The What and The Why

What is active learning?

Students are ENGAGED in their own
learning

Why use active learning?

Spirit of science is collaboration
Enhance learning with active
participation (grades!)
Facilitates assessment of student
learning

The How

Start early
Start simple
Make it personal
Take risks
Give positive feedback
Deal with wrong

Activity
Turn a passive lecture topic into an
active learning experience.
Parts of a cell
Photosynthesis
Natural selection
Mitosis

Examples

Group problem solving

Electronic audience response systems
Brainstorming
One-minute questions
Strip sequence
Decision making
Concept maps
Case and problem-based learning