I am a great believer in that in order to learn, students need to take part in the learning. In education, this is called active learning. This type of learning requires students to get involved in activities such as reading, writing, discussion, or problem solving because these activities help students develop the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate class content (University of Michigan n.d.)[1]. Research has been done in this area and it supports the notion that the more students are involved in the learning, the more they retain. Weimer (2015) discusses a meta-analysis conducted recently that compares active learning to more traditional passive learning processes such as lecture. The following is a quote that Weimer (2015) takes from the meta-analysis ?average examination scores improved by about 6% in active learning sessions, and that students in classes with traditional lecturing were 1.5 times more likely to fail than were students in classes with active learning?( 1)[2].
Teachers should take heed and move slowly towards student engagement in the material being taught no matter how difficult it is for the teacher and our students. For teachers, the end result should be the success of our students.
[1] University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT), (n.d) Accessed June 7, 2015. Available at:http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tsal.
[2] Weimer, M. (2015). More Evidence That Active Learning Trumps Lecturing. Faculty Focus. [internet]. Accessed June 7, 2015. Available at:http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/more-evidence-that-active-learning-trumps-lecturing/
