Active Libraries, Active Learning

Help learners make effective use of the nonfiction resources, databases, and quality website resources available across the curriculum. Turn passive listeners and readers into active critical and creative thinkers through meaningful activities that balance hands-on technology with motivating tactile tasks. It's an engagement emergency! Turn your library into the center for active learning at your school.

VARK & Video

VARK My concern regarding technology and active learning arose when working with a group of teachers...

There's a new national exam for emergency media services personnel. Rather than focusing on the skills of novice learners, it expects expert performance. How do you turn kinesthetic video game players into skilled media personnel? Get learners involved listening, reading and watching, but also doing! Experts see patterns in problems and apply their knowledge. Find ways to combine practical hands-on experiences, context-based content, with relevant technology-based activities to build skills.

Bridge theory and practice! For instance, video can be used to provide real-world contexts for discussion. Watch a YouTube video, then participate in active roleplay. Once students have skills, you're ready to experiment and think about ways to apply what they've learned.

Keeping students physically and mentally active is essential in today's technology-filled world. This workshop is designed to help educators create activities and assessments that balance meaningful hands-on technology with motivating tactile tasks Let's turn your high-tech couch potatoes into active, deep thinkers. Turn passive listeners and readers into active critical and creative thinkers that score well on tests, but also retain, apply, and transfer learning.

The key is mixing modality activities that incorporate VARK (visual, auditory, reading, and kinesthetic activities). Connect active senses, content with context, and relevant technology.

Use video along with manipulatives and off-computer activities that demonstrate student understanding. Students need to active thinking assignments BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER viewing the video clip.

Watch cybersafety videos. Ask students to write three questions and interview their friends. Create a short video of the results.
Students might watch video clips showing symbiotic relationships. Then, act out a relationship and talk about how it works such as the Clownfish and Sea Anemone at Arkive. You could even video record these experiences.

YouTube has a school version and education channels. Also, look for specific YouTube channels such as Kids.Gov YouTube.

If you wish to download videos to use in the classroom, use KeepVid, SaveYoutube, or ZamZar.

Activity Ideas

Re-enactments. Act out the contents of the video.
Role Play. Take on the role of characters in the video and create your own scene.
Vocabulary. Write words or definitions on slips of paper. Students draw a slip and find the person with the matching word or definition. Then, the pair must act out an example.
Manipulatives. Use models or manipulatives to try out ideas demonstrated in the video. Find places on a globe or map. Use geoboards or other math manipulatives.
Polls. Conduct a poll or survey after watching a video. Write a question and ask the others in the class to respond. Then, enter the data in the computer to share.
Manipulate Paper. Move items around on a bulletin board, table or floor to match or make connections.
Experiment. Conduct a science, social, or math experiment. Try out something discussed in the video.
Puppets and Props. Use puppets, pointers, or other props to explain something in the video. Use hats, scarves, or other props.
Interviews. Write three questions and interview another student about their thoughts.