Ryan (2021, p. 7) defines active learning as:
an educational process where students become vigorously engaged in assimilating the material being explored, rather than passively absorbing that taught by others. Active learning is an umbrella term that refers to several models of instruction that focus the responsibility of learning on learners. Active learning promotes the comprehensive and integrated development of cognitive, affective (emotional) and psychomotor domains. It enables deeply embedded learning, skill development and values appraisal. Active Learning can be enabled in face to face, blended and/or online environments. Regardless, the learning environment and learning climate is one of interaction, collaboration and stimulation. Its effectiveness depends upon the instructor’s ability to create and cocreate with students a learning community. In so doing, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own engagement, by responding positively to the learning stimulus and; through their participation, students are actively engaged in contributing to the learning.
Click on the image below for more information on what active learning is, and why it matters.
(ViewSonic, 2019)
This video looks at some theories of active learning, with reference to Dale's Pyramid of Learning and Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning.
(Guzman, 2019)
The Library, Technological University of the Shannon: Midwest