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 and 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 underrepresent 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)
• Inclusiveness 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 an active, rather than passive, participant in the 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, ablconnect, Harvard University.
• Active Learning, Center for Teaching, Vanderbilt University
• Active Learning, Cornell University Center for Teaching Excellence
• Active Learning, Everett Community College
• Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom, Charles C. Bonwell and James A. Eison, Purdue University.
• The Importance of Deep Reading, ASCD
• Eight Ways to Defuse Student Resistance, Rebecca Brent, Richard Felder, Resources for Teaching and Learning STEM
• How can I set the stage for Student Engagement in an Active Learning Classroom, From the First Day?, 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, M. Borrego, M. Prince, K. Nguyen, P. Shekhar, C. Finelli, C. Waters, Springer Link

Relevant Books

• Barkley, E. F., (2009). Student Engagement Techniques: A Handbook for College Faculty, Jossey-Bass. Available at CIIA & 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 CIIA & 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 CIIA & 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.

Also, 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 their 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, 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. ABL Connect, Harvard University.
• Active Reading Documents, Active Reading Documents are carefully prepared forms that guide students through the process of critical and careful reading, a video provided by The K. Patricia Cross Academy.
• Classroom Activities for Active Learning, Center for Faculty Excellence, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
• Teaching Methods Overview - Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning, University of Central Florida. List of examples of different teaching methods for use in 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

• Interactive Lectures: Summaries of 36 Formats, The Thiagi Group
• Interactive Lecture Techniques, Carleton College
• Lectures At a Glance, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Lecture Activity Database, ablconnect, Harvard University
• 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!, A video provided by The K. Patricia Cross Academy
• Also see: Student Response Systems (Teaching Handbook)

ABCD Voting Cards

• Using ABCD Cards, Georgianne Connell, WWU
• How to Use ConcepTests with ABCD Cards, Carleton College
• Use of Note Cards in the Classroom, Yale Center for Teaching and Learning
• Downloadable Apps (see details: ABCD Cards App@WWU)
  • App for iOS Devices, Apple iTunes (made by CIIA, WWU)
  • App for Android Devices, Google Play (made by CIIA, WWU)

IF AT Cards

• Personalizing Learning with Branching Google Forms, Shawn McCusker
• Immediate Feedback Assessment Technique, CognaLearn
• IF-AT aka Scratch Cards, LearnTBL
• Order IF-AT Forms, CognaLearn

Mini White Boards

• 8 Great Ways to Use Whiteboards in the Classroom, Liz's Lessons

Backchanneling

• The Backchannel: Giving Every Student a Voice in the Blended Mobile Classroom, Edutopia
• Backchannel in Education - Nine Uses, Agile Learning
• Back Channeling in the Classroom, WhatEdSaid
• 10 Ways to Use Backchannels in Your Classroom, Educational Technology and Mobile Learning

Pause Procedure

• Effective Use of the Pause Procedure to Enhance Student Engagement and Learning, by Bachhel & Thaman, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
• Pause Procedure, a brief overview at National Institute for Science Education
• Using the Pause Procedure to Enhance Lecture Recall, by Ruhl, Hughes, & Scholss, Teacher Education and Special Education

Muddiest Point

• Muddiest Point Activities, (Pages 14-17) Texas Tech 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 Maps: Research Summary, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Concept Maps Examples, ablconnect, Harvard University

Student Presentations

• Research on Student Presentations, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Student Presentations At a Glance, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Student Presentations Activity Database, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Three-Minute Message, a video provided by the K. Patricia Cross Academy

Peer Instruction

• Research on Peer Instruction, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Peer Instruction At a Glance, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Peer Instruction Activity Database, ablconnect, Harvard University

Low Stakes Assignments

• Low Stakes Assignments, Depaul University
• Benefits of Low Stakes Writing, excerpt from Assigning and Responding to Writing in Disciplines

Collaborative Testing

• Collaborative Testing: Evidence of Learning in a Controlled In-Class Study of Undergraduate Students, Univ. of British Columbia
• The Effects of Collaborative Testing, FacultyFocus.com
• Test-Taking Teams, The K. Patricia Cross Academy
• 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: A Revised "How-To" Guide, University of Arizona
• At a Glance: Want to Try Pair and Share in Your Class? ablconnect, Harvard University
• Pair and Share Activity Database, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Research on Pair and Share, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Think-Pair-Share, The K. Patricia Cross Academy

