Active Learning Essay

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ACTIVE LEARNING: DEFINITION, JUSTIFICATION, AND FACILITATION Joe Cuseo DEFINITION OF ACTIVE LEARNING This is the broadest and most inclusive learning principle and it undergirds all other key learning processes. Active learning can be defined as an investment of a significant amount of mental energy and a high level of psychological involvement in the learning process. Student involvement in the learning process may be conceptualized as falling on a continuum of attention or engagement, ranging from active learning on one end to passive learning on the other. For instance, student engagement in class can range from being "passive" (e.g., total inattentiveness--looking out the window and thinking about other things) to "moderately active" (e.g., intermittent attention--tuning in only when the instructor writes something on the board) to "very active" (e.g., listening intently, taking notes, monitoring comprehension, asking questions, and participating in class discussions). The degree or amount of mental energy invested in the learning process increases substantially when students physically act on, or engage in some action with respect to, the material they are learning--i.e., they actually do something with the subject matter at hand. Three major modes of action through which students can become actively involved with course material are (1) writing (2) speaking and (3) use of information technology (i.e., use of computer technology such as word processing, electronic mail, or the World Wide Web). These three skills represent major modes or vehicles for ensuring student involvement and promoting active learning. RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTING THE VALUE OF ACTIVE LEARNING National commissions and blue-ribbon reports on the status of American higher education have repeatedly criticized the college experience for its failure to actively
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