Active Learning Theory

ACTIVE LEARNING THEORY

This theory basically involves using any activity that allows students to be involved in learning as opposed to passively being taught.

This type of learning lends itself well to CTE. Instructors should include activities that allow the students to participate in an activity instead of just learning about the topic. The exact type of activity is not specified for this theory. Any student involvement is recommended. The type of activity can include, but is not limited to, actively participating in lecture by responding to teacher prompts or summarizing the main points of a lecture in written or oral form, participating in or watching demonstrations of processes, discussing or debating issues relating to course content, working in groups, researching, reenacting a process, or solving practical application problems.

Examples:

Career studies - Students can research a career, interview someone who works in that field, shadow someone who works in that field

Applying for a job - Students can read and analyze job postings, fill out an application, conduct mock interviews, examine resumes, create a resume

Word processing - Students can create documents such as business letters or business cards; print envelopes; design a letterhead

Technology - Students can create or respond to a blog, create or respond to a wiki, create a class web page, create a video, conduct an online search

Finance - Students can set up a budget; practice reading a tax table; solve practical word problems such as calculating a sale price, calculating utility costs, or calculating total purchase price including interest; comparison shop; debate health care options

Communication - Students can conduct a business meeting, teach a concept, create a presentation

Since the active learning theory can include virtually any type of student activity, teachers may want to research and evaluate any particular method that they consider implementing . Here are some links to research and general information specifically addressing the active learning theory.

Links: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Educational_Technology_Innovation_and_Impact/Why_use_Technology_i n_Education/Active_Learning_Theory http://www.ntlf.com/html/lib/bib/91-9dig.htm http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/active.htm http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Papers/Prince_AL.pdf http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JVME/V21-1/Seeler1.html Resources

Educational technology innovation and impact/Why use technology in education/Active learning theory.

(2006, June 24). In Wikibooks. Retrieved June 6, 2009 from

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Educational_Technology_Innovation_and_Impact/Why_use_Tech

nology_in_Education/Active_Learning_Theory

Bonwell, Charles C., & Eison, James A. (1991). Active learning: Creating excitement in the classroom. Eric

Digest. Retrieved June 6, 2009, from http://www.ntlf.com/html/lib/bib/91-9dig.htm

Fink, Dee L. (1999). Active learning. Retrieved June 6, 2009, from

http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/active.htm

Prince, M. (2004). Does active learning work? A review of the research. Journal of Engineering

Education, 93 (3), 223-231. Retrieved July 6, 2009, from

http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Papers/Prince_AL.pdf

Seeler, D. C., Turnwald, G. H., Bull, K.S., From teaching to learning: Part III. Lectures and approaches to

active learning. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 21 (1). Retrieved June 6, 2009, from

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JVME/V21-1/Seeler1.html