Jigsaw

• Jigsaws, Carleton College
• Jigsaw, The K. Patricia Cross Academy
• Jigsaw At a Glance, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Jigsaw Examples, list of ideas by topic from ablconnect, Harvard University
• Jigsaw Tutorial, video from ablconnect, Harvard University
• The Jigsaw Classroom, An overview with 10 Easy Steps and tips for implementation, Social Psychology Network.
• Jigsaw Strategy, Penn State University
• Jigsaw Strategy: Instructional Strategy for Active Learning and Motivation (Instructional Video), ReflectionEdu
• Why Use Jigsaw (Research on Activity Types), ablconnect, Harvard University

Debate

• Arguing to Learn in Science: The Role of Collaborative, Critical Discourse by Jonathan Osborne, Science, Apr 2010.
• Debate, a summary of research from ablconnect, Harvard University.
• Debate at a Glance: Want to Try Debate in Your Class? from ablconnect, Harvard University
• Examples, list of debate ideas by course/topic from ablconnect, Harvard University
• In-Class Debates: Fertile Ground for Active Learning and the Cultivation of Critical Thinking and Oral Communication Skills, by Ruth Kennedy, International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 2007.
• Let's Debate: Active Learning Encourages Student Participation and Critical Thinking, by Andrew Oros, Journal of Political Science Education, Sep 2007.
• Using Debate to Develop Empowered Learning in the Classroom: A Prescription, by Fisher, LaPointe, Peterson & White, University of Vermont

Speed Dating

• Speed Dating at a Glance: Want to Try Speed Dating in Your Class? ablconnect, Harvard University
• Speed Dating Video Tutorial, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Speed Dating Ideas and Examples, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Research on Speed Dating, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Also see: Discussion Strategies (Teaching Handbook)

More Ideas

• Discussion at a Glance: Want to Facilitate Discussion in Your Section? ablconnect, Harvard University
• Discussion at a Glance: Want to Facilitate Discussion in Your Lecture Class? ablconnect, Harvard University
• Discussion Ideas and Examples, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Research on Discussion, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Also see: Discussion Strategies (Teaching Handbook)

Tools & Approaches for Immersive Experiences

Case Studies

How to Use Case Studies

• Case Writing Guide, Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, Penn State.
• How to Lead a Case-Based Instruction, Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation, Carnegie Mellon University.
• Quick Tips for Case Writing, Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology.
• Teaching with Case Studies, Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology. Includes examples, strategies for writing cases, and teaching tips.

How to Write a Case Study

• Writing Teaching Cases, Emerald Publishing.
• Writing Teaching Cases: A Quick Reference Guide, The University of Hong Kong.

Samples and Examples

• Case Study Activity Database, example case studies with lesson plans from ablconnect, Harvard University.
• The Washington Center Casebook, Case stories available for use.

Role-Plays, Simulations and Games

Role Plays and Simulations

• Enhanced Learning through Role-Playing, by Gail Schumann, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
• Role-Playing Exercises, Rebecca Teed, Science Education Resource Center, Carlton College.
• Role Play, The K. Patricia Cross Academy
• Research on Using Role Play, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Role Play Activity Database, ablconnect, Harvard University

Games

• Games at a Glance: Want to Use Games in Your Class?, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Game Ideas & Examples, ablconnect, Harvard University
• Research on Using Games, 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 tops to implement project-based learning into classrooms.
• Why Teach with Project-Based Learning?, Edutopia. Includes videos about project-based learning and an article on project-based learning in classrooms.
• 5 Keys to Rigorous Project-Based Learning, Edutopia
• Also see: Collaborative Learning (Peer/Group Work) (Teaching Handbook)

Problem-Based Learning

• A Problem-Based Approach for Management Education: Preparing Managers for Action, Springerlink
• Problem-Based Learning: An Introduction, National Teaching and Learning Forum.
• Also see: Collaborative Learning (Peer/Group Work) (Teaching Handbook)

Inquiry-Based Learning

• Guided Inquiry (eBook), Google Books, by Carol C. Kuhlthau, Leslie K. Maniotes, Ann K. Caspari
• Also see: Inquiry-based 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 Ideas and Examples, ablconnect, 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, EducationDive

Service Learning (Civic Engagement)

• Campus Compact - Searchable database of syllabi by discipline with examples of lesson plans and syllabi that integrate community-based learning
• Also see: Civic Engagement and Service Learning (Teaching Handbook)