interactive / participatory / student-centered / full-body learning…

…is the concept of engaging the learner in his/her own learning in a way that they find significant. It is setting up and using the whole room for learning activities and changing dynamics to engage learners of all different kinds -- from those who learn by listening to those who learn by doing to those who learn by reading, for example. It is engaging the whole body in learning rather than just the ears (to hear lectures) and the butt/bum/tooshie (to sit in the chair). It is not lecture-based learning, although a well-designed interactive curriculum can include small periods of time when the facilitator is presenting information to the greater group. It is the difference between memorizing vocabulary and learning new vocabulary through engaging in questioning, clarification and conversation. It is the difference between a teacher/lecturer (who holds all the knowledge) and the learning facilitator (who honors the fact that individuals in every group have a wealth of life experience with which to apply and share in the learning and information).

The keys to designing interactive learning curriculum or presentations are to

• create a learning environment / a learning community where learners feel supported and valued
• inform the learners why they are learning something and how they might apply their learning
• provide instructional tools and methods in many forms including handouts, activities, discussions, and small group work
• include the emotional with the intellectual, integrating new data and theory with learners' personal development
• facilitate in a way that invites learners to offer and interact with the information rather than sit passively and receive it
• invite the learners to share their knowledge
• invite collaboration in the learning process
• focus on which process is best for each section of the curriculum
• design based on outcome objectives (after this lesson student will be able to…)
• invite evaluation and recommendations for improvement and ideas from the learners
• support the individual as a whole person, honoring diverse ways of knowing, expressing, culture and ability

Ideally interactive learning is not solely theoretical or academic on its own but also practical, adaptable, relevant and meaningful to learners. It is the idea of teaching concepts rather than just data. There will always be new information or situations confronting the student that have not been covered in the training - however if s/he knows the concepts s/he can apply this to that new information or situation.

Learner-centered education combines verbal-linguistic approaches with logic and reasoning, clustering information into patterns, visualization, activity, reflection, interpersonal communications and relationships, awareness, demonstration and learners teaching what they learn to others / each other. Other modalities such as drawing, performance, improvisation, hands-on creation or experiment, story telling and role playing are often used as students apply what they have just learned and / or use it in an example shown back to the larger group.

Learning Pyramid

The following are said to be average learning retention rates for different instructional approaches:

Using a variety of these approaches within each workshop or presentation more effectively engages learners' bodies and brains and also provides for all kinds of learners at once. A delightful side benefit is that it always keeps a teacher fresh and provides many opportunities for teachers to learn from their students, reminding us that learning is lifelong.

Please contact me if you would like to share ideas for developing your own interactive approaches or if you would like interactive learning curriculum design, trainer trainings, field evaluation, workshops or presentations.

by Lisa Heft

Reproduction and distribution of these pages are encouraged -- however, copies may not be sold -- and please cite the source, including web address: www.openingspace.net Feel free to contact me if you have any questions: lisaheft@openingspace.net