Active Learning

 

What is it?

     Active Learning is learning that engages the student to actively have them share their voice and choice. It helps to make learning experiential, mindful, and engrossed for students. Active Learning can be instructed through a variety of methods and activities. Iowa State University's Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and University of Michigan's Center for Research on Learning and Teaching have wonderful lists that breakdown the various pedagogies. They can be viewed here and here. 

via GIPHY

Think-Pair-Share

    This is one of the active learning methods that I knew of before learning more in this module. My social media algorithms are always a little wonky and show me the most curious things but once it lead me to a TikTok creator named Alina Bitter. She is a kindergarten teacher in southern California. It was on one of her videos that I happen to see her instructing her students to think-pair-share (TPS) before sharing their solution with the class. 

    I never thought anything more of this other than, wow- what a bunch of cute students excited to work with each other and collaborate on ideas. Now learning about think-pair-share and other strategies, it is a method of active learning that encourages collaborating, opinion, and confidence in students. I shared a little bit more and some examples of how/when this strategy can be used below:

Image Source: Active Learning Strategies Slide Deck

Reflection

    I think TPS is a wonderful active learning strategy, especially when teaching a younger audience. It encourages teamwork and effective communication skills. This enables students to be more and more confident and successful with their future peers and colleagues. Though there are a few potential drawbacks of this strategy such as the possibility of a student dominating the conversation and perhaps lack of deep conversation at times- I think this is still one of the best active learning strategies when properly used and monitored with a younger audience. I personally have not used the method, at least not, accurately. When I do storytime outreaches I try to make sure kids are engaged, understand what is being read to them, and predict what it going to happen next. I do my best to enhance literacy and comprehension skills when I do such outreaches. I will have to think more on how I can use these strategies to my advantage as a programming librarian.

References:

Active Learning Strategies - Google Slides

https://prezi.com/vltahpm3b1hn/what-is-active-learning/?token=21acedd662237401cb58486f35352d6fba7d05e6b30cf495979ca34cbf121958&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy