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Active Learning Resources

This guide contains resources on active learning from the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Passive vs. Active

Defining Passive vs. Active

WHAT IS PASSIVE LEARNING?

   1.     Listening and reading skills.

   2.     Defining, listing, describing, and explaining.

   3.     Seeing and hearing.

WHAT IS ACTIVE LEARNING?

   1.     Teaching techniques other than straight lecture.

   2.     Smaller task-oriented assignments or...

   3.     Project-based with task-oriented assignments within it.

   4.     Students discover, process, and/or apply information.

   5.     There are different forms and strategies, including...

   6.     Face-to-Face and Online/Distance Learning approaches.

   7.     Emphasis is placed on analysis, synthesis, and evaluation

Improving Learning

PASSIVE LEARNING

Tier 1: 

Learning Activities: Reading and Listening

      Students retain 10% of what they read

            o   Reading a power point

      Students retain 20% of what they hear

            o   Listening to a lecture

Learning outcomes: Define, List, Describe, Explain

Tier 2: 

Learning Activities: Seeing and Seeing and Hearing

      Students retain 30% of what they see

            o   Viewing images

      Students retain 50% of what they see and hear

            o   Watching a demonstration

Learning outcomes: Demonstrate, Apply, Practice


ACTIVE LEARNING

Tier 3: 

Learning Activities: Speaking and Writing

      Students retain 70% of what they say and write

            o   Hands on workshops

            o   Interactive lessons

Learning outcomes: Analyze, Define, Create, Evaluate

Tier 4: 

Learning Activities: Doing

      Students retain 90% of what they do.

         o   Simulate, model, or experience a lesson

         o   Design and/or perform a presentation

Learning outcomes: Analyze, Define, Create, Evaluate