Student Perceptions Of Active Learning

Module 2 Unit 1 Writing Critical Reviews

Active learning across the Three Stages of Education (Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education).

1. Review of Active and Peer Learning in STEM Education Strategy by A. J. RISSANEN*

Introduction

The effectiveness of the teaching of Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) STEM subjects have been under review and the author argues that abstract knowledge is not sufficient, and while lecturing large is an economical and more convenient method, practical knowledge is essential for students who want employment in the STEM disciplines. A.J Rissanen is basing her theory on the research done by the National Defence University, Finland (NDU, where they believe It is not realistic for students to study

Achen, Regan K. Dodd

Introduction

The authors of this article were comparing the results and students' perceptions towards their own learning experiences, i.e. Students being passively taught (teacher led lessons) versus actively taught (child centred lessons) students. The students were at an undergraduate level at a variety of colleges. The authors were motivated by the vast amount of research done at primary and secondary levels of education that promoted active learning and its successes to test a if interactive learning would be as beneficial at a tertiary level.

Methods:

Students and lecturers at five colleges were given the opportunity to study and teach using a more interactive method of teaching. The core elements of active learning are student activity and engagement in the learning process. Active learning is completely the opposite to the traditional lecture where students passively receive information from the teacher (2). Active learning included any activity, encouraging students to participate in learning approaches to engaging them with course material and enhancing critical thinking as they make applications beyond the classroom. Specifically, pupils were required to engage in a variety of in-class and out-of class exploratory writing assignments and pairs and other small group discussions interspersed among short lectures

Requiring students to regularly assess their own degree of understanding and skill at handling concepts or problems in a particular discipline is a skill that will benefit them for their entire lives, not only while studying. The attainment of knowledge by participating or contributing has been found to be far more embedded in the child’s mind rather than if than if they were only passively listening. The process of keeping students mentally, and often physically, active in their learning through activities that involves them in gathering information, thinking, and problem solving does require more in depth thought and planning for the teacher but the results the four teachers achieved within their classrooms made this worthwhile. Examples of activities used