Active learning

What is active learning and how is it used in the classroom and online?

Active learning is a pedagogical approach that encourages the active participation of students in their learning process. Unlike more traditional methods, where the student tends to be a passive recipient of information, active learning encourages students to construct their own library of knowledge through participation in a range of practical activities.

Active learning is based on the premise that students learn most effectively when they actively participate in the knowledge acquisition process. In practice, this means that in the classroom students should not only listen and take notes, but also participate in discussions, solve problems, carry out research and collaborate with their classmates. Such participation should allow them to develop a deeper understanding of their subject, intuitively connect ideas with each other, and better retain knowledge.

In an online classroom environment, the approach is the same, but simply adapted to technological tools such as online learning platforms, video conferencing, or discussion forums. Some of the best ways to apply active learning in online environments include through collaborative learning, organizing group projects, activities and discussions online, and through self-learning activities that give students autonomy to manage their own learning schedule. Another means of utilizing active learning is through gamification, employing game elements to make learning more interactive and entertaining.

The advantages of active learning for the development of critical skills

Active learning brings an array of advantages that go beyond the simple acquisition of knowledge. By encouraging active student participation, this approach contributes to the development of a number of key critical skills, which include:

Critical thinking

Students learn to question, analyze and evaluate information more deeply.

Problem-solving

By confronting practical challenges, students develop the skills they need to find effective solutions.

Effective communication

Collaborative learning discussions and projects improve communication and teamwork skills.

Autonomy

Students learn to manage their time and resources independently, which is essential for their professional development.

Motivation

Active learning can increase student motivation by making the learning process more interesting and relevant.

In addition to these critical-skill-boosting benefits, active learning contributes to greater knowledge retention, encourages more social interaction, and prepares students to face real-life situations and challenges. It also improves their professional flexibility and accommodates custom learning pathways.

Strategies to promote active learning in educational environments

To promote active learning in educational environments, teachers or trainers can implement various strategies, including:

Designing interactive activities

Create tasks or activities that require active student participation in the learning process, such as in-person and online discussions, interactive quizzes, and hands-on projects.

Encouraging students through feedback

Consistent, constructive feedback helps guide students through the learning process.

Using multimedia resources

Active learning in online environments allows for the use of interactive elements such as videos, simulations, games, and interactive questionnaires that make it possible to diversify teaching approaches.

Facilitating collaboration

In active learning, facilitating student collaboration is especially important, whether through group projects, in-person discussions or online chats. For the latter, online collaboration platforms such as chat rooms, shared documents or video conferencing are the ideal spaces to promote interaction between students.

Giving autonomy

Finally, it’s important that students have the freedom to choose their own research topics, projects or study methods. This enhances their sense of ownership in learning and drives their autonomy.

Active learning is the ideal pedagogical approach to promote the development of critical skills, and one of the very best ways to achieve this is through online courses. To help get you there, isEazy Skills offers you the most complete catalog on the market, packed with a host of agile, interactive and effective soft skills courses. All our courses are based on a 100% practical methodology, designed to train students in specific behaviors and situations taken from their daily lives. They’re also available in 8 languages and ready to consume from any device.