A series of slides presented as part of a 3 hour lecture to Indian university students as an introduction to Activity Based Learning. Uploaded here simply to share reflections and some of the activities we ran to introduce the importance of this topic.

1. Gram Tarang Employment Training Services
Centurion University of Technology and Management
January 2015
PRINCIPLES OF
ACTIVITY-BASED
PARTICIPATIVE
LEARNING

2. Introductions
Tom Bulman Stephen
Carrick-Davies

3. Introductions “icebreaker”
Find out something interesting
about your neighbour and share it
with the group.

4. ACTIVITY-BASED
PARTICIPATIVE
LEARNING
PROJECT or
PROBLEM-BASED
LEARNING
The opposite of paper-based, rote
memorization, teacher-led learning!

5. DAVID HORSBURGH
An emphasis on the surrounding environment and
recognition of self-learning , allowing the learner to
study according to his/her aptitude and skill in small
milestones.

6. If you can find the
answer online it’s
not project-based !

7. BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF
“TELL ME
Benjamin Franklin was a working class boy who was called the ‘First
American’ man. He was an inventor, a moral crusader, a successful
publisher, a diplomat and is on the $100 bill !
AND I FORGET,
TEACH ME
AND I LEARN”
Benjamin Franklin
INVOLVE ME
AND I REMEMBER,

8. Classroom Learning
“Sage on the stage”
Characteristics
1
2
3
4
5
Activity Based Learning
“Guide by the side”
Characteristics
1
2
3
4
5

9. THE ENVIRONMENT
WHAT SPACE AND BEHAVIOUR DO WE NEED FOR
EFFECTIVE ACTIVITY –BASED SESSIONS ?

10. FINDING THE ANSWERS BY DOING !

12. TASK:
Make longest line of connected newspaper which
two team members can hold at each end without it
touching the floor !
(5 mins to plan, 15 mins to do).

13. FEEDBACK TO GROUP
What have we learnt ?
WAS THE ACTIVITY S.M.A.R.T ?
WHAT DID THE LEARNER DO ?
WAS THE ACTIVITY TEAM DEPENDENT ?
WHAT ROLE DID THE TRAINER HAVE ?
SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ATTAINABLE, RELEVANT, TIME-BOUND

14. Project-based learning in action.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIxrNUDWXMc

15. HOW COULD WE APPLY THESE
PRINCIPLES IN TEACHING ADULTS ?

16. Benefits of project and activity
based learning
 Student centred with more engagement and ‘choice’
 Develops problem solving skills and promotes self-directed learning
 Strengthens structured collaboration and co-operative peer-learning
 The motivation to solve a problem becomes the motivation to learn
 Real world relevancy and students inspired to find real-world solutions
(Community can get involved)
 Enhances retention of learning
 Promotes ongoing, life-long learning
 Develops communication skills and confidence in speaking and
presenting to groups.
 Provides ‘deep’ learning and deep answers with teachers learning
from student ‘teachers’
 Provides multi-faceted assessment and students assess
each other
 Transfer the learning and method of inquiry and
problem solving to other areas

17. How do we get good at developing
this training style?
• Diving in or baby steps ?
• Scaffolding and planning
• Change your role to that
of a facilitator
• Practice, practice, practice
• Ask for review and feedback

18. Examples of activities
Activities you may wish to use What would you find
challenging ?
What can help
you improve ?
Role Play
Quiz
Small group
Group Discussions
Games
Presentations
Team Competition eg Making a
poster
Research assignment
Using media – eg cameras video
Physical shapes
Sense Guides
IT interactive white boards
Voting
Model making

19. PROJECT ACTION
• In teams of three, prepare a session which uses all these
principles.
• You will deliver your session in an exhibition on 27-28th.
Your goals is to show the most innovative/creative.
• Between now and then each team will have a coaching
session with Worktree advisors.

20. Further resources
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzCGNnU_WM
• Interactive Techniques by Kevin Yee,
http://www.fctl.ucf.edu/TeachingAndLearningReso
urces/CourseDesign/Assessment/content/101_Tips.
pdf
• Key Considerations in Building Interactive Learning
Environments by Educause,
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI0525.pdf