Final answer:
Active learning strategies include embedded activities, interactive techniques, group discussions, online exercises, personal questions, real-world problems, and hands-on activities, all designed to promote student engagement and deeper understanding.
Step-by-step explanation:
Active learning strategies involve engaging students in the process of learning through activities and dynamic interactions, aiming to foster deeper understanding and retention of the subject matter. Here are some strategies based on educational research and practices:
- Embedded Activities and Questions: Incorporating brief activities and questions within lectures or reading materials to promote active engagement.
- Interactive Techniques: Using tools like word clouds, live polls, and surveys during presentations to encourage participation.
- Small Group Discussions: Facilitating discussions among smaller groups to encourage peer-to-peer learning and critical thinking.
- Link to Learning Features: Directing students to online exercises and animations to supplement core content with interactive examples.
- Personal Application Questions: Asking reflective questions that relate the content to the student's personal experiences to stimulate discussion and deeper understanding.
- Practice Problems and Real-World Scenarios: Providing exercises that range in difficulty and include real-life applications to engage students and promote application of knowledge.
- Hands-on Activities: Encouraging hands-on experiments and simulations, like Snap Labs in physics, to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical context.
These active learning strategies are examples drawn from various educational sources, including Bodie, Powers, and Fitch-Hauser's approach to teaching interactive communication skills, and are vital for promoting an interactive and engaging learning environment.