Active learning is needed, but I am not sure it should redefine the instructor's role. I think the instructor should at times be a mentor, coach, facillitator and at times the instructor should continue to provide instruction through lector. This is as important as it teaches listening skills and gives the student the most important info that the instructor as determined to be best.
Very informative section. I have taught in higher education at a university for over 7 years, and we had to do PPT's/ lecture format. It was only due to Covid 19 that all the instructors had to transition online. Initially it was a stressful, overwhelming transition, however now I'm much more used to it. I have given the students lecture assignments and videos to watch to engage them and help promote active-learning. They are also required to respond to a weekly discussion board prompt and respond to 2 peers in the class. This course has given me a few more ideas.
While I have used many active learning strategies in the F2F setting, I now need to figure out how to adapt those methods and try new methods in the online environment. I think this is where the ongoing course evaluation comes in. Try an active learning strategy and get feedback from the students on how it was received / was it effective?
Active learning techniques can provide with the opportunity to involve and engage students more and more and make them responsible for their own learning with the help and guidance of the instructor.
Dr. Anton Hawatmeh
Active learning is a great way to get students involved, and be accountable for their own learning.
Keeping students engaged and active can be a challenge in an online environment.
Learning does not have to be boring. Students want to active participants in their own learning.
I learned the importance for an instructor to understand that in active learning we are facilitators, students become more responsible of their learning.
The online environment can be difficult. The course content needs to "capture" the student. Traditional lecturing should be done with many intervals. In an active learning environment the responsibility for learning is put on the student.
Active learning is what online teachers should be creating for students. Yes, students are responsible for actively using the materials we provided for them online and participating in discussions. As Online instructors we are to keep providing them with comments and encouraging students as they complete their online program.
In active learning, the student takes on more responsibility for his/her own learning. This should result in the student being more engaged with the content and facilitate the learning process.
Students taking an active interest in their learning seems like a simple concept, but often I have seen them waiting to be handed information rather then taking the lead to discover. It is difficult to get those students to interact as they feel that they are there to absorb and regurgitate rather than interact and participate.
In an active learning environment, the facilitator attempts to have the student turn on their lighbulb. Do activities that force the student to critically think.
Active learning online is one of the most important means of teaching. Utilizing technology such as a simple drawing program can make active learning come alive by allowing the student to take control of your computer and (for example) draw the connecting wires to a circuit in an electrical photo.
In active learning I love the fact that you get to share problem solving and role playing it helps retain information easier rather than trying to make someone memorize the information. I also feel it makes students interact in a more realistic way instead of just typing on a keyboard.
I learned that, as an instructor using active learning, I'm more of a guide or mentor than a lecturer. It's my job to provide an environment of learning and activities that promote interaction, peer feedback, problem solving, etc. I plan on applying moments of pause to ask questions and allow time for students to reflect. I want to offer more collaborative and cooperative activities, such as group projects, peer teaching, finding information together, games, etc.
We are learning that the children who grew up with electronics are learning more efficiently and effectively in active learning environments, as opposed to how I learned from lectures, individual reading and studying and memorizing information to pass standardized tests. So I must adapt my teaching style and release my control of content introduction. In an active learning environment, I become the coach or instructional facilitator, and the students become responsible for their learning through shared discussion, research, listening, strategy development, leading and teamwork, and problem solving. This will likely mean more work for me in the beginning to develop and prepare a good active learning environment, but the students will learn and sustain more knowledge and skills overall.
Active learning is important in communication and having a collaborative learning process online is critical and conducive to online learning
I have found that "chalk talk", or asking/calling a student to interact with the class often times is very enjoyable for the student, and the class alike. It is espeically fun when they are allowed to share their learned discoveries.
In active learning students construct their own knowledge rather than being force fed.
