Nowadays, more and more teaching and learning activities are accessible via the internet, students are more readily distracted by their surroundings. For example, when I search for related videos for weekly posts on YouTube, I will watch the videos of the bloggers I follow. Because of this distraction, learning efficiency declines. As a result, it is critical that we enjoy studying and improve our learning efficiency.
Passive learning includes traditional lectures, reading, watching videos, and listening to podcasts. Active Learning, on the other hand, is a technique of teaching that involves actively engaging students with course material through discussions, reflective blogging, group projects, and other ways.
How have you found the balance of passive and active learning in this course for your learning?
Active learning enhances learning outcomes and provides a more enjoyable learning environment for teachers and students. In this course, I generally use the active learning method.
Passive learning:
- Review weekly posts by the instructor
- Read articles and watch videos
Active learning:
- Weekly assignments including blog posts and comments
- Work in small groups and collaborate with others
- Structure assessment and other activities
- Quick feedback to make improvements
How does it compare to your experience in other courses?
It is an online course and compared to other traditional courses delivered face-to-face, EDCI 337 is more active learning required. We learn multimedia learning principles and related learning theories mostly through readings and videos on the website.
Indiana University’s Mosaic Initiative provides an example of an active and collaborative learning classroom.