (Bonwell & Eison, 1991, p.2). Active learning engages students in activities beyond reading, listening, or watching to deepen their learning and connection with the material.

Students engaged in active learning often are:

Talking with each other in small groups or large discussions
Developing skills rather than memorizing information
Using higher order thinking
Doing something physical
Constructing knowledge or artifacts

Why Is It Important?

Active learning improves student success.

Students learn the material, perform better on exams, and are 1.5 times less likely to fail than students in classes with traditional lectures (Freeman, et.al, 2014).
The achievement gap for underrepresented student populations, including minorities and first-generation students, is decreased (Eddy and Hogan, 2014 and Haak et.al. 2001).
Students feel more personally invested in the material and their own learning when they are actively engaged (Svinicki, 2016).
Inclusivity is enhanced through active learning by engaging a variety of learning modes or styles.

Active learning acts as formative assessment and can:

Provide valuable feedback to instructors about what students do and do not understand
Help students become more self-aware of their own learning progress

With roots in constructivist learning theory, the primary benefit of active learning is that it makes students active, rather than passive, participants in the process of assimilating new information (Bransford, et.al., 1999) and leverages the power of social interaction, especially when students work with their peers to solve problems or create artifacts (Vygotsky, 1978).

Resources

Academic Research Articles

Eddy, S.L. & Hogan, K.A. (2014). Getting under the hood: How and for whom does increase course structure work? CBE—Life Sciences Education, 13, 453-468.
Freeman, A., Eddy, S.L., McDonough, M., Smith, M.K., Okoroafor, N., Jordt, H., & Wenderoth, M.P. (2014). Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Haak, D.C., HilleRisLambers, J., Pitre, E., & Freeman, S. (2011). Increased structure and active learning reduce the achievement gap in introductory biology, Science, 332(6034), 1213-6.
Stahlheim-Smith, A. (1998). Focusing on active, meaningful learning, Idea Paper 34, The Idea Center.
Svinicki, M.D. (2016). Motivation: An updated analysis, Idea Paper #59, The Idea Center.

Articles for Educators

Active Learning/Activity-Based Learning Website — ABL-Connect, Harvard University
Active Learning — Center for Teaching, Vanderbilt University
Active Learning — Cornell University Center for Teaching Excellence
Active Learning — University of Connecticut
Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom — Charles C. Bonwell and James A. Eison, Purdue University
The Importance of Deep Reading — ISTE+ASCD
Eight Ways to Defuse Student Resistance — Rebecca Brent and Richard Felder, Resources for Teaching and Learning STEM
What Are Some Strategies for the First Day of Class, to Set the Stage for Student Engagement? — Stephanie Chasteen, University of Colorado Boulder
Learner-Centered Instruction Promotes Student Success — The Journal
- In this article, Northface University is used as an example of how project-based learning and other learner-centered instruction has helped students succeed. The article describes multiple forms of project-based and learner-centered types of instruction.
Strategies to Mitigate Student Resistance to Active Learning — S. Tharayil et al., Springer Link

Relevant Books

Barkley, E. F., (2009). Student Engagement Techniques: A Handbook for College Faculty, Jossey-Bass.
- Available at CII & Western Libraries.
Bean, John C., (1996) Engaging Ideas: The Professor's Guide to Integrating Writing, Critical Thinking, and Active Learning in the Classroom, Jossey-Bass.
- Available at CII & Western Libraries.
MacGregor, Jean, Strategies for Energizing Large Classes: From Small Groups to Learning Communities: New Directions for Teaching and Learning, Jossey-Bass, 2000.
Silberman, Mel, (1996) Active Learning: 101 Strategies to Teach Any Subject Pearson, 1996.
- Available at CII & Western Libraries.
Stanley, Christine A., Engaging Large Classes: Strategies and Techniques for College Faculty, Jossey-Bass, 2002.
Weimer, Maryellen, Learner-Centered Teaching: Five Key Changes to Practice, Jossey-Bass, 2002.

How To - Getting Started Using Active Learning Strategies

Start Small

Choose a tool that seems comfortable for a single class session, or even just part of a class session, rather than trying to redesign an entire course. For example, you might first look for a tool that will help you make your lectures more interactive instead of trying to replace lectures with activities. Then work your way up to more immersive experiences for your students.

Feel free to alter ideas to suit your needs; think of instructions as guidelines or suggestions rather than rules. Adjusting tools to fit your own personality, as well as the content, class structure, and student demographics, will increase students' potential for success.

