I look forward to continuing to study this topic more in-depth.
Active learning involves a shift from teacher-centered learning to a student-centered learning, which can present challenges for instructors both in their mindset and in learning new teaching methods. I find it interesting that some teachers may not approach this task enthusiastically because of a perceived lack of control over the course. I have the opposite sentiment because active learning presents a challenge and an opportunity to develop my teaching skills more in line with modern practices. This section provided some useful pointers on how to best adopt and implement active teaching techniques, though more research and experimentation is needed to properly engage the students. Active learning requires the students to be engaged, which in turn requires the instructor to foster engagement with the course material. There were a number of useful suggestions on how to do this in this module, which I will incorporate into my course.
What I have learned in this module is the importance of active learning in an online environment. Active learning is always important, except it should be greatly enhanced in an online environment. Each student should be actively engaged to help them be successful.
I, myself, have an office that is appointed like the bridge of the Enterprise and I expect that my students may have similar appointments with multiple monitors, televisions, game-gear etc. which provides numerous distractions.
To that end, I nearly always engage with attention getting dialogue/questions that elicit a, "wait...WHAT?" response.
My goal is to get the student to become much more interested and involved in the subject matter and engage with not only myself but their classmates as well.
Critical thinking and problem-solving are intertwined skills that thrive in an environment of active engagement and collaboration. By creating a problem, presenting it to your students, and encouraging them to collectively use their intellectual faculties to find solutions, you are fostering a dynamic and participatory learning experience.
Becoming a supporter and advocate for active learning represents a transformative shift in educational philosophy, emphasizing engagement and participation over passive reception of information. By turning practically all activities into exercises, you are actively fostering an environment where students are not just absorbing content but are immersed in the learning process.
Rubrics do alleviate several headaches for both the student and instructor.
Online instructors should incorporate three to five active learning strategies into their courses, aligning them with the learning objectives to create a natural and seamless learning experience for students. They should also proactively engage students, maintaining instructor presence to increase motivation. Additionally, instructors should communicate periodically with students, provide incremental deadlines, and explore "reverse instruction" and the "flipped classroom" to enhance active learning in online education, using students' familiarity with mobile technology for a more engaging experience.
I am provided with a basic overview of the background and history of the popular instructional method called active learning. Active learning it calls for a change of attitude on the part of students and the instructor in order to be successful. This method differs from traditional educational methods such as the lecture model. Active learning has a definite place in education especially in the online learning environments. It is used to support teaching outcomes like critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills and knowledge acquisition that all instructors wish for their students. But the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages as it can make students enthusiastic about learning.
I appreciate the idea of student-centered learning, and using technology and understanding our capacity within those confines allows us to be more creative than ever before.
Hello:
More and more institutions are discarding the traditional teaching-learning process, in which a teacher gives instructions to a group of students, while they respond passively.
Currently, it is considered that students should be active elements and co-creators of their own academic process, and the role of teachers should evolve from directing to guiding and facilitating.
It has been proven that meaningful learning is best consolidated thanks to experiences that give rise to collaboration, communication and teamwork.
With my experience at online education, I have very rarely proposed group activities. This lesson helped show the importance of using group activities and has pushed me into considering to do it more often.
Rubrics are essential and teaching should be student centered.
Quick feedback is something that I always try to do. I also answer emails and texts quickly. It is good for online students to know that the instructor is there for them and cares.
Comment on James Dowdalls's post: I would love to know more about this, James.
I really like the Checklist to Critique Your Group Project and plan to use it to help guide students when they develop projects collaboratively.
In active learning, it is important that we communicate early and often the demands of the students. Many of our students have not yet had experience working in situations that require prolonged and consistent excellence. It is our responsibility to create momentum within them
Using rubrics for assessment is a great tool to save time and help me be sure I'm covering everything the student should receive feedback about to achieve course objectives.
This section provided a lot of good ideas for incorporating active learning into the classroom. I specifically liked the cartoon/comic strip/storytelling idea.
I already give personalized and encouraging feedback as I believe in specific kinds of feedback. Since I grade English assignments, when I receive a paper, I make sure the student knows what they did well. If something is incorrect or has issues, I always word it as though the paper needs to be addressed. Pulling the negativity away from the student themselves to focus on their work makes them less likely to feel targeted or rejected by feedback when it's really there to help them improve!
