Active Learning Padlet
Source: ViewSonic Library
What is Active Learning?
This week we took a look at active learning. Active Learning is fully engaging students by having them be part of the learning process. Active Learning replaces lecture and teachers just giving students information to regurgitate. Active Learning involves students engaging by thinking, discussing, investigating, and creating. Typically, students collaborate in small or large groups working on student centered activities with the direction of their teacher.
Why use Active Learning?
I believe active leaning creates more "buy-in" by providing students more ownership in their learning process. Active learning also reinforces important material, concepts, and skills. Active learning also provides opportunities for students to think about and talk about what they are learning, this is great for students with ELL needs. Active learning also provides opportunity for students to collaborate in groups. Collaboration is great to help students with their Social Emotional Learning needs by providing structured activity where students learn how to work with each other, this is a must in today's workforce.
What are some Active Learning Activities?
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| Source: University of Minnesota |
Cougar Code Activity:
I choose to create a Padlet on the activity Cougar Code by Ms. Malhiot from Coonley Elementary School in Chicago. This activity was an excellent example of Active Learning and students taking ownership of their learning process. In this activity Ms. Malhiot's class collaborated to visually demonstrate the school's code of conduct which is "Be Safe", "Be Respectful", and "Be Responsible". First the students went up to the Smartboard to give examples of the expectations. In groups they were to storyboard using graphic organizers to visually represent their chosen examples. The students then went around the school taking pictures based on their storyboards of what the school's code of conduct means to them. Finally, using a familiar tech tool PicCollage, they uploaded their pictures and created a piece that represented their group.
This activity exemplifies Active Learning. Students were fully engaged by thinking, discussing, collaborating, and creating. Not only was this a fun project, but by using this strategy the students are more apt to follow the code of conduct because of the ownership of the activity.
Reflection:
I believe that teacher should keep in mind Active Learning when designing their lessons. Providing ownership of learning through activities empowers students and provides more motivation to complete the task. It also helps with retention and with understanding concepts. I do have some experience with Active Learning, I often have students collaborate in groups especially when working on projects. One project that involved Active Learning is when I had students create their own mathematical word problems to demonstrate understanding of a specific math skill. I plan on implementing more Active Learning activities and will be requesting professional development within my specific content of math.
Hi Joe,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that active learning means "buy in". I have had great experiences with active learning and Project Based Learning, and have seen students very motivated when engaged in this type of learning. I really like the activity that you reviewed. It is important for students to attach their own meaning to concepts and expectations. I think another key word that you mentioned is "ownership." It is so great to see students take ownership of their education and learn 21st century skills to help them after they graduate. These skills are so important for life after high school and college. I like your idea of having students creating their own word problems. What is your process for guiding students to accomplish this task?
-Kate S.
Hi Kate,
DeleteThank you for the comment! Replying to your question, I typically teach the students the skills they a day or so before the activity. I then have an activity guide for them to follow with steps. I provide word banks for the students as I have SPED students and many ELL students in my class. I walk the room and monitor that each student is doing their part in the project. One student is assigned as the artist, they draw up the diagrams for the word problem. Another student is the author, this student writes the word problem with help from their group. Another student is the expert, this is a higher functioning student purposely assigned to the group to help with math and creation of the entire project. I show student examples before starting the project so the students have an idea of how it should turn out. I have them do this on a big sticky paper but after taking this class I'm thinking of digitizing the project. I hope this answers your question!
Hey Joseph -- Cool graphic from the University of Minnesota. I thought it was good in understanding the spectrum of activities. I think it's helpful in how to modify some of them for more higher level students in high school. We are a vocational school, so experiential learning is a critical component of our career pathway programs, so our students have opportunities for active learning regularly. This enhances as you say, their ownership of their learning.
ReplyDeleteHi Ms. Tsitsopoulos,
DeleteThank you for the comment! I find vocational schools such a great opportunity for students! Having job skills straight out of high school helps students be more competitive in their job search.
Thanks for including the strategies image from the University of Minnesota. It's a great reminder to many that they are probably already using active learning strategies! Your Padlet has some quick wins in terms of suggestions, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole,
DeleteThank you for the feedback!
Hi Joe,
ReplyDeleteI like that comment "regurgitating information" because it really is what teachers that only teacher one type of way expect from all students. Active learning really helps our diverse learners as well as the ELL population. It gets students engaged and gives them some control of their learning. Buy in is so imperative and this way of teaching keeps the kids into the lessons, focused and ready.
Joseph,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great assignment! I love that it also gives students the opportunity to assess what does (or does not) fit under the Cougar Code. Any chance we get to loop students in on the assessment process helps them own it in a different and authentic way. Sometimes this can feel forced in the classroom, but here with the combination of a scavenger hunt of sorts it absolutely works! Thanks
for sharing!