Active learning method
Traditional education method is based on the accumulation of knowledge via textbooks and lecture-based teaching. It is believed that knowledge is a set of building blocks. Students learn one piece of knowledge then another and another. The more knowledge they can memorized the better, and testing is based on how many piece of knowledge students can memorize. Knowledge is organized into several groups of building block; each group is corresponding to a level, from elementary school to college. By the time students complete their education in school and passing all the tests, they are considered “knowledgeable person.”
Today students do not need to have everything memorized in order to succeed in school. First, there is so much information and the volume continues to increase each year so it is impossible to memorize them all. Instead of relying on memory as the main source of information, students must know WHERE and HOW to find the information that they need. Second, finding the information is only the beginning; they must review, analyze, and come up with logical conclusions on how to apply them to solve problems. To do that, they need a different learning method called “Active learning” or “Learning by doing” where the emphasis is placed on the learning process, which help students develop self-learning and problem solving skills.
Active learning focuses on the encouraging and motivating students to seek, find, read, organize, and process information by themselves instead of depend on teacher to tell them via lecturing. Students must be “actively” responsible for their own learning by studying materials BEFORE coming to class because classroom activities are focusing on discussion, debating, analyzing and actually solving problems. Teachers will help direct students to get to the right conclusions by coaching and encouraging as well as challenging them to reach their learning goals. By actually doing the work themselves, students learn the material better and develop a lifelong learning attitude. They will find the materials, organize them, experiment with them, and validate their answers with others. From their own learning, they can relate it to their own experiences as it becomes their skills.
In this method, teachers will ask students to explain what they have learned in their own reading, have them draw conclusion to share with others. During class discussion, teachers can require students to consider what information is relevant and irrelevant, have them explain what they mean in a logical manner and learn to use reasoning to solve problems. In doing that, teachers would encourage students to explore several ways of collecting information that are available to them. There are many sources of information that students can use today to enhance their understanding of different ideas and concepts. Students should be made aware of the various sources that they can use for learning and then be given tasks to find certain subjects to educate themselves.
Of course, it is NOT easy to transition from the traditional “Passive” learning to “Active” learning as most students are familiar with the traditional way. For many years they are taught to listen to lectures and follow the direction so it is difficult to break the habit. Most students will resist the notion of reading and learning before coming to class or participate in class discussion. Many students have not developed the habit of self learning by discover and experiment things on themselves so it will be a challenge to teachers who want to adopt this new method. The question is: “As teachers, should we give up?” I do not think so. I believe there are many teachers who are willing to help students to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Good teaching is about NOT having a fixed agenda and being rigid, but being flexible, experimenting, and having the confidence to adjust to changing circumstances. Good teachers would change their teaching when there is better way to teach students because they want the best for their students. It may take time and more training in the new method but I believe that in this fast changing world, we need better training method to give our students the best tools, the best learning experience possible, so they can contribute to our society and make a difference in the world.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
