What is active learning?
Active learning is engaging students in an activity that will make them think and analyse the information being
taught. Active learning may occur at every stage of the lesson, starting from getting the students engaged in
the topic, through actively taking part in discovering language and rules, to free, active production.
2. The cone of learning
http://www.edutechie.ws/2007/10/09/cone-of-experience-media/
3. Teacher roles in an active-learning classroom
In an active classroom, the move is from a teacher-centred model to a learnercentred
one. The teacher is no longer standing in front of the classroom, instructing,
and transmitting the knowledge, but organizing the learning and facilitating the
students in their learning. As a facilitator, the teacher supports students in the
learning process, enables them to explore various viewpoints, helps them to ask
questions and solve problems.
4. Student roles in an active-learning classroom
In an active learning environment, the students move from being passive recipients of knowledge to
participatory learners. Instead of being ‘spoon fed’ by the teacher, they become responsible for their own
learning, they ask and answer questions, discover rules, share viewpoints and collaborate with others.
5. Active learning methods in the classroom
Below is a list of several active learning strategies, and ideas of how they can be applied in an English language
teaching classroom. For more methods and ideas, follow the links in item 6.