Get Mentally Active with Active Learning!
Active learning. It’s a term that we hear quite often. But, what is it really? Is it something that is crucial to a child’s development, or it is just another buzzword?
Active learning is, in fact, a critical skill that, by nature, is inherent to most children. Naturally curious from birth, children are always seeing connections, noticing details, and attributing meaning.
But not all so-called “good students”—being non-disruptive in the classroom, obeying the teacher, getting along with others, memorizing lessons, and getting decent marks— are using active learning skills. Success in school—and in life—requires a thriving and independent mind that goes much further beyond what is required.
An active mind doesn’t just learn. An active mind thinks about learning. An active mind:
- Asks questions
- Is curious
- Sets goals
- Is motivated
- Achieves
An active mind has all of the above characteristics of a successful student.
Children’s minds should never be off—from the time that they wake up in the morning to the time that they go to sleep at night. Children should be continually noticing similarities, inferring meaning, creating connections. There is no wrong place for children to think actively, or to have an “A-HA!” moment.
Sometimes it’s the time outside of the classroom, in everyday situations, where the pieces fall into place and a child suddenly understands something that is being taught in school.
Oxford Learning builds active learning skills right into all students programs, so that they are challenged to actually think about what they are learning. We do this because we know that the more that a child is mentally active outside the classroom, the easier that school becomes.
School gets easier with active learning because once students “get it”, their brain is switched on, and they begin to live up to their fullest potential.
And once the light of active learning goes on, it really shines.
