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.

When students utilize active learning methods, the brain processes both new information and how to use it. They practice forming a neural pathway instead of just thinking about doing it later.

Active learning builds a strong foundation for applying and integrating new ideas into one’s professional skill set. 

5 Active Learning Methods

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

1. Take Notes

It’s a proven science that notetaking increases memory and understanding of new ideas. When students listen to speakers or watch lectures, they should write down the big ideas and anything else that stands out to them.

Also, encourage your students to write in their books. Underlining, circling, and otherwise marking reading material will help them better engage with and understand the subject. They should also keep track of any questions that come up while they are reading.

2. Write About It

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. Teach Someone Else

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. Move Around

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.

Let your students know that they can stand while listening to your classes. Encourage them to walk around while they study and plan quick breaks for stretches. Even a 10-minute activity can make a difference in focus, interest, and memory. Check out our free printable stretching routine for your classroom.

5. Take 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 be Online?

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. These strategies become even more important when the only educational tool you’re engaging with is a computer screen.

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 Interactive Classroom

Active learning challenges students to engage, participate, and immerse themselves in the educational process. Esports education, by its very nature, encapsulates these principles. It is an immersive learning experience that utilizes the excitement and competitiveness of esports to deliver educational content in a more engaging manner. This approach effectively captures the attention of students, many of whom are already passionate gamers, and channels their enthusiasm toward productive learning.

In contrast to traditional teaching methods that may passively engage students, esports education fosters active participation. Students are not just listeners; they are active players and thinkers directly involved in the learning process. This approach also brings a level of inclusivity to the classroom as it appeals to a diverse range of students, including those who might not be engaged by traditional teaching methods. 

Most importantly, both through esports training and scholastic esports, students develop skills that are highly valuable in the real world. Skills like strategic thinking, team management, and quick decision-making are inherent in esports and are transferable to real-life situations.

Conclusion: Learning for Life

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.  Don’t settle for passive learning;  education is a privilege, and students will be able to make the most of it, thanks to you!

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. 

You’ll have the peace of mind of knowing your students have all the knowledge they need right at their fingertips.