The document discusses promoting active learning in K-12 classrooms. It defines active learning as student-centered approaches involving activities like discussions, debates and role-playing. Research shows active learning improves memory retention and ability to apply knowledge. It also helps develop soft skills employers prioritize like communication, collaboration and problem-solving, helping reduce the skills gap. The document proposes strategies for teachers including peer instruction, debates, case studies and role-playing. It provides guidance on planning active learning activities and using them to review concepts.

1. A New Approach to Promoting Active
Learning in the Classroom
Richard Dettling MSHRM
Program Manager, School of Business
University of Phoenix, South Florida Campus
Alexandra Escobar MAED
College Chair, College of Education
University of Phoenix, South Florida Campus

2. Session Objectives
1. Discuss the importance of active learning in the K-12 classroom
2. Explore research on the effectiveness of active learning
3. Explain the Soft Skills Gap
4. Describe active learning techniques teachers can use in the classroom
5. Explain a new approach to promoting active learning in the classroom
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3. What is Active Learning?
• Student-centered, not instructor centered. Students’ learning needs
drive instruction and the activity
• Multi-directional learning experience
• Learning occurs teacher-to-student, student-to-teacher, and student-to-student
• Involves activity-based learning experiences, can be whole group,
small group, trios, pairs, individuals
• May take many forms talking, writing, reading, discussing, debating,
acting, role-playing, journaling, conferring, interviewing, building,
creating...

4. Importance of Active Learning in the K-12
Classroom
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• The active learning
approach promotes
learning among
students from diverse
backgrounds and
who have diverse
learning styles
• Active learning
strategies are also
simply more
interesting, for the
instructor and for the
students
• Active learning
strategies can be
done with relatively
little preparation,
which makes it
logistically easy for
a K-12 classroom
• Other active
learning strategies
may require more
careful logistical
preparation

5. What does research say about the effectiveness of
active learning?
• Research shows that when students engage with each other
in learning tasks, they remember material better and they
figure out how to apply and extend their new knowledge
more effectively
(UC Berkeley, 2015)
• “For new standards to be a healthy challenge and not a
threatening one for students, teachers must intentionally
scaffold lessons using student-centric strategies with more
frequency and in greater depth. It’s clear that the
development of such skills requires a new way of thinking
about the traditional teacher-centric classroom.”
(Marazano & Toth, 2014, p. 10)
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6. What does the research say about the
effectiveness of active learning?
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“Many teachers say active
learning would be great ‘if
they had the time’. But the
research shows that if you
make the time for effective
active learning by doing less
didactic teaching, then your
students will do better.”
(Petty, 2014, p. 3)

7. © 2010 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved.”
Active Learning

8. Soft Skills Gap
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9. © 2010 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved.”

10. © 2010 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved.”
The consensus among employers
 Too many graduates lack vital skills required for
today’s jobs
 Hard skills like accounting, psychology, nursing, and
law enforcement for getting jobs are important
 Need graduates with strong soft skills - critical
thinking, problem solving, effective communication
skills, and the ability to collaborate in a team

11. Active Learning and the Soft Skills Gap
55%
63%
65%
65%
75%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Content/Job Releated Skills
Collaboration/Teamwork
Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
Adaptibilty/Prioritation
Written/Oral Communication
Job Related Soft Skills
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12. 24%
24%
25%
26%
27%
28%
28%
29%
30%
37%
37%
59%
59%
57%
66%
65%
62%
55%
64%
62%
64%
46%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Analyzing/solving complex problems
Applying knowledge/skill the real world
Being innovative/creative
Critical/analytical thinking
Written communication
Oral communication
Working with numbers/statistics
Locating, organizing, evaluating information
Ethical judgement and decision-making
Working with others in teams
Staying current in technology
Preparedness across learning outcomes; students think
they are better prepared
Students Employers© 2010 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved.” (Jaschik, 2015)

13. Soft Skills Gap
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Written/Oral Communication
Adaptability/Prioritization
Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
Collaboration/Teamwork
Content/Job Related Skills
According to the Business Advisory Council of South Florida the
following soft skills have been deemed a priority to use in the
classroom

14. Active Learning Strategies
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15. Active Learning Strategies
The following is a selection of active learning strategies you
can use in your classroom
Peer Instruction
Class Debate
Role-Playing
Case Studies
Creative Scenarios and Simulations

16. • Peer Instruction
• To move the site of teaching and learning from the instructor
to the students
• To have students connect or apply concepts by explaining to
another student or trying to convince another student
• To enable students to evaluate their understanding of the
instructor’s explanation
• Peer instruction can be used in review sessions to move
students to a higher learning level, beyond their concern
over what to memorize

17. • Class Debate
• To encourage students to organize their thoughts in a critical
or argumentative way that takes into account the complexity
of issues and the existence of alternative and opposing
views
• To increase students’ public speaking and presentation skills,
including the ability to think quickly on one’s feet
• Class debate can also be used to develop students’ research
skills and give them a chance to become experts on a
particular subject

18. • Role-Playing
• To increase student awareness of the interconnectedness of
knowledge and the subtle complexities of a situation
• To include affective learning as well as cognitive
understanding
• To expand personal experience by simulating a situation
• Role-playing can be used make learning more active

19. • Case Studies
• To facilitate intuitive and integrated understanding of
complex, interconnected issues
• To encourage students to integrate theory with practice
• Case studies can be used to enliven the material by making
it concrete and relating it to the lived world

20. • Creative Scenarios and Simulations
• To encourage students to extrapolate beyond the information
they receive in class
• To stimulate creative and original thinking by forcing students
to look at their knowledge from a new perspective
• To foster a greater awareness of the interdependence of
theories and facts
• Creative scenarios and simulations can also be used to
make students more active in their learning and to increase
their research skills

21. New Approach to Active Learning
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22. Categories of Active Learning Strategies
1. Individual activities
2. Paired activities
3. Informal small groups
4. Cooperative student projects
Teachers can incorporate a variety of strategies and adapt as needed based
on the objectives of your lesson, the number of students, space, and time
considerations.
(University of Minnesota, 2015)

23. Planning an Active Learning Activity
• What are your objectives?
• Will you give students any time to reflect on their learning and action
plan to address the activity prior to starting?
• How will students be grouped?
• What time will the activity take place and how long will it take?
• Is the activity graded or non-graded? Will it be submitted?
• Will you call on volunteers?
• What preparation do students need to participate in the activity fully?
(University of Minnesota, 2015)

24. New Approach to Active Learning
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Written/Oral Communication
Adaptability/Prioritization
Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
Collaboration/Teamwork
Content/Job Related Skills
Peer Instruction
Class Debate
Role-Playing
Case Studies
Creative Scenarios and Simulations
Active Learning Strategies Soft Skills Gap

25. Peer Instruction – Review of Frayer Model
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With a partner, review your
completed graphic organizer
on Active Learning. What
similarities and differences did
you both have? What special
approaches to active learning
do you have in your
classroom?

26. Review the Handout
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The following handout is a
primer of active learning/soft
skills activities for you to use in
your classroom

27. References
Marzano, R.J. & Toth, M.D. (2014, March). Teaching for Rigor: A Call for a Critical
Instructional Shift. Why essential shifts in instruction are necessary for teachers and
students to success with college and career readiness standards. West Palm Beach,
FL: Learning Sciences Marzano Center
Petty, G. (2014). Active Learning Works. Retrieved from
www.geoffpetty.com/downloads/WORD/ActiveLearningWorks.doc
University of Minnesota (2015). What Is Active Learning? Retrieved from
http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/active/what/index.html
© 2010 University of Phoenix, Inc. All rights reserved.”