Active Learning

I had the pleasure of exploring various active learning activities, all of which seemed to be fun to be a part of. History has never been my strong suit in school, but when it came to choosing which active learning task, I chose The American Revolution... It's Like We Were There!. There is something interesting and fun about immersing oneself in an event without actually being there. 

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The American Revolution... It's Like We Were There!

As I read through Ms. Malhiot's class activity, I was drawn by the activity and how fun it would have been had I been part of the class. In the activity, students chose a significant event, artifact, or historical figure and embedded themselves in the scenario. Students utilized Pic-Collage to insert their faces into select images, including thought and speech bubbles. Furthermore, students demonstrated understanding through recordings on Audioboom. Students recorded the significance of the event/artifact/historical figure in the American Revolution. Active Learning

This activity is active learning because the students "immersed" themselves in the historical event. Students used Pic-Collage to insert their faces into images as if they were also part of the American Revolution. It is also active learning through peer collaboration. A few of the projects in class included images of multiple students in one. Comprehension is not checked by the traditional pen and paper test in this lesson. Students are given the opportunity to show comprehension through their Audioboom recordings. It is not a typical vocabulary test where there is one right answer. Students are able to show comprehension using their own thoughts and how they understood the American Revolution. 

In active learning, student voice and student choice are emphasized. In this activity, it seems that students were given free choice on which images and events/artifacts/historical figures to utilize. Through free choice in this activity, students can share who/what they chose with another peer. Oftentimes, students can gain a clearer understanding through peer teaching. If two students chose different American Revolution points to focus on, they gain a more wholesome perspective about the American Revolution. By asking students to "be part of the American Revolution" gives them the opportunity to connect personally. 

Should Teachers Use Active Learning?

Coming from an early childhood perspective, active learning is an absolute must. My lead teacher and I are constantly finding ways to connect students' personal experiences with what we are learning. Two-year-old children can only sit and listen to us read stories or talk about a certain topic for so long. By connecting personal experiences, students are more likely to have the "aha" moment. Regardless of the age/grade level, teachers should always keep active learning in mind. Active learning gives students the opportunity to learn in multiple ways. There is only so much a student can take in from a traditional lecture/lesson. Active learning opens up the door to making learning more fun. When students have more fun, they are more motivated. With that motivation, they may be curious to find out more about a certain topic, as well as the motivation to do well.