Evidence-Based Practices for the Active Learning Classroom

Abstract

Reform movements in undergraduate STEM education call for the implementation of active learning strategies that have received much attention in national reports. Active learning encompasses a range of instructional practices that engage students in learning through activities and/or discussion, as opposed to passively listening to an expert. These practices benefit STEM undergraduates by enhancing their conceptual understandings, their focus on instruction, their critical thinking skills, and their persistence in STEM fields. This chapter defines active learning, describes a conceptualization of active learning practices along a continuum of how challenging they are for instructors to adopt, and provides overviews of common active learning approaches.