Three Simple Ways to Encourage Active Learning

In the ELA and social studies classroom, sometimes we simply must lecture or, heaven forbid, assign readings. I used to assign readings, my students would do them, and we’d have a class discussion. When I’d lecture, the students were genuinely interested in the stories I told (or did I imagine these things?).

I’ve either become more perceptive in my middle years, or my students have become less attentive. Either way, the old ways I did things don’t work anymore (or did they ever? Not sure).

I see lots of pained expressions these days, but sometimes, we have to stand up and talk or assign readings. There’s no way around it.

I think most educators would agree that an effective way to do it is in short bursts with structured breaks for student reflection and action. After about ten minutes, most secondary students need a few moments of action so that we don’t lose them.

I want to discuss three specific methods I use to break up any lecture or reading in order to get students to reflect upon the material, work cooperatively, and hopefully, to retain, analyze, and manipulate the content. I like these methods because I provide students with the framework, and they generate the content (the questions, summaries, etc.).

And yes, they do involve printing (but not a lot). I’m a huge fan of technology–I use it all the time to further my students’ learning objectives. The most effective forms of technology for this purpose, I think, anyway, are paper, pencils, scissors, crayons, and glue–the basic stuff. I time each activity because I’m sure you’ve noticed that students will take as long as we give them. And we do need to get back to that lecture.

Three Simple Ways to Encourage Active Learning

1. Sorts: Put students in pairs and have them fill out a chart. It can be as simple as placing important
events in chronological order or as complex as identifying events, their causes, and their effects. They can even categorize information. Then students cut out the sections from the chart, shuffle them up, and optionally, place them into an envelope that they label so you can reuse the sorts for review or at stations.