Season Your Lectures with Active Learning

1
Season Your Lectureswith Active Learning

• Michael J. Quinn
• 1 June 2007

2
Complete this sentenceThree things Id like to
know about active learning are _________________.
3
Structure of This Lecture

• Critiquing lecturing
• Defining active learning
• Implementing active learning

4
Listening Teams

• Questioners
• Agreers
• Nay-sayers
• Example-givers

5
IHow come the more I talk the less my students
learn?
6
Advantages of Lecturing

• Spark interest
• Provide unavailable information
• Convey large amounts of information
• Reach large audiences
• Model ways of thinking
• Maintain control
• Protect students
• Help auditory learners

Source Sutherland and Bonwell
7
Disadvantages of Lecturing

• Passive students
• Inadequate feedback
• Flagging attention
• Poor retention
• Burden on lecturer
• Non-auditory learners

Source Sutherland and Bonwell
8
Students Tune Out
Source Pollio
9
As lecture continues, retention of new material
declines.
Source Johnson, Johnson, and Smith
10
Retention of New Material
Source McKeachie
11
Lectures Assume Homogeneity
12
Listening Teams

• Questioners
• Agreers
• Nay-sayers
• Example-givers

Source Silberman
13
IIActive learningto the rescue!
14
Fundamentals

• Learning is an active process.
• Different people learn in different ways.
• We often dont know what we think until we try to
  say it or write it.
• Just because youve said it doesnt mean theyve
  learned it.

15
Genuine Learning
Test
Reception
Recap
Explain
16
Engage More Parts of Brain

• Talking and listening
• Reading
• Writing
• Reflecting

17
When learning is active, students do most of the
work Silberman.
18
Counter the Objections

• Thats not how I learned the material.
• Active learning is great for children, but
  college students dont need it.
• Its too slow paced Ill spend a lot of time
  watching instead of talking.
• I wont be able to cover all the material.

19
IIIFit active learning to your needs and
personal style.
20
Ask Students to...

• Restate information
• Give examples
• Recognize instances
• Make connections
• Apply concepts
• Predict consequences
• State converse

21
In-class Writing Assignments

• Be specific ask students to
• analyze compare
• contrast define
• describe evaluate
• justify prove
• summarize synthesize

Source Fulwiler
22
Learning Partners

• Compare class notes
• Discuss an example
• Solve a problem
• Critique each others writing
• Question partner about reading
• Recap lecture
• Develop questions for teacher
• Test each other

23
More Examples

• Pop quiz (manual or electronic)
• Response cards (anonymous)
• Whips
• Games (Family Feud or Jeopardy)
• Complete outline of lecture

24
Use in Moderation!
25
Complete this sentenceThree different ways I
can add active learning to my lectures are
________________.
26
References

• Fulwiler, T. Teaching with Writing. Boynton/Cook.
  1987.
• Holt, J. How Children Learn. Pitman. 1967.
• Johnson, D. W., Johnson, R. T., and Smith, K. A.
  Active Learning Cooperation in the College
  Classroom. Interaction Book Company. 1991.
• McKeachie, W. Teaching Tips A Guidebook for the
  Beginning College Teacher. D. C. Heath. 1986.
• Meyers, C., and Jones, T. B. Promoting Active
  Learning Strategies for the College Classroom.
  Jossey-Bass. 1993.
• Pollio, H. R. What Students Think About and Do
  in College Lecture Classes. Teaching-Learning
  Issues No. 53. University of Tennessee. 1984.
• Silberman, M. Active Learning 101 Strategies to
  Teach Any Subject. Allyn and Bacon. 1996.
• Sutherland, T. E., and Bonwell, C. C. Using
  Active Learning in College Classes A Range of
  Options for Faculty. Jossey-Bass. 1996.