Active learning is great but.....
Testing needs to be rethought too. Students often understand the information, but can't pass tests. This leads to a return to passive learning. Tests do not care if you understand something or have the information memorized.
Until testing methods are changed passive learning will be the norm.
Chris i agree, so much has been done with different styles of learning but testing has not been updated, there has to be away of testing students other than the old methods
Hi Chris,
This has been talked about for years. I certainly understand your perspective. Some students simply do not test well.
Patricia Scales
Hi Samuel,
Isn't it the truth! I can't believe everything else has changed in education excepting testing. We still have them, however we have seen more electronic testing, but tests are still around.
Patricia Scales
I agree with Chris here especially Information Technology curricula. I have seen students who can install servers, fix problems, and so forth, but when it comes to certification exams, they cannot pass. It usually involves studying for cert exams but that leads back to passive learning. I believe passive learning will be in place as long as entire system of educational system is changed. If not, we will have room for passive learning environment.
Hi Sonny,
I too have seen this! They are able to do the hands-on activities, but they just cannot pass the written test...sad. These type students need to have a review theory class in order to help pass the certification exam.
Patricia Scales
Theory review may help,but some students live for the answers,I try to include questioning during an activity task,to help relate the activity to the test.
I agree with what Chris has stated, but my thought is that in the end as long as the student gets what he or she needs to pass a test all is good , so lets use active and passive learning together, remember we all learn differently, a blend may help.
In relation to your comment of students living for the answer, it is especially true for the foundation courses in our massage therapy program (think anatomy and physiology).The students are so focused on some sort of framework to help them study that anything they don't percieve as helping that process is met with resistance and sometimes panic. When they are in the hands-on courses it is totally reversed, they need mimimal lecture or demonstration before they are ready/want to try these techniques out. This leads me to believe that some courses are better suited to a lecture format and others are not.
Hi James,
Hands-on learning is a good method for test review. Students tend to remember more if they perform.
Patricia Scales
Hi John,
A blend is always good! We learn differently and at different paces. We need to teach where all learners are reached.
Patricia Scales
Hi Robert,
I concur! If students know that they are going to be tested on the materail, they want the answer and the hone in, otherwise if they know that they are not going to be tested, the focus is lacking.
Patricia Scales
I like the fact in the culinary schools - their practicals are worth more than the written test. Our students are better at "making things" than answering questions about them on paper
Hi Cara,
I agree! I love this approach. In my computer classes I use the same approach. The hands-on portion of the test is worth more than the written portion. A lot of students can perform the concept, but the students just do not do well with the written component.
Patricia Scales
Chris OMeara is the man, you bring up a very important topic especially in a technical setting their should be more focus on the testing process not just a pass or fail outcome
Ultimately to engage in active learning you need a starting point which seems to require lecture to introduce a student to new technical concepts. Once the student has some idea of the concepts involved they can then apply those to a more hands on learning scenario. Once again the word balance pops up.
Perhaps your institution limits the means of testing but where I am employed we have both traditional pencil paper testing and hands-on testing as well. So a student who is poor with tests in the traditional sense is not totally sunk if he/she is capable of doing what is ultimately required. It is interesting however to see the vast difference in the results. Many can turn in seemingly perfect labs but when put on the spot to perform show that they truley didn't get it. On the contrary many can perform a task well, but when asked to verbalize the task or make a conclusion about the results they often are unable. There really does need to be a mix of testing styles if therre is going to be a mix of teaching styles.
Hi Keith,
In the technical setting I like to know that my students can fully apply what they have learned.
Patricia Scales
Hi Albert,
You must find a good balance between theory/application. Students must understand the theory in order to apply what they have learned. Give students a solid foundation with the theory you share.
Patricia Scales
Hi Andre,
I concur! In a perfect world you want your students to understand the theory and hands on, but this is certainly not always the case.
Patricia Scales