Plan Ahead

Consider logistics like time, space, and materials. Determine how you will frame the activity, what explanations and directions you will offer, and what content students need prior to the activity in order to be successful. Think about using Flipped Teaching, where students access lecture materials through videos or online content prior to class to free up time for active learning.

Provide a Framework

Explain to students what you are doing and why you are doing it. This not only helps build rapport and classroom climate, it enhances students’ metacognition and increases chances for success with the activity.

Debrief

After the activity, let students discuss the experience with each other and with you. You’ll get feedback about both the process and the learning outcomes of the activity that can inform your next steps in the course content and instructional approaches.

Active Learning Ideas

Activity Information — ABL Connect, Harvard University
- A list of several active learning ideas with at-a-glance descriptions, examples, and supporting research
- Includes case study, concept maps, discussions, games, jigsaw, think-pair-share, role play, and more
Active Reading Documents — The K. Patricia Cross Academy, University of Alabama
- Active Reading Documents are carefully prepared forms that guide students through the process of critical and careful reading
Resource: Active Learning — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Teaching Methods Overview — Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning, University of Central Florida
- List of examples of different teaching methods for use in the classroom, including active-learning, case-based learning, collaborative learning, and interactive teaching
- Includes a large section (about halfway down the page) covering various tips for active lectures

Tools & Approaches for Interactive Lecturing

General Tips on Interactive Lecturing

Engaging and Interactive Lecture Strategies — University of Iowa
Interactive Lecture Techniques — Carleton College
Interactive Lecturing — Elon University
Active Learning Strategies for Interactive Lecture — University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Research on Lectures — ABLConnect, Harvard University

Student Response Systems

Classroom Response Systems Guide — Vanderbilt University
- Includes types of questions, activities, and examples
Designing Effective Questions for Classroom Response System Teaching — Ian Beatty et. al, University of Massachusetts
Translate That! — The K. Patricia Cross Academy
See also: Student Response Systems (Teaching Handbook)

ABCD Voting Cards

Using ABCD Cards — Georgianne Connell, WWU
How to Use ConcepTests with ABCD Cards — Carleton College
ABCD Cards in a Virtual or In-Person Classroom — TLCo-op, Western Washington University
Downloadable Apps (see details: ABCD Cards App@WWU)
- App for iOS Devices — Apple iTunes (made by CII, WWU)
- App for Android Devices — Google Play (made by CII, WWU)

Muddiest Point

Muddiest Points — Arizona State University

Exit Slips

A Favorite Formative Assessment: The Exit Slip — Edutopia

Tools & Approaches for Active Assignments

Concept Maps

Concept Maps At-A-Glance — ABLConnect, Harvard University
Concept Map — ABLConnect, Harvard University
Concept Mapping — Stanford University

Student Presentations

Presentations — ABLConnect, Harvard University
Student Presentations and Strategies for Audience Engagement: Guides & Tips — Boston University
Presentation Tips — University of Washington
Three-Minute Message — The K. Patricia Cross Academy, University of Alabama

Peer Instruction

Peer Instruction — ABLConnect, Harvard University
Using Peer Instruction to Improve Student Learning — Harvard Graduate School of Education
Peer Learning in Education: Overview, Benefits, and Examples — Western Governors University

Low Stakes Assignments

Low Stakes Assignments — DePaul University
Low-Stakes Writing Activities from the Center for Teaching — University of Iowa

Collaborative Testing

Collaborative Testing: Evidence of Learning in a Controlled In-Class Study of Undergraduate Students — University of British Columbia
The Effects of Collaborative Testing — FacultyFocus.com
Test-Taking Teams — The K. Patricia Cross Academy, University of Alabama
Variations of the Group Quiz that Promote Collaborative Learning, Indiana University — Purdue University

Tools & Approaches for Facilitating Discussion

Gallery Walk

What is Gallery Walk? — Carleton College
Why Use Gallery Walk? — Carleton College
How to Use Gallery Walk — Carleton College
Gallery Walk — The Teacher Toolkit

Think-Pair-Share

Think Pair Share — Arizona State University
Think-Pair-Share — Harvard University
Think, Pair, Share — Kent State University
Pair and Share — ABLConnect, Harvard University
Think-Pair-Share — The K. Patricia Cross Academy, University of Alabama

