Innovation – Active Learning

Since the 1980s, many leaders in higher education have urged colleges & departments and teachers to involve students in the learning process. In comparison with the traditional one-way knowledge transfer of “teacher speaking and student listening”, education researchers have found that the more students participate in the learning process, the more they gain. As a result, the concept of “active learning” has emerged and has had a significant positive impact on student learning.
In their book, Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom, Bonwell and Eiso define active learning as a method of learning in which students are actively or experientially involved in the learning process that require students to think about what they are doing or learning. Active learning strategies usually have the following features:
  • Higher proportion of student participation than passive listening.
  • The instructor focuses more on developing student skills rather than transmitting information.
  • Students engage in higher-order thinking in the classroom, such as analysis, hypothesis, and evaluation.
  • Students participate in learning activities such as reading, discussion, and writing.
  • Through active learning, students explore their attitudes and values.

Based on the above concepts of active learning, the Center has been promoting the Active Learning Project for many years to train students to become active learners. Application for the Active Learning Project is student-initiated, where students design a 3-month learning plan for in-depth learning on issues of their interest, or proposing action plans for improvements. In addition, students exchange views and ideas through several peer exchange meetings during the implementation of their individual learning plans. They also do reflective writings to further explore their personal attitudes, values and career direction. The Active Learning Project becomes the starting point for students to initiate actions, and through the process of practical learning, they discover the fascinating facets of active learning.

  

Related Services

  1. Active Learning Project (2015-2016)
  2. Small-Scale Field Study (2017)
  3. Learning Dream Incubator (2018)
  4. Purposeful Vacation (2018-)
  5. Active Learning Project (2020-)