(PDF) Active Learning and Teaching Methods for Key Stages ...

Active Learning and Teaching Methods

CONTENTS

Active Learning and Teaching Methods Rationale

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Section 1 - How to get the most out of using this resource 2

Section 2 ? Toolkit

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Art Spiral

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Back-to-back

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CAF (Consider All

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Factors)

Card Ranking

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Carousel

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Clustering

13

Collage

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Conscience Alley

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Consequence Wheel

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Constructing Walls

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Creative Matrix

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Dartboard Evaluation 21

Diamond Ranking

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Dot Voting

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Drama Techniques

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Each One Teach One

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Fact or Opinion

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Fishbone Strategy

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Fist-to-Five

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Five Questions

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Freeze Frame

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Giant Steps

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Graffiti Board

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Hassle Lines

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Hot Air Balloon

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Hot Seating

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Ideas Funnel

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Jeopardy

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Jigsaw

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Just a Minute

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KWL (Know ? Want to 44 Know ? Learned)

Lifelines

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Memory Game

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Mind Maps

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Mind Movies

50

Mysteries

51

No Easy Answers Board 52

Odd One Out

53

Opinion Finders

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OPV (Other People's

55

Views)

People Bingo

56

PMI (Plus ? Minus

57

? Interesting)

Post-It Collection

58

Priority Pyramid

59

Revolving Circle

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Simulation

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Snowballing

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Spectrum Debate

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Stick Debate

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SWOT (Strengths,

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Weaknesses,

Opportunities, Threats)

Tableau

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Taboo

68

Talking Heads

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Think, Pair and Share 70

Thumb Tool

71

Traffic Lights

72

Two Stars and a Wish 73

Using Photographs

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Walking Debates

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When the Wind Blows 77

Word Games

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Zone of Relevance

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Acknowledgements

The Partnership Management Board would like to thank the many people who contributed to the development and production of the contents of this pack. They include colleagues from:

Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) The Education and Library Boards Regional Training Unit (RTU) Classroom 2000 (C2K)

The Partnership Management Board would also like to thank all the schools who so generously allowed us to take photographs. Their participation celebrates pupils enjoying learning. Their involvement makes the materials real.

Active Learning and Teaching Methods

Active Learning and Teaching Methods

The Revised Curriculum aims to empower our young people to develop their potential as individuals and to make informed and responsible decisions for living and working in the 21st century.

Our society today needs young people who are flexible, creative, and proactive ? young people who can solve problems, make decisions, think critically, communicate ideas effectively and work efficiently within teams and groups. The `knowing of knowledge' is no longer enough to succeed in the increasingly complex, fluid, and rapidly evolving world in which we live. In order to optimise life-long learning and potential success it is now widely accepted that young people need to have opportunities to develop personal capabilities and effective thinking skills as part of their well-rounded education.

These skills are an integral part of the Revised Curriculum for Northern Ireland. Increased flexibility in the curriculum in terms of content and time will offer teachers the opportunity to develop their pupils' skills and capabilities concurrently with knowledge and understanding. It is hoped that this approach will actively engage students in their learning, making the learning a more relevant, enjoyable and motivational experience. Additionally, teachers will have opportunities to further develop their own skills as creative curriculum developers. The following collection is not intended to be a definitive resource, but one which provides practical advice to teachers on a varied range of methods which they may wish to integrate into their daily learning and teaching activities. It is hoped that teachers will find it a helpful tool in planning and creating a stimulating, enriching, challenging and focused environment for both their pupils and themselves.

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Key Stages 1&2

[Section 1]

How to get the most out of using the resource

It is hoped that Active Learning and Teaching Methods will be dipped into and referred to regularly rather than simply read and shelved, so as to provide you with innovative ideas and strategies to integrate into your teaching.

Getting started ? a checklist of things to think about

Below are some key issues and questions that you may find helpful to consider whilst planning future learning activities.

Teacher Motivation

For many teachers there is always more to do and they are always striving to find ways of doing it better ? the area of effective learning and teaching is certainly no exception. It is important that you take the time to ask yourself:

? Where are you now in terms of your learning and teaching practice? ? What is your motivation behind integrating active learning and teaching methods

into your existing classroom practice? ? How can you build on your existing practice? ? What do you hope to achieve?

Pupil Motivation

By using active learning methodologies it is hoped that pupils will not only come to a deeper understanding of the issues involved, but also that their motivation and enthusiasm will be heightened. You may wish to think about the following points in order to increase pupils' motivation:

? Is the activity age-appropriate? ? Are pupils completely aware of the aims and objectives? ? Are there opportunities for pupils themselves to facilitate the activity? ? Will everybody have an equal chance to participate in the activity? ? Is there enough variety?