Jigsaw

Jigsaws — Carleton College
Jigsaw — The K. Patricia Cross Academy, University of Alabama
Jigsaw — ABLConnect, Harvard University
Using Jigsaws to Facilitate Small-Group Discussions — Harvard Graduate School of Education
Jigsaw (Active Learning Strategy) — Arizona State University
The Jigsaw Classroom — Social Psychology Network
- 10 Easy Steps and tips for implementation
Jigsaw Strategy — Penn State University
Boosting Student Belonging with the Jigsaw Technique — Edutopia
Jigsaw — ABLConnect, Harvard University

Debate

Arguing to Learn in Science: The Role of Collaborative, Critical Discourse — Jonathan Osborne, Science, Apr 2010
Debate — ABLConnect, Harvard University
Debate At-A-Glance — ABLConnect, Harvard University
Interesting Debate Topics for College Students for 2026: Education, Technology & Politics — Imed Bouchrika, Research.com
Using Debate as a Tool to Augment Learning Across the Curriculum — Metropolitan State University of Denver
Let's Debate: Active Learning Encourages Student Participation and Critical Thinking — Andrew Oros, Journal of Political Science Education, Sep. 2007
Debate Central — Alfred Snider
Using Debate to Develop Empowered Learning in the Classroom: A Prescription — Fisher et al., University of Vermont

Speed Dating

Dissertation Speed Dating — University of Sussex
6 Ways to Use Speed Dating in Your Classroom — Write on with Ms. G.
Speed Dating Topic Sentences — ABLConnect, Harvard University
Speed Dating — ABLConnect, Harvard University

More Ideas

Facilitating Discussion — Ohio State University
Discussion Protocols — Harvard University
Discussions — University of Washington
Discussion — ABLConnect, Harvard University
See also: Discussion Strategies (Teaching Handbook)

Tools & Approaches for Immersive Experiences

Case Studies

How to Use Case Studies

Case Studies — Pennsylvania State University
How to Lead a Case-Based Instruction — Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation, Carnegie Mellon University
Using Case Studies — Pennsylvania State University
Teaching with Cases — Harvard Business Impact

How to Write a Case Study

Writing Teaching Cases — Emerald Publishing
Writing Teaching Cases: A Quick Reference Guide — University of Hong Kong

Samples and Examples

Case Teaching — Harvard Graduate School of Education
Classic Ways to Teach Cases — Evergreen State College

Role-Plays, Simulations and Games

Role Plays and Simulations

Enhanced Learning through Role-Playing — Gail Schumann, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Role-Playing Exercises — Rebecca Teed, Science Education Resource Center, Carlton College
Role Play — The K. Patricia Cross Academy, University of Alabama
Role Play — ABLConnect, Harvard University
Role Playing — Northern Illinois University

Games

Want to Use Games in Your Class? — ABLConnect, Harvard University
Why Games? — Harvard University
Game — ABLConnect, Harvard University

Project-Based Learning

Free Project Based Learning Resources — 21st Century Educational Technology & Learning
Motivating Students Through Project-Based Service Learning — The Journal
- This article uses California schools as examples to show how project-based learning has motivated students
What Is Project Based Learning — PBL-Online
- Includes strategies, example projects, and strategies for project design
Project-Based Learning — Tech & Learning
- This article provides tips for implementing project-based learning into the classroom
Why Teach with Project-Based Learning?: Providing Students with a Well-Rounded Classroom Experience — Edutopia
- Includes videos about project-based learning and an article on project-based learning in classrooms
5 Keys to Rigorous Project-Based Learning — Edutopia
See also: Collaborative Learning (Peer/Group Work) (Teaching Handbook)

Problem-Based Learning

A Problem-Based Approach for Management Education: Preparing Managers for Action [Book] — Philip Hallinger and Edwin M. Bridges
Problem-Based Learning: An Introduction — National Teaching and Learning Forum
See also: Collaborative Learning (Peer/Group Work) (Teaching Handbook)

Inquiry-Based Learning

Guided Inquiry [eBook] — Kuhlthau et al.
See also: Inquiry-B ased Learning (Teaching Handbook) and Inquiry-Based Learning (Innovative Teaching Showcase)

Field Trips (Real or Virtual)

Teaching Outside the Classroom — Center for Teaching, Vanderbilt University
Field Trip At-A-Glance — Harvard University
The Promise of Virtual Reality in Higher Education — Educause
3 Tips for Going Beyond the Virtual Field Trip — Campus Technology
10 Virtual Field Trip Options for Schools — K-12 Dive

Service Learning (Civic Engagement)

Syllabi Library — Campus Compact
- Searchable database of syllabi by discipline with examples of lesson plans and syllabi that integrate community-based learning
See also: Civic Engagement and Service Learning (Teaching Handbook)