Active Learning In Teaching

Active learning is a student-centered approach in which an instructor uses instructional strategies that engage students as active participants throughout the learning process. Within this approach, students fully participate in their learning by thinking, creating, discussing and investigating. According to Bonwell and Eison (1991), students in an active learning environment participate in meaningful instructional activities and think about what they are doing. Prince (2004) notes that active learning is any class activity that engages students in the learning process.

Role of the Instructor in Active Learning

The role of the instructor is very important in an active learning environment. Instructors have a more passive role. The role of the instructor is to:

Guide students in the learning process
Create a welcoming and supportive learning environment
Design meaningful course activities
Encourage students to take academic risks
Facilitate reflections
Provide constructive feedback
Use assessment data to create new learning experiences

Benefits of Active Learning

Active learning stems from a constructivist learning framework. This theoretical perspective emphasizes the need for students to construct knowledge and meaning from experiences. Learning occurs when students are actively involved in their learning instead of passively absorbing information. Active learning approaches enable students to move from lower order thinking skills (remembering and understanding) to higher-order thinking skills (analyzing, evaluating and creating). The constructivist strategies also create more inclusive learning environments (Lorenzo, Crouch, & Mazur, 2006; Eddy & Hogan, 2014).

Active learning can:

Provide insight into students’ prior knowledge
Help students gauge their own understanding of course concepts
Increase student motivation and engagement
Promote the application of problem-solving skills
Improve critical thinking skills
Re-energize and refocus a lesson
Assist students with creating personal connections
Create a sense of community in the learning environment
Promote student-student and student-instructor interactions

We can help you build your toolbox for enagaged teaching!

To help increase your access and understanding of active learning, the Center for Teaching Excellence is building a collection of resources that provide quick and simple tips, ideas, research, and connections. These include:

Active Learning Online: If there are strategies you use in your traditional class, there’s a tool that you can find to help bring that practice online. Check out CTE's Tools and Technology listings and consult with an Instructional Designer for recommendations.

Selected References

Bonwell, C.C., & Eisen, J.A. (1991). Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom. School of Education and Human Development, George Washington University: Washington, DC.
Center for Integrative and Experiential Learning’s ideas for In-class Activities
Eddy, S.L., & Hogan, K.A. (2014). Getting under the hood: How and for whom does increasing course structure work. CBE Life Sciences Education, 13(3), 453-468.
EduCause Learning Initiative’s 7 Things You Should Know About Flipped Classroom [pdf]
Moore, A. H., Fowler, S. B. & Watson, C. E. (2007). "Active Learning and Technology: Designing Change for Faculty, Students, and Institutions." EDUCAUSE Review, 42(5), 42-61.
Prince, M. (2004). Does Active Learning Work? A Review of the Research. Journal of Engineering Education, 93(3), 223-231.

Center for Teaching Excellence