Enough tap, swipe, sit and listen! It's time to get those kids moving, thinking, talking, and engaged! Energize your students in 2025 with the tips and strategies you'll find on my blog this coming month. I hope you’ll join me each day to discover how you can take what you HAVE to do and turn it into something your students WANT to do!
What is ACTIVE LEARNING?
Active learning involves students in the learning process more directly than in other methods. Bonwell (1991) "states that in active learning, students participate in the process and students participate when they are doing something besides passively listening."
Teaching is what the teacher does. Learning is what the student does! Key elements of active learning include:
Students build on their interests and make choices
Students communicate in a wide range of ways
Students problem solve
Students make connections across learning
Students collaborate with others
Students develop creativity and use their imaginations
Students engage in a wide range of learning activities
Students move and use multiple senses
In short, students are not passive, but are “doing things” and are excited about learning. Good teachers have always focused on active learning because they know the more engaged and excited their students are, the more they will learn.
For years I have shared Edgar Dale’s “Learning Cone.” Although his research was done decades ago, more recent research validates the value of his findings. It’s a powerful visual to support active learning and engaging multiple senses.
Bonwell, C.C. and Eisen, J.A. (1991). Active learning: Creating excitement in the classroom. School of Education and Human Development, George Washington University: Washington DC.
Active Learning #1 STATE CHANGES
Wake up the brain by having children do one of the following to read, count, or practice other skills. It’s so easy and can add an element of fun to any lesson.
Sit Like a Boss– Children cross arms, lean back, and put feet up on their desk.
Cowboy and Cowgirl– Children turn chair around and straddle it as if riding a horse.
Change Seats– Children exchange seats with a classmate.
Backwards– Turn chairs around and face the back of the room.
Tummy Time– Lay on the floor and read, write, and work.
Easy Chair – Turn chairs upside down, put backpacks between the legs, and sit back and relax.
Silly Me! Teacher puts on a hat, silly nose, glasses, etc.
Turn on twinkle lights or a special lamp.
