Quiet Waters Run Deeper - some thoughts on passive and active learning
This week I had an introductory session with Chinese students coming to study at a UK university. One of the lesson aims was to introduce them to the active learning model which is commonly applied in Western educational institutions. We watched a carefully crafted presentation referring to recent research on the benefits and indeed better outcomes of the active learning approach as opposed to the passive learning model. In the ensuing discussion I gained further insights into students' own learning experiences and idea of passive and active learning. It was interesting to note they considered passive from the point of view of their confidence in expressing their ideas. If they have knowledge of the topic they said they would be more active in participating and if they did not, they would keep silent which is only logical and natural. Personality types were also menteioned which further complicates the dychotomy. They were discussing it from the point of view of the self-awareness...