Using Active Learning
Active learning is a teaching method that resulted from studies about how the brain stores information. Students that interacted with content through a combination of reading, writing, drawing, discussing and reflecting were more likely to remember that content than did students who passively listened to what the faculty member said. Most active learning techniques take less than five minutes of class time. To listen to a broadcast about active learning, see my website http://www.medicine.usask.ca/cbf/podcasts
Active learning techniques that could be used in medical education include:
1. The "One Minute Paper"
2. Class wikipedia (online encyclopedia or definitions)
3. Write, pair, share
4. Muddiest (or Clearest) point
5. Daily journal
6. Compare notes
7. Reading quiz
8. Clarification pauses
9. Scavenger hunts
10. Student summary of another student’s answer
11. Deposit questions in The Fish Bowl
12. Flash cards
13. Puzzles/Paradoxes
14. Evaluation of another student’s work
15. Active review sessions
16. Concept mapping
17. Visual lists
18. Role playing
19. Panel discussions
20. Debates
21. Educational games
For more information about these and other active learning techniques, sign up for the Educational Support and Development series on Active Learning. http://www.medicine.usask.ca/education/support/programs_bytitle/
Some websites that explain these techniques in more depth include:
http://blogs.usask.ca/medical_education/archive/2006/03/active_learning.html
http://cte.umdnj.edu/active_learning/active_general.cfm
http://www.vcu.edu/cte/activelearningtechniques.html
http://www.calstatela.edu/dept/chem/chem2/Active/
http://teaching.ucsc.edu/tips-actvlearn.html
Some websites with resources that might be useful for creating active learning include:
Concept Mapping http://mindmeister.com/
Crossword Puzzle Maker http://www.crossword-compiler.com/
Medical Mnemonics http://www.medicalmnemonics.com/
Online Games Generator https://egames.clsllc.com/
Thiagi Game site http://www.thiagi.com/freebies-and-goodies.html
Usask Blogs http://www.usask.ca/its/services/webpage_hosting/blogs/
Usask Wiki http://wiki.usask.ca/