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Active Learning and Teaching Methods

Classroom Dynamics

Every pupil and teacher brings with them into the classroom a diversity of skills, experiences, needs and expectations. It is factors such as these which will play a large part in shaping the dynamics within the classroom. It is important that you reflect on the dynamics of your class. Some questions to think about:

? How well does the class know one another or is it a new class coming together? ? Have you ever taught the class before? ? Are there any specific needs/circumstances of individual pupils that you need to

take into consideration? ? What is the profile of the class e.g. size, single sex, mixed ability etc? ? Are there any specific needs to be taken into account in order to aid inclusivity?

Preparedness

Many teachers and pupils will be at different stages of experience, confidence and skill development in relation to active methodologies. This needs to be factored into the planning of lessons.

Some questions to think about: ? Have the class engaged in this type of learning before? ? Have you employed active learning strategies before in your teaching? ? if yes how

confident do you feel? ? How do you see your role changing? ? How comfortable do you feel/think you will feel in this type of classroom

environment?

Practicalities

Classroom surroundings influence how teachers and pupils feel and how they act. The classroom environment must be supportive of active learning and teaching.

Questions to think about: ? Are your classroom surroundings conducive to active learning, for example, how

much space is in your classroom, is there display space, what are the seating arrangements, where is your desk positioned etc? ? How much preparation time is available?

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Key Stages 1&2

The Role of the Teacher

The active and participatory classroom has implications for the role of the teacher. There is a shift from a teacher-centred model to a learner-centred approach to learning and teaching. There is also a shift from product-driven learning to process-driven. These changes encourage teachers to reflect not only on the key principles of learning and teaching but also on their role in the process.

From ? To grid showing shift in the role of the teacher in creating an active classroom environment

From: Teacher-centred classroom Product-centred learning Teacher as a `transmitter of knowledge'

Teacher as a `doer' for children

Subject-specific focus

To: Learner-centred classroom Process-centred learning Teacher as an organiser of knowledge Teachers as an `enabler', facilitating pupils in their learning Holistic learning focus

These changes in the role of the teacher will inevitably result in transforming the role of pupils in the classroom.

From ? To grid showing shift in the role played by pupils in an active classroom environment

From:

To:

Being passive recipients of knowledge Active and participatory learners

Focus on answering questions Being `spoon fed' Competing with one another

Asking questions Taking responsibility for their own learning - reflective learners Collaborating in their learning

Wanting to have their own say

Actively listening to opinions of others

Learners of individual subjects

Connecting their learning

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Active Learning and Teaching Methods

The Teacher as Facilitator

In an active classroom environment the role of a teacher is often that of a facilitator, supporting pupils as they learn and develop skills in, for example, assessing evidence, negotiation, making informed decisions, solving problems, working independently and working with others. Pupil participation and involvement in their learning is essential.

Sometimes it is appropriate for the facilitator to take on a particular role/function in an attempt to enhance the learning within the class or to challenge their thinking in a new way. Some of these possible roles include:

? Neutral facilitator: The facilitator enables the group to explore a range of different viewpoints without stating their own opinion.

? Devil's advocate: The facilitator deliberately adopts an opposite stance to confront people, irrespective of their own views. This method is slightly `tongue-in-cheek'.

? Declared interests: The facilitator declares their own position so that the group knows their views.

? Ally: The facilitator supports the views of a particular sub-group or individual (usually a minority) within a group.

? Official view: The facilitator informs the group of the official position on certain issues e.g. official organisations, the law etc.

? Challenger: The facilitator, through questioning, challenges the views being expressed and encourages the pupils to justify their position.

? Provocateur: The facilitator brings up an argument, viewpoint and information which they know will provoke the class, and which they do not necessarily believe, but because they are authentic beliefs of other individuals or groups, they present them convincingly.

? In-role: The facilitator may "become" a particular person or caricature (for example a church leader or a politician), putting across their arguments and position to the class.

The above facilitation roles have their advantages and disadvantages and it is important to weigh these up in planning your lessons. Questions to think about may include:

? How will I feel about taking on these roles? ? Can I think of areas in my existing practice to which some of these roles may be

applied? ? Do I sometimes take on some of these roles unconsciously? ? Are there any specific needs in my class to be taken into account? ? What strategies can I use to deal with difficult and challenging issues that may be

raised? ? Am I clear as to what my learning intentions and outcomes are for the lesson etc?

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