Active Methodologies

 What is Active Methodologies?

The student is the main character and the major responsible for the learning process. Thus, the objective of this teaching model is to encourage the academic community to develop the ability to absorb content in an autonomous and participatory manner.

According to this theory, students learn about:

10% by reading;

20% by writing;

50% by observing and listening;

70% discussing with other people;

80% by practicing;

95% teaching.

Besides the aforementioned traditional ways, some practices can be highlighted, which are already developed in many teaching institutions. Check some of them:

 

1. Project-based learning

Project based learning (PBL) - aims to make students acquire knowledge through the collaborative solution of challenges.

Therefore, the student needs to make an effort to explore possible solutions within a specific context - either by using technology or the various resources available, which encourages the ability to develop an investigative and critical profile when faced with a situation.

Moreover, the teacher should not expose the whole methodology to be worked on, so that students seek knowledge by themselves. However, it is necessary that the educator gives feedback on the projects and shows which were the mistakes and successes.

 

2. Problem-Based Learning

The purpose of the Problem-Based Learning method is to make the student able to build conceptual, procedural and attitudinal learning through proposed problems that expose him/her to motivating situations and prepare him/her for the world of work.

While project-based learning requires students to put their "hands on", problem-based learning focuses on the theoretical part of solving cases. The combination of these methods are often used so that students can have moments to learn both how to reasoning about a certain problem and how to act in order to implement possible solutions. 

3. Case Study

 The pedagogical practice of Case Study originates from the Problem-Based Learning method.

The Case Study offers students the opportunity to direct their own learning, while exploring their knowledge in relatively complex situations.

They are accounts of real-world situations, presented to students for the purpose of teaching them, preparing them to solve real problems.

 

4. Peer or team learning

Peer instruction (PI) or Team Based Learning (TBL), as the name implies, is about forming teams within a class to learn together and share ideas.

Whether it's a case study or a project, students can solve challenges and work together, which can be beneficial in the quest for knowledge. After all, with mutual help, one can learn and teach at the same time, forming critical thinking, which is built through informed discussions and taking into account divergent opinions.

What are the benefits of active methodologies?

Finally, it is possible to highlight the existence of several benefits for both the academic community and the educational institution with the use of active methodologies.

 

The students: 

1.      Acquire greater autonomy.

  Develop confidence.

2.    See learning as something peaceful and doable.

3.     Become capable of solving problems.

4.     Become more qualified and valued professionals.

5.     They become protagonists of their learning.

 

For the educational institution, the benefits are shown mainly with: 

1. Increased student satisfaction with the classroom environment.

2. Improved perception of the students with the institution.

3. Increased recognition in the market.

4. Increased attraction, attraction and retention of students.

Examples of active learning strategies include:

Learning through Play

Role Play

Debates

Group Projects

Peer Teaching

Think-Pair-Share

A Kinesthetic Approach

Grab Bags

Phenomenon Based Learning

Inquiry-Based Learning

Discovery Learning

Challenge Based Learning

Gamification

Game-Based Learning

Guided Practice

Active Learning Strategies:

 

1.    Reciprocal questioning

Use reciprocal questioning to encourage an open dialogue in which students take on the role of the teacher and create their own questions about a topic, reading section, or lesson.

 

2.    Three step interviews

A cooperative learning strategy, the three step interview encourages students to develop active listening skills by quizzing one another, sharing their thoughts, and taking notes.

 

3.    Rotating chair group discussions

Rotating chair group discussions encourage students to actively listen to selected speakers who follow a pattern of guiding class discussion and summarizing previous points. Students lead and stimulate class discussion as they “rotate” roles, repeatedly selecting the following speaker.

 

4.    The muddiest point technique

The muddiest point technique involves asking students to write notes on the most unclear or most confusing element of a given homework assignment, lecture, or class discussion.

 

5.    Peer teaching activities

A flexible and multi-faceted approach to active learning, peer instruction encompasses a range of scenarios where students instruct skills or explain concepts to classmates.