Nancy Sutton

Interaction is key - student-student interaction and student-instructor interaction.  

I think the biggest takeaway was the reality of inactive learning.  Many times, if a student becomes disengaged, it is due to personal situations beyond the instructor's control.  In my program, most of our students are returning students.  Our average age is in the mid-30s.  So, life can take over for a student.  However, it is critical that we (as instructors) assess any disengagement carefully to determine if we can make a modification to re-engage the student. 

Another important point that was made included that not all class groupings are the same.  We all know not all students are the… >>>

Passive learning (e.g., a good lecture), still has its place.  In my discipline, I find students need some structured lectures to help with concepts and new vocabulary.  They can't truly engage in active learning without understanding the foundations.  So, I think passive learning is most helpful at the beginning of a unit/module.

Also, I liked the distinction between passive learning and inactive learning.

Active learning can be the key to a student's success and retention of information.  Active learning involves engagement by the students.  While I try to incorporate active learning into the courses, I am always looking for new ways to expand or mix it up for students.