Using Active Learning to Enhance Critical Learning | Origin: EL113
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Active Learning in an Online Environment --> Using Active Learning to Enhance Critical Learning
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
"For students to be able to understand their own point of view, add to that knowledge base and come out “on the other side” with a hybrid of knowledge is true evidence of critical thinking".
I love this statement because when this happens with a student it is very rewarding. With todays technology and information being available at the touch of a finger, it is easy to "adopt" a point of view because someone else said, thought, or posted this point of view. Allowing a student to explain, question, open their minds to other points of view, question again. research, and then come out with a well-thought out knowledge base on the "point of view" is rewarding. I might also say empowering for the student as well.
Comment on Kelsey Britten's post: encourage creativity and different perspectives
Active learning activities should stimulate critical thinking and collaborative group work
our posts should be meaningful and evoke critical thinking from our students
Activities should be designed to promote collaborative learning and to enhance critical thinking skills.
Helping to learn and adapt to critical thinking.
I really like the idea of having the students work on collaborative and small group projects and then share that with the larger group. See, say, do is a way that I myself learn and so I like the idea of problem-based learning styles shared here.
Problem based learning allows students to enhance their critical thinking skills with the help of their fellow classmates and instructor
It is important to have the students apply learning objectives to things that they can personally relate to.
Active learning strategies such as case studies, simulations, and real‑world projects help students strengthen their critical‑thinking skills by applying knowledge to authentic scenarios. These approaches require learners to analyze information, make decisions, and justify their reasoning, They are key components of deeper learning.
Asking open‑ended questions is another powerful method for promoting critical analysis. These types of questions encourage students to move beyond simple recall and engage in thoughtful interpretation, evaluation, and problem‑solving. Facilitating debates can further stimulate critical engagement by exposing students to diverse viewpoints and requiring them to articulate and defend their claims.
Other effective strategies include reflective writing and self‑assessment, which allow students to process their learning, identify gaps in understanding, and develop metacognitive awareness. Teaching students to evaluate sources—by distinguishing evidence from opinion and identifying credible information—also strengthens their ability to think critically and make informed judgments.
Comment on Vicki Hoppe's post: Exactly. Nicely stated.
Group-based work, co-operative/collaborative learning, and problem-based learning are all great tools for online learning. I need to evaluate what, when, and how to implement the necessary measures to achieve the goal of student learning and critical thinking. My engagement must start with deliberately planned strategies within my course. I definitely plan to change my methods to use more active learning rather than lecturing.
Collaboration and Problem Based Learning (PBL) help students to develop critical thinking skills.
Groups are extremely helpful for active learning vs just being "forced fed" information from the instructors. Groups allow the students to pull knowledge from each other. I will incorporate those best practices of 4-5 group sizes, guidelines for group topics, tasks along the way, etc.
Active learning shifts the responsibility of learning to the student, requiring them to engage in complex tasks such as research, peer collaboration, and problem-solving rather than just passive reading
I have learned that active learning significantly enhances critical thinking by engaging students in meaningful, collaborative activities and real-world problem solving. I intend to apply this by encouraging continuous participation, teamwork, the use of interactive technologies, and guided reflection to strengthen deep understanding and higher-order cognitive skills in my students.
It seems impossible to be critical without actually engaging with the content at hand. So, any active learning exercise increases the chances of performing critical thinking wrt to traditional learning. Let's go for it.
Ensuring that our students leave our classes with improved critical thinking skills is a huge win as these are skills they'll use everyday in the real world and especially in their roles as they relate to healthcare.
Using active learning to enhance critical learning shifts students from passive receivers of information to active participants in the learning process. Through strategies such as problem-based activities, discussions, case analysis, and collaborative tasks, students are encouraged to question assumptions, apply concepts, and reflect on their understanding. In virtual learning environments, active learning is especially valuable because it promotes engagement, accountability, and deeper cognitive processing. By focusing on analysis, evaluation, and application rather than memorization, active learning supports the development of critical thinking skills and leads to more meaningful and lasting learning outcomes.
