What ways can you enhance it with active learning and technology?
Modern classrooms are very different from those that were even ten years ago. Learning is no longer focused on the blackboard and is no longer about memorizing facts. In modern classrooms, things are more interactive, engaging and even fun. Mostly thanks to Active Learning, an approach that encourages students to be at the heart of the learning process, to participate, think critically and collaborate. But this could not have happened without technology. Whether it’s via apps that allow students to collaborate in real time, learning a platform that tailors content to their needs, or VR that makes lessons more immersive, technology has become essential to education.
Understand what active learning is. It involves converting students into active participants rather than passive listeners. Students are asked to explore, ask questions and apply what they are learning. This can reflect group discussions, solve real-world problems, reflect experiences, or even teach peers. Some of the key principles that define active learning are:
Student-centered learning. The learning process focuses on how students understand and apply information. Collaboration and communication. Students often learn when they exchange ideas, work in teams, and express their opinions openly. Problem-solving and critical thinking. Learners are challenged to think more deeply through activities and assessments. Reflections and feedback. Reflection helps students create relationships between information, while feedback helps them get better.
However, educators should ensure that they use the right tools to support active learning strategies. When thoughtfully integrated, technology offers opportunities for creativity, accessibility and deeper engagement that traditional methods cannot achieve. Therefore, in this article, we dive into how teachers can leverage technology to create student-centric learning experiences and how to overcome potential challenges.
Technical tools and how to use them to enable active learning
LMSS
There are no modern classrooms focused on e-learning without LMS. This is because LMS allows you to organize your lessons, track progress and engage students all in one place. But how can you use it to enable active learning? LMS can provide discussion boards where students can ask questions, respond to peers, and have discussions. Post short quizzes, provide instant feedback, assign group projects using shared folders, and create personalized learning paths that allow students to explore content at their own pace.
Collaboration Tools
Collaboration is at the heart of active learning to encourage participation. Thankfully, high-tech tools such as Google Workspace and Microsoft teams allow students to create and brainstorm with classmates. Therefore, students build knowledge in real time. This makes use of active learning very much. For example, when students work on a project together, they share resources, communicate and contribute positively.
Interactive Platform
There are many tools that can turn learning into an interactive experience rather than passive delivery of information. These are called interactive platforms and are focused on learners. They give them the opportunity to answer the vote, take quizzes, comment on slides, and submit questions anonymously. These tools encourage participation and create an environment in which students feel safe to express themselves.
Multimedia Tools
Giving students the opportunity to create content rather than consume can make a huge difference. Tools like Canva and simple video and podcasting apps allow students to create their own learning content. For example, instead of writing an essay, students can design infographics or record video blogs. This builds critical thinking and communication skills, making technology more comfortable.
VR and AR
VR and AR are becoming increasingly accessible in education. These tools allow students to visit ancient ruins, explore the human body, and observe the 3D solar system. Immersive experiences realize complex concepts. So instead of reading about spaces, students can travel virtually through the galaxy. These experiences generate questions and discussions, and often lead to a deeper understanding.
Gamification
Everyone loves games. Especially when they teach you something too. Gamification and simulation platforms turn lessons into fun experiences and learn by students doing it. This will increase motivation and make learning more memorable. Whether students are completing quests, building a world, experimenting in virtual labs, they are actively involved, making decisions and learning through mistakes.
Common challenges and how to fight them
Digital Difference
Digital disparities are the gap between students who have easy access to devices and students who do not. If some students are unable to log in from home or do not have a reliable device, creating an engaging and technology-related learning experience can be challenging. To resolve this, you first need to acknowledge the problem and make sure you approach things fairly. Schools can provide devices to students who need them, offer discounts or free internet access, provide offline resources, and use mobile-friendly platforms to accommodate everyone.
Screen fatigue
People tend to get tired after a long day staring at the screen. Imagine the platform-to-platform hops, participation in courses and live sessions, and how students will feel after completing a quiz. This can erase their energy and motivation. However, active learning does not mean that students must always be online. It’s better to try to mix online and offline tasks, such as writing essays or presenting them digitally. It also shortens the session and encourages breaks. Most importantly, make sure your class doesn’t have to spend much time online.
The teacher is overwhelmed
With so many tools, it’s easy for teachers to be overwhelmed. Learning to use new platforms, troubleshoot glitches, and redesign lessons takes time and energy. The best advice here is to choose only one or two tools to master them first according to your educational goals. You don’t have to do everything at once. Additionally, many schools offer training sessions. If not, you can start by researching the courses and tutorials.
Accessibility issues
Without careful design, technology can eliminate students with unintentionally disabled and students with learning needs. They don’t want students with hearing loss to watch captionless videos or dyslexia students trying to navigate a bunch of online textbooks. The good news is that today’s tools often have accessibility features built into them. Therefore, always use a platform that supports screen readers, speech to text, and audio input, and don’t forget to add captions and transcripts to your video and audio content. High contrast designs and simple fonts for improved readability are also important, while clear and structured content is also important.
Contradiction
Using different tools for a single class can be confusing, exhausting and ultimately missed work. Therefore, it is best to keep communication and content in one main location, usually LMS. Then, use links to direct people to places that are much more desirable than accessing multiple platforms. Also, use a single sign-on (SSO) solution if available to simplify the login process. And don’t forget to always know where students will find their assignments, how to submit their work, and where to get help and support.
Conclusion
Your role as an educator has changed in modern classrooms. Now you need to provide a meaningful learning experience and choose the right technology to do so. It’s about choosing tools that really support active learning, student engagement, collaboration and growth. With learners centralized, you can create classrooms that are innovative, inclusive and ready for what comes next.
