The classroom has been impacted by technological advancement, just as technology has invaded every aspect of human lives. It has become highly comfortable and efficient for both students and organizations to increase their learning processes, due to the implementation of efficient technologies in a variety of disciplines. Technology has come a long way in modernizing society’s education system, from changing the way students study to improving student assessment standards. Traditional rote-based education is now considered outdated and ineffective.

Nowadays, teaching no longer involves a lecture-based instructional style in which the instructor is the only authority figure and learners serve as merely informational sponges. In the modern world, there is an increasing demand for new teaching activities which incorporate an active learning environment.

What is Active Learning?

Active learning is a pedagogical approach that encourages learners to actively participate in the learning process. This type of teaching is based on a student-centered approach and involves students’ active involvement in the learning process.

It is more effective than traditional lecture-based methods for students who have limited resources, such as those who are newly enrolled in college or are at risk of dropping out. The key to success in active learning is for students to be actively engaged in their thinking and learning. This means that students need to take responsibility for their learning and that they will be required to do some of their thinking. When students are asked to reflect upon what they have learned from a lecture or an assignment, they are actively participating in the learning process. It also helps to develop higher levels of cognitive skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity and increases students’ motivation and satisfaction with their studies (De Freitas, Silva and Marsicano, 2016).

Benefits of Active Learning

Some benefits of active learning include:

• It helps learners understand and apply concepts by asking questions and solving problems themselves.
• It is an effective way to teach new information because it focuses on the most important aspects of that material.
• Active learning helps students develop independent thought and encourages them to come up with solutions on their own.

7 Ways to Create an Active Learning Environment

To create an active learning environment, students need to be engaged and excited about their learning. Here are eight ways you can create an active learning environment:

1.      Create a Safe Environment

Students need a safe environment in which they can practice new skills without the risk of injury or harm. Allowing students to work independently on projects or assignments allows them to practice skills in ways that don’t involve high-risk situations (like driving). In addition, you can create different levels of difficulty for the material so that beginners aren’t overwhelmed by more advanced concepts or topics at first glance.

2.      Give Students a Voice

Students have the power to change their learning environment and they should be encouraged to do so. Teachers need to give students more opportunities for input on how to improve their classroom and how to learn in general. For example, ask students what they like about the classroom, what they don’t like, and what changes they would make if given the opportunity.

3.      Turn off Distractions

If students are distracted by cell phones or other electronics, it can keep them from paying attention to class content or participating in class discussions. To create an active learning environment, teachers must make sure that students are actively engaged in class discussions and activities rather than using their phones during class time. Teachers should also be careful not to use electronic devices in the classroom that distract students from learning.

4.      Encourage Collaboration

Collaboration is one of the most important aspects of creating an active learning environment because it helps students understand complex concepts and ideas better by creating a group project or working together on assignments together with other classmates rather than individually doing everything themselves after school or during lunch breaks.

5.      Make it Fun!

When students are engaged and having fun, they’re more likely to want to learn. You can make learning fun by using games, activities, and other hands-on methods of instruction as part of your lesson plan.

6.      Use Technology

Technology is an amazing resource that can be used for teaching students new concepts and skills or improving upon existing ones! It also allows you to reach large groups of people with ease through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook where you can post questions for your class members to answer or interact with one another through questions and comments about what you’re learning (TDH, 2019). For example: if a student wants to take help from online assignment writing services but he doesn’t know which one is the best for him, so he can post on social media groups where others can help him find the best assignment writers at reasonable prices.

7.      Incorporate 4C’s

Moving furniture around in an active learning area isn’t enough; it also needs to improve teaching and learning. To envision how learning spaces could be set up and how teaching will occur in these environments, think about the four Cs: collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking.

The biggest factor in the equation is collaboration, therefore make sure the rooms are adaptable. Create a maker space to address creativity. Create workplaces for project-based learning to overcome critical thinking and communication.

8.      The Three-Step Interview Activity

The three-step interview is a useful learning system. It aids children in developing their active listening abilities. By testing one another, making notes, and exchanging concepts, they can get better. Group the students first into three-student groups.

Assign the following three roles: note taker, candidate, and interviewer. Try to adhere to the three-step interviewing process. Ask students to participate in a 5-minute interview after providing a concept or debate topic. They can discuss the key information they learned about the subject topic. After each interview, students should alternate positions. The topics of this activity can be is it beneficial for students to take assistance from an online Corporate Finance Assignment Help or not? Or maybe which method of learning is the best: Traditional Learning Method or Active Learning Method?

Final Words

The best ways to implement in-class and out-of-class activities that successfully use more active learning tactics include analyzing how and what students should study in class and outside of class, either alone or with others.

When you do active learning, you’re not just reading a book or listening to a lecture. You’re generating your ideas and making connections with what you’ve read or heard. This is how students learn best! So, by implementing these eight ways you can create an active learning environment for students.

References

TDH.2019. 5 Amazing Ways Students Can Make Use Of Social Media in Their Education. Online Available at: <https://thedissertationhelp.co.uk/5-amazing-ways-students-can-make-use-of-social-media-in-their-education/> (Accessed: 21 June 2022).

De Freitas, S.A.A., Silva, W.C. and Marsicano, G., 2016, April. Using an active learning environment to increase students’ engagement. In 2016 IEEE 29th International Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training (CSEET) (pp. 232-236). IEEE.