Active learning relies on the use of student participation to teach concepts and boost retention. Children learn best when they are encouraged to take part in what they are being taught, according to Randy M. Page and Tana S. Page, authors of "Promoting Health and Emotional Well-Being in Your Classroom." Active learning means that children are doing things and thinking about things in a way that enhances comprehension and enables them to remember what they have learned.
Function
Active learning gets students in on the learning process and gives them the tools necessary to comprehend what they are learning and apply it to their lives, say the Pages. In order to encourage retention and improve education, students must become immersed in what they are being taught rather than told a list of facts. Meaningful experiences lead to active learning and provide students with the necessary information in a way that means something to them.
Considerations
According to Scholastic, many young children have a difficult time grasping new concepts when they cannot actively experience them. Adding hands-on activities to learning opportunities will interest students and motivate them to participate. It will also encourage children to remember what they have learned. Scholastic goes on to suggest that building on student interest can provide ways to give children authentic learning experiences. Consider your students' questions so you will be able to tailor their experiences and allow them to find answers by guiding them through the learning process. If students show an interest in a particular subject, enhance that curiosity by extending the unit or providing opportunities to learn more.
Benefits
Active learning benefits children by allowing them to participate in topics of interest as well as increases the chance that they will remember what they have learned as they get older. Field trips, science experiments and classroom projects are some examples of active participation. Active learning works by immersing students in what they are learning so they gain the confidence to ask questions and new understandings, say the Pages. Try role-playing activities or classroom games as ways to get students immersed and interested. Scholastic adds that creating learning opportunities that require students to engage with the world around them will result in a more active form of learning. As a result, children will have the ability to comprehend new topics by applying past knowledge.
Potential
Students who are actively engaged in what they are learning have the potential to do well in school and to build interest in a wide variety of topics. The Pages write that children who become immersed in a specific topic will be more likely remember that information so they can apply it to future situations. Education relies on the principle that new knowledge is gained by building on past knowledge. Active learning encourages this process by allowing students to build a broad base of knowledge that will result in a greater understanding of new and more complex topics as they grow.
Expert Insight
The most important way to encourage active learning is to provide authentic learning opportunities that allow children to do something rather than sit and listen, say the Pages. Education is an important matter to many parents and teachers, and the Pages strongly recommend hands-on activities as a way to make the subject matter come alive so students will do well in school and gain a lifelong love of learning. An education that encourages action is the best motivator for students to learn more.
References
- "Promoting Health and Emotional Well-Being in Your Classroom"; Randy M. Page and Tana S. Page; 2010
- Scholastic: Active Learning for Preschoolers
