Active Learning
Why is ‘Active learning’ important as opposed to the isolation or memorisation of facts and figures?
In short active learning requires children to be involved and engaged in with an activity. It requires children to be doing something that develops their understanding and practical application of their skill base. Problem solving, open ended questions, reflection and critical thinking are some of the skills used, but not limited to, when being actively involved with learning. It is the opposite of being given facts and figures with the expectation of memorising and accepting the answers as being correct. Through ‘Active learning’, children are engaged and challenged to why and how they think using real-life and imaginary situations
A GSE Designed Classroom
Why is active learning important?
As a tool ‘Active Learning and Play’ brings together children’s ideas, feelings, relationships and physical aspects of the environment. In this way, they develop their understanding of things that they encounter in their immediate surroundings or new social situations. Simply put ‘Active learning’ enables children to learn new ideas, theories and concepts by building upon what they already know to higher levels of thinking without requiring a set goal or target to achieve. It allows the children to think critically, problem solve and find their own solutions and answers.
To achieve this, learning is supported through ‘concrete experiences’, or what is referred to as ‘hands on’ learning by interacting with their environment. This is carried out through interactive tasks that require children to plan and go through a variety of processes to understand their end goal.
In short, active learning is important as children can develop their ideas and understanding using an ever-growing variety of practical interactions and implementation of processes which are built upon via self-initiated activities—moving, listening, searching, feeling, talking, experimenting and manipulating objects. This in turn supports the child’s understanding of the world around them, along with the life skills that they required to be an active participant of the community.
What are the challenges for active learning?
The challenge lies in the extent to which adult’s guide and support children’s play as being a powerful vehicle for learning without controlling or setting goals, targets or expectations for potential learning. As adults, we must consider the children’s ability to experiment and explore their understanding when finding their own solutions to develop necessary processes to seek out answers for themselves. Care is required not to put time restraints, barriers or boundaries for learning. There is a requirement to respect each child whom has individual potential with their own interests and ways of understanding which is unique to them. Learn how active learning is approached through curriculum: Read more
Want to learn more about play? Read more – What are the principles of high quality play?
CEO and Education Expert Greg Parry
Internationally renowned for his expertise in education leadership, Greg Parry’s vast experience includes leadership of projects for edu-cation institutions throughout Australia, the Middle East, the United States, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and China. Recognised for his numerous contributions in the education arena, Greg has received the Ministers Award for Excellence in School Leadership based on improvements in school performance and a range of successful principal training and leadership development programs, as well as the School of Excellence Award for Industry/School Partnerships and the School of Excellence Award for Technology Innovation. His company GSE (Global Services in Education) has been recognised as having the Best Global Brand in International Education in 2015 and 2016.
Considered one of the premier experts in his profession, Greg has trained teachers and principals throughout the world in areas such as critical thinking, language development and leadership. His expertise in school start up projects, leadership and curriculum development, has made him a sought after authority in these disciplines.
Global Services in Education set up and operate schools in all parts of the world. Governed by a philosophy of global citizenship, every member of the GSE team shares a passion to help shape international education and student achievement through inspiration and collaboration.
Our goal is to meet the highest objectives of every school, teacher, student and parent, with an unwavering dedication to quality education, shared ideals and intercultural perspectives.
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