Designing for blended learning

In synchronous environments, educators can incorporate active learning strategies such as group discussions, problem-solving activities, polls, and quizzes during live online sessions to engage students actively. In asynchronous environments, educators can design interactive online modules, discussion boards, virtual simulations, and self-assessment activities to promote active learning.

Getting started with active learning activities

Here is a summary of the tips that Chris Tuffnell suggests in the video below. Below the video you can read more about these tips with a few references to KI's pedagogical policy.

Create a Safe Learning Environment: Foster an atmosphere where learners feel comfortable asking questions, sharing confusion, and making mistakes without fear of judgment.
Make the Activity Relevant: Ensure that the active learning activity aligns with session learning outcomes, providing learners with a clear purpose and helping to assess their understanding.
Select the Right Exercise: Choose activities that suit your learner population and encourage higher-order thinking, challenging them appropriately while providing support if needed.
Identify Preparation Needed: Determine what preparation is necessary for the activity, including whether learners need to come prepared, if digital content or instructions are needed, and how feedback will be provided.
Consider Link to Other Session Elements: Integrate the activity seamlessly into the session flow and align it with assessments to demonstrate its relevance and avoid it feeling like busy work.

You may find this "cheat sheet" infographic from Vanderbilt Center for Teachinghelpful: Active Learning Cheat Sheet final (vanderbilt.edu)

10 Tips for Successful Active Learning

In this video (6.35 min) Chris Tuffnell look at top 10 tips to consider when introducing active learning activities. Introducing active learning activities into your synchronous or live teaching is a great way to engage learners and build deeper, more meaningful learning experiences. While there's lots of active learning activities and strategies out there to choose from, rather than just throwing them into your session, how can you ensure that these approaches are well received and effective?

Your choice

If you prefer to read the transcript for this video you can open it in preview mode or download the Word file below.

M5.6 10 Tips for Successful Active Learning.docx

Tip: If you open the ReadSpeaker TextAid link in the "Module" view you will be able to Annotate the file as well as download an audio version of the file to listen to on-the-go (one page at the time)!

Reflect: Ask yourself

Before you watch the video jot a few of your own tips down for creating active learning. Now watch the video: do any of your tips coincide with those given by Chris? Which tips were new to you? Which do you personally think are the most important?

Write you reflections in your reflection log.

On this page:

Designing for blended learning

Getting started with active learning activities

10 Tips for Successful Active Learning

Your choice

Reflect: Ask yourself