Inspire Blog Author: feins

Blended Learning: What Does the Research Show?

This post is the second in a three-part series that summarizes conclusions and insights from research of active, blended, and adaptive learning practices. Part one covered active learning, and today’s article focuses on the value of blended learning. First Things First What, exactly, is “blended” learning? Dictionary.com defines it as a “style of education in which students learn via electronic and online media as well as traditional face-to-face learning.” This is a fairly simplistic view, so Clifford Maxwell (2016), on the Blended Learning Universe website, offers a more detailed definition that clarifies three distinct parts: Any formal education program in which at least part of the learning is delivered online, wherein the student controls some element of time, place, path or … Blended Learning: What Does the Research Show?
by · August 5, 2019

Active Learning: What Does the Research Show?

Active Learning: What Does the Research Show? We often hear about new approaches in teaching, and some can take on near-mythical status. That might be the case for active learning. It’s been widely touted as the “most effective” pedagogical approach, but unless you have time to dig through the research, it may not be easy to determine if this trend is applicable – or beneficial – to your teaching and discipline. So what does the research say about active learning? This article provides a brief summary of research results for active learning applied in STEM subjects. Why Use Active Learning? Before we discuss why active learning is beneficial, let’s clarify exactly what active learning is. As opposed to passive learning, … Active Learning: What Does the Research Show?
by · March 1, 2019

Boldly Go Where No Discussion Has Gone Before

Discussion forums are commonly used to generate interaction among students, and research shows that higher-level thinking is possible. But all too often discussion prompts can be stale and unimaginative. Learning by Reflection Several Ecampus math classes are using discussion prompts in a creative way to help students develop meta-cognitive skills related to their learning. The first is a reflection activity. After the assignment is graded, the instructor releases an answer key so students can look back at their work. “Learning from our mistakes, we start to understand what we are doing properly and what we are doing improperly,” explains the instructor in the purpose statement for the reflection forum. This is an effective activity and, from the instructor’s perspective, easy … Boldly Go Where No Discussion Has Gone Before
by · July 16, 2018

Active Learning Online – Part 2

Active Learning Online – Part 2 The first post about active learning looked at how to include active learning in an online course. You heard about how a history professor used an interactive timeline. Each student added images, facts, and descriptions to the timeline, and the result was a visually-rich historical review. Students had fun while learning about facts and events. This is an example of collaboration and active learning at its best. The second example focused on interactive textbooks as an alternative to printed books. The Top Hat product combined words, images, video, and engaging activities to improve learning and make it more active. In today’s post we look at two new active learning ideas: mind mapping and annotated reading. … Active Learning Online – Part 2
by · May 18, 2018

Active Learning Online – Part 1

Are you looking for ways to bring active learning into your online classroom? Some might suggest that active learning is more difficult online, but we offer examples of Ecampus courses that do a great job of increasing student engagement, boosting interactive participation, and improving outcomes through implementation of active learning strategies. This blog focuses on tools, techniques, and approaches originally designed for the face-to-face classroom that have been successfully adapted into Oregon State University Ecampus classes. Feel free to steal! Telling Time Marking events in time or identifying the chronology of significant milestones is important in many disciplines, but especially vital in history classes. An American History professor felt that merely listing events sequentially was not particularly interesting or creative, … Active Learning Online – Part 1
by · January 19, 2018