Literature about the benefits of evidence-based teaching and learning as well as opportunities to gain knowledge about effective strategies are abundant. UA faculty members are encouraged to review the literature and participate in professional development opportunities to develop a fundamental understanding of the key concepts.
The University Center for Assessment, Teaching & Technology offers various Hubs to support the UArizona teaching community. All services previously offered by OIA nd Digital Learning have been organized on the UCATT services page.
The University of Minnesota has been developing their Active Learning Classrooms Program for many years. The U of MN Center for Educational Innovations has some very practical information about teaching in spaces similar to the UA Collaborative Learning Spaces.
- What is Active Learning?
- Elements of Active Learning
- Recommendations for Making Active Learning Work
The information contained in these tutorials is generally consistent with the recommended best practices for the Collaborative Learning Spaces at the University of Arizona with one exception. The tutorials recommend, "Use active learning frequently – at least once a class period initially". Instructors in the UA Collaborative Learning Spaces are urged to incorporate active learning strategies throughout the class from the very first day. A typical 50-minute class should include a minimum of 3-4 activities, or more, interspersed with short lectures or explanations.
As you will note, these strategies can be used in many different types of learning environments, not just Collaborative Learning Spaces.
The following page from the Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching also contains fundamental information about active learning and active learning strategies:
- Active Learning (Vanderbilt University)
The Science Education Initiative Videos are quite good and are applicable to other disciplines not solely science education. The following video is particularly helpful:
- Effective Group Work in the College Classroom (~15 minutes)
The following UA videos illustrate examples of active learning approaches:
The Learning Cycle (15 minutes)
Structural Geology with Dr. Davis: A Premier Example of Active Learning (5 minutes)
Formative Assessment Using Cloud-Based Student Response System (5 minutes)
Formative Assessment Using Cloud-Based Student Response System (5 minutes)
The following publications provide additional related information:
Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits
Small Changes in Teaching Series (Chronicle of Higher Education)
Using Active Learning Instructional Strategies to Create Excitement and Enhance Learning
Confessions of a Converted Lecturer (Video)
Common Active Learning Mistakes
Student Engagement Tips from Teaching Professor Conference Attendees