Active learning strategies to engage students in the classroom
Wednesday 3 July: Conference day one, 4:00pm – 5:30pm mini workshop
Venue
Room 10 – 303-B07 Sem
Presenters
Dr Kate Carroll
Monash University, Australia
kate.carroll@monash.edu
Dr Amanda Davies
Monash University, Australia
Dr Sharon Flecknoe
Monash University, Australia
Overview
As educators, we continuously strive to improve student motivation and engagement; one way to do this is via the incorporation of active learning strategies that are carefully constructed to align with intended learning outcomes. While the definition of active learning in the literature is not clear, the term is broadly used to encompass strategies that enable students to actively understand and apply knowledge. Active learning can provide students with substantial educational benefits, allowing them increased opportunities to apply key concepts, solve higher-order problems, address misconceptions and develop transferable skills in a peer-peer learning environment. This workshop will focus on collaborative learning activities including simple matching games, peer-peer learning via the jigsaw method and more creative tasks including production of concept videos. We will also explore simple changes to pedagogical approaches that maximise learning in the absence of additional resources. Following this, we will assist participants to plan an activity for use in their own classrooms.
Target audience
This workshop will target educators and support staff interested in incorporating active learning strategies.
Intended outcomes
We aim for participants to:
- explore the ‘definition’ of active learning
- explore and experience active learning strategies (think/pair/share, collaborative feedback assessments, jigsaw method and others) from a student perspective
- reflect on learning activities in their own classroom and consider how they would integrate/apply strategies from the session into their own teaching
Outline of activities:
|
Activity |
Outcome |
|
1. Introductions |
N/A |
|
2. Exploration of the term “active learning” |
1 |
|
3. Examples of active learning: Collaborative assessment |
2 |
|
4. Examples of active learning: Jigsaw method |
2 |
|
5. Discussion of other active learning strategies for use in small and large group teaching |
2 |
|
6. Reflection on current learning activities |
3 |
|
7. Design of an active learning activity for your classroom |
3 |
Presentation topic
Academics – Changing academic practice
