The Power of Active Learning

Many traditional educational programs rely on passive learning tools like reading and listening to lectures. Learning this way requires a lot of focus. Because students don’t have to engage with new information right away, it is easier for them to forget what they have learned.

Active learning changes that. Students don’t just receive information. They process it, respond to it, and apply it. This creates stronger memory pathways and deeper understanding.

Active learning also supports career readiness by helping students practice communication, decision-making, and problem-solving.

5 Active Learning Strategies

Here are five active learning strategies that you can teach your students to use to learn new concepts quickly.

1. Note Taking

It’s a proven science that notetaking increases memory and understanding of new ideas. Writing helps students understand and remember new ideas.

Encourage students to:

• Jot down key points during lectures

• Underline or circle phrases in their reading

• Note questions as they come up

The physical act of writing strengthens comprehension and helps the brain organize information.

2. Writing

Another way to actively engage with educational material is to write about it. To remember a new idea, students should try writing a summary of it. If your assignments include them writing an essay exploring different opinions about a new topic and writing down definitions in their own words, they may easily memorize new ideas. 

Students can also keep a journal of how new ideas make them feel or any interesting thoughts they spark. Some questions to consider while students journal could be:

• Do you have questions? 

• What’s easy for you?

• What’s challenging to understand?

• What would you like to come back to later? 

Responding to new information is the basis for learning, and it’ll cement new concepts into their brain.

3. Teaching Others

Verbal communication is another excellent way to practice active learning. When students explain an idea to someone else, they can realize how much they actually understand. The other student may ask questions they haven’t considered or want clarification on certain points that still seem confusing.

This is also a good strategy to keep in mind when students are studying on their own; they can act like they are teaching someone else to reinforce the information further.

4. Movement

Movement wakes up your body and is good for your brain. Many students spend extended periods of time sitting each day at school, so being still for longer to learn can be frustrating.

Students can:

• Stand while listening

• Walk while reviewing notes

• Stretch during short breaks

Even a quick 10-minute activity improves attention and motivation.
You can use our free printable stretch routine if you need easy classroom options.

5. Taking Breaks

To learn well, one must rest well, too. Students should learn the value of taking frequent breaks to recharge and be ready to learn more during their studies. Research shows that people are most productive when they alternate high-focus periods of work with regular 15-minute breaks.

For the brain and body to be working at their peak, students also need to get adequate sleep every night. Talk to them about the importance of structuring their day around breaks, and you’ll be amazed at how much more they will enjoy learning.

Can Active Learning Work Online?

Yes. Online learning changes how students interact, but active learning still plays a major role.

Active learning in an online format looks a little different from the classroom. Each response learners give must go through a remote communication system, which adds an extra step and thus an extra hurdle for students and educators.

For instance, classroom discussions may become online discussion boards or students can come together to review video material together. The easiest way to carry your active learning endeavors would be through a student engagement tool that you can utilize in your school if you have the means for it. Even in an online setting, students can incorporate active learning strategies to make the most of their education.

Although online learning platforms can take some getting used to, they’re also pretty amazing. Technological innovation makes it possible for learners to save time and money, all while learning from the security of their homes.

Esports Education: The Ultimate Active Learning Tool

Esports naturally mirrors active learning. Students don’t sit and watch. They participate, think, plan, and react in real time.

Scholastic Esports supports active learning because students:

• Make strategic decisions

• Analyze scenarios

• Work as a team

• Manage emotions under pressure

• Communicate clearly

• Reflect on their performance

This keeps learning interactive, interest-driven, and inclusive. Students who don’t always engage with traditional lessons often respond well to the structure and excitement of esports.

The Benefits of Active Learning with Esports

Esports strengthens active learning in several ways:

• Engagement: Students stay focused when learning connects to their interests.

• Collaboration: Teams must communicate, coordinate, and solve problems together.

• Strategic Thinking: Students evaluate situations and make informed decisions.

• Inclusivity: Esports supports students who may not participate in other activities.

• Career Preparation: Skills learned through esports connect to media, technology, design, and communication pathways.

A Path to Lifelong Learning

Active learning wakes up the brain. It helps to understand and retain information quickly. Use these five active learning strategies to boost student comprehension of new material. 

For teachers wondering how to provide active learning via esports and gaming to their students, get a demo! Find out how simple online esports education can be.