Do your recall that one class that you absolutely hated in high school? Of course there were other factors such as your level of interest and ability to focus that influenced your dislike of the class. Yes, you remember. We all remember! Have your heard of active learning? Could this have helped you during that class you are now remembering with distain? This was the class that was so painfully boring that you thought you would die before the bell rang. You painfully tried to stay awake and you would develop a splitting headache or daydream about lunch while the teacher went on and on with the lecture.
Motivating Students To Learn
You’re Not Alone
Actually this scenario is pretty normal according to the experts. The experts have determined that people do not learn well in the “passive” way. Learning by just listening to a lecture or watching someone else really does not work in the experts’ opinion. Daydreaming soon rolls in! However by doing the activity being lectured on, experts have found it to be a much better and more effective way of learning. It has proven to be much better than by watching, listening, or reading. This is active learning. This an change your education or the way your kids learn,
Hands On
They are not advocating that we get rid of the classroom but that we supplement classroom learning with hands-on learning. Sometimes classroom learning is the only option available. However we now realise that learning takes place by reading about and discussing a subject. Hearing others speak on the subject is also a way to learn and understand. As is watching audio-visual presentations, studying real life experiences and by doing the task itself.
Different presentation methods result in different retention rates. For example, it has been discovered that as adults we expend 90 percent of our focus in the first five minutes of a class.
Other Methods
The next best method of active learning, after the reading or hearing methods, is seeing something done. And finally the best method is by doing.
Some old school teachers treat students like they are totally empty and it is up to them to fill them up with some amount of the world’s knowledge. However we are seeing “interactive” learning becoming more and more popular today. This type of learning recognizes the experiences that each student brings to the table and utilizing these experiences to achieve effective learning. Get children involved rather than just listening and nodding off.
The After School Learning Environment
Everyone Is Different
We must take into account the differences in personalities as they have an affect on the individual’s preferred learning style. No two people learn alike. Next time you attend a meeting at work, try your best to be an active participant in it instead of just soaking everything in. You will find that you may learn something and you will come away with a sense of achievement.
You will discover that when you take an active part in learning that the time will pass by much quicker. There is a chance you may just get your tasks done earlier too. Try active learning and you could discover a new way to embrace education and actually enjoy it!