Introducing active learning in your classroom

Using a mixture of teaching strategies in your classroom – e.g. "lecturing" for ten or fifteen minutes followed by a 3-4 minute active learning interval – can be extremely effective, easy to implement, and does not require much additional preparation.

When introducing active learning, remember that just because students are “active” (ie, talking to one another or engaging with an activity) it does not necessarily mean they will learn anything. Simply putting students in groups does not constitute active learning. Any activity you choose must be well-planned and executed.

Steps to achieving effective active learning include:

• Monitor discussions: Walk around and monitor the discussions. You will frequently hear misunderstandings that you can address during the whole-group discussion that follows.
• Plan with purpose: When planning and presenting active learning strategies to your students, consider the goal of the activity, the outcomes you expect from students, the procedure they should follow, and the time limit for the activity.
• Maintain control: Use strategies to keep control of the classroom during active learning activities. These might be clapping your hands, setting a timer, or dimming the lights to gain students’ attention.

See our Active Learning page for ideas of active learning strategies you can introduce in your classroom. 

Contact Teaching Quality (teaching.quality@lincoln.ac.nz) for further guidance.