Active learning means doing something with information, such as explaining, questioning, solving or applying it, instead of only listening or reading. Studies of classrooms, especially in science and maths, have found that active approaches tend to improve understanding compared with lecture alone.
10 Active Learning Strategies
- Think-Pair-Share: think about a question alone, discuss with a partner, then share with the class.
- Self-quizzing: turn notes into questions and test yourself.
- Teach it: explain a topic to a friend or family member, or use the Feynman Technique.
- Concept maps: draw how ideas connect.
- Worked examples, then practice: study a solved problem, then try a similar one alone.
- Debates and discussions: argue both sides of an issue in history or literature.
- One-minute paper: at the end of a lesson, write the main point and one question you still have.
- Jigsaw groups: each student becomes an expert on one part and teaches the group.
- Real-world projects: apply science, maths or social studies to a local problem.
- Predict and check: predict a result before an experiment or reading, then compare.
Using Active Learning at Home
- Close the book and write what you remember after each section.
- Make flashcards and mix the order.
- Do past paper questions instead of rereading notes.
Active learning often feels harder than rereading. That effort is a sign you are learning.
See also: the flipped classroom and memory strategies.
