Active learningActive learning& different learning & different learning

approachesapproaches

Dr. Kosala MarambeDr. Kosala MarambeMedical Education UnitMedical Education Unit

What does the termWhat does the term

learning learning

mean to you ?mean to you ?

LearningLearning

A A processprocess resulting in someresulting in some modificationmodification,, relatively permanent, relatively permanent, of of the way ofthe way of thinking,thinking, feelingfeeling and and doingdoing of the learnerof the learner

(More a behavouristic definition)(More a behavouristic definition)((Educational handbook for health personnel . World Health Organization, 1998Educational handbook for health personnel . World Health Organization, 1998))

Stop and thinkStop and think

Reflect on your past learning experiencesReflect on your past learning experiencesSelect the best experience which enabled Select the best experience which enabled

you to learn that particular thing (may be you to learn that particular thing (may be academic or outside) list out the reasons academic or outside) list out the reasons for why it is so.for why it is so.

LearningLearning

Learning isLearning is constructionconstruction of of knowledge,knowledge, based onbased on prior prior

knowledgeknowledge and and new informationnew information that isthat is interpretedinterpreted by prior by prior

knowledge. knowledge. (Cognitive Psychology)(Cognitive Psychology)

“Teaching methods which place the student in an

Active Situation for learning are more likely to be effective than those which do not”

George Miller ( Medical educationist)

Two types of learningTwo types of learning Active Active - Learner takes the responsibility - Learner takes the responsibility

for learning, less dependant on teachers - for learning, less dependant on teachers - knows how to learn- life long learnerknows how to learn- life long learner

Passive Passive – Very much dependant on the – Very much dependant on the teacher and expects most to be provided, teacher and expects most to be provided, lectures, lecture notes, questions etc. find lectures, lecture notes, questions etc. find difficult to keep abreast with new difficult to keep abreast with new knowledge knowledge

Passive LearningPassive LearningExamplesExamples

Listening to a lecturer, taking down everything Listening to a lecturer, taking down everything that is that is toldtold

Waiting to be told what to do nextWaiting to be told what to do next

following routines without questioning/ reasoning following routines without questioning/ reasoning outout

Teacher is in full control, authoritarianTeacher is in full control, authoritarian

What is meant by active learning?What is meant by active learning?

That is to say that the learner is taking the That is to say that the learner is taking the initiative for ones’ learninginitiative for ones’ learning

Teacher is only a guideTeacher is only a guide

ExamplesExamplesReading text booksReading text books

DiscussionsDiscussionsClinical cases of relevanceClinical cases of relevance

Engaged in practicalEngaged in practicalObservationObservation

ProjectsProjectsTeaching othersTeaching others

PortfolioPortfolio

Strategies for active learningStrategies for active learning

Setting goalsSetting goals Setting up a plan for what you need to Setting up a plan for what you need to

achieve achieve Developing a table with deadlinesDeveloping a table with deadlines Making decisionsMaking decisions Checking progressChecking progress If things are not working right taking If things are not working right taking

remedial measuresremedial measures

Learning aidsLearning aids

ObjectivesObjectives Lectures Lectures Practical classesPractical classes PatientsPatients Ward workWard work DiscussionsDiscussions booksbooks InternetInternet Writing summaries/ answers Writing summaries/ answers Journal articlesJournal articles

Learning approaches of students

Surface approach

Student focus their attention on isolated details. They are often trying to memorise these individual details in the same form in which they first appeared

Deep approachDeep approach

Students focus theirStudents focus their attention attention on on thethe underlying meaning or underlying meaning or messagemessage. . TheyThey attempt to relate attempt to relate ideas together and construct ideas together and construct their own meaning, possibly in their own meaning, possibly in relation to their own experiencerelation to their own experience

StrategicStrategic

Student adopts deep and Student adopts deep and surface approaches in surface approaches in combination so as to achieve combination so as to achieve the highest possible marks. the highest possible marks.

StrategicStrategicThe approach involves using well The approach involves using well organized study methodsorganized study methods and and careful careful time managementtime management, , alertness alertness to cuesto cues given by tutors about what given by tutors about what they are looking for in deciding they are looking for in deciding grades or marks or what they are grades or marks or what they are going to set in the going to set in the examinationsexaminations. .

The students are conscious of The students are conscious of two separate foci of attention two separate foci of attention the academic content and the the academic content and the teacher’s reward system.teacher’s reward system.

(Marton, Hounsell and Entwistle 1997)(Marton, Hounsell and Entwistle 1997)

Retaining power of teaching/ Retaining power of teaching/ learning methodslearning methods

Factors which facilitate learningFactors which facilitate learning

RelevanceRelevance MotivationMotivation FeedbackFeedback ExaminationsExaminations Access to multiple resourcesAccess to multiple resources Learning environmentLearning environment

A wisdom sloka A wisdom sloka from Mahabaratafrom Mahabarata

A A quarterquarter of our learning comes from of our learning comes from our receptorsour receptors

Own Own intellect and talentintellect and talent provides a provides a quarterquarter

A quarter from the A quarter from the peers and friendspeers and friends And the remainder only with And the remainder only with timetime

((UGC 2006UGC 2006))