What is Active Learning?

Active learning is an instructional method in which students participate in dynamic and experiential learning activities. This method immerses students in the learning process and transforms the abstract concept of an educational experience into something tangible and exciting.

In the modern classroom, the traditional combination of assigned readings and a lecture may be extremely effective for some students; however, the combination could fall short for others who enjoy a different learning style or simply aren’t engaged.

By supplementing readings and lectures with dynamic experiences, students have the opportunity to interact with course material in meaningful ways. Active learning increases comprehension, helps students connect with key concepts, and inspires students to participate fully in the learning experience.

What is Cognella Active Learning?

Cognella Active Learning provides instructors the opportunity to create dynamic online content within a custom digital learning environment. Interactive exercises and experiences connect students with coursework in new and exciting ways. Quizzes, flashcards, videos, PowerPoint slides and lectures, scenarios, and skill-based games help learning come alive.

Cognella Active Learning environments are concise yet complete. They feature only those activities proven to improve learning outcomes and engage students. Our cost-effective model saves students, on average, $55 when compared to similar learning systems. And best of all, you can either partner closely with our expert editors to develop your own content or adopt a ready-made learning environment that perfectly complements your course.

Additional resources

Active Learning
Harvard University-Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning
http://bokcenter.harvard.edu/active-learning

Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
http://www.pnas.org/content/111/23/8410.full.pdf

Learning is Not a Spectator Sport
Carnegie Mellon University
http://pact.cs.cmu.edu/pubs/koedinger,%20Kim,%20Jia,%20McLaughlin,%20Bier%202015.pdf

Active Learning
University of Michigan-Center for Research on Learning and Teaching
http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tsal 

Learning is Not a Spectator Sport: Doing is Better than Watching for Learning from a MOOC
Kenneth R. Koedinger, Elizabeth A. McLaughlin, Jihee Kim, Norman L. Bier, and Julianna Zhuxix Jia – Carnegie Mellon University
http://pact.cs.cmu.edu/pubs/koedinger,%20Kim,%20Jia,%20McLaughlin,%20Bier%202015.pdf

What does research say about active learning?
Jay Lynch, Ph.D., Course Design, Development, and Academic Research, Pearson
https://www.pearsoned.com/research-active-learning-students

Active Learning
Clemson University-National Dropout Prevention Center/Network
http://dropoutprevention.org/effective-strategies/active-learning

7 Things You Should Know About Research on Active Learning Classrooms
EDUCAUSE
https://library.educause.edu/-/media/files/library/2017/9/eli7148.pdf

Research on Active Learning at Duke
Duke University – Learning Innovation
https://learninginnovation.duke.edu/blog/2017/07/research-active-learning-duke/

How Active Learning Classrooms Are Making a Difference
Steelcase Education
https://www.eandi.org/wp-content/uploads/Steelcase-ALC-Research-Summary_2019.pdf