ACTIVE Learning

An instructional method that helps to engage students in the learning process is active learning! Active learning gives students the opportunity to be active participants in their own learning process and become metacongnitive. Active learning increases students' involvement, engagement, critical thinking, independent thinking, and creative thinking. It also increases students' collaboration with
one another and their motivation and performance.

When Should I Use Active Learning Strategies?

• When students work in pairs or small groups
• When in need of pre-assessment data
• When accessing prior knowledge
• To discover misconceptions and misunderstandings
• To set a purpose
• To check for understanding
• To build movement

Examples:

Biopoems - This acvtivity helps students make a personal connection with characters or concepts, helps to increase creative thinking, and gives the students an opportunity to use descriptive language. 

Guidlines for each line:

1. First Name
2. 3 or 4 adjectives that describe the person/object
3. Important relationships
4. 2 or 3 things, people, or ideas that the person or object leved, was attracted to or interested in
5. 3 feelings that the person/object experienced
6. 3 fears the person/object experienced
7. Accomplishments
8. 2 or 3 places, people, or experiences, the person wanted to see or wanted to have
9. His or her residence
10. Last Name

Think, Pair, Share - This activity helps to build wait time, increase participation, check for understanding, provides time for the teacher to prepare. 

Process:

1. Ask a question
2. Tell students to think quietly, allow for at least 30 seconds to a minute of think time
3. Tell students to pair up with a partner and discuss their thinking, allow 2-3 minutes

Signal Cards - This activity gives students a chance to express their understanding of something or express that they are in need of more help. Students are given cards to signal this understanding.