Student engagement key to active learning

Teaching and learning is a process that both the teacher and the learner get involved in. “The two—teacher and learner—are not independent of one another, but are both contributors,” Vicky Odoi, an educator and counsellor, says. Furthermore, research by the University of Washington demonstrated that instructors who adopt a student-centered approach to instruction increase opportunities for student engagement.

It is then the student engagement in the learning process that increases their attention and focus, and motivates them to practice higher-level critical thinking skills (analysing, evaluating, and creating) and promotes meaningful learning experiences.
The issue then becomes; how are teachers in our schools carrying on, if at all they are, in engaging their learners in the teaching - learning process?

Active learning
Active learning starts with the teacher inculcating an attitude in the learners that s/he is as human as they are, and doesn’t know everything. Once one has established that, then the students can be able to open up and engage in the teaching- learning process as well, Barbara Tusiime, a teacher at Light College, Katikamu says.

“To engage learners, I can start off with an activity like a simple quiz. At times I can ask them to read ahead on a topic, so when we come to class, it is a discussion where everyone is participating. Throughout the class period, I ask questions, so that they use their brains to think and figure out things on their own,” she adds.

On the other hand, Conrad Kizito, a teacher at St Peter’s Secondary School, Nsambya, says, “Localising foreign topics/knowledge is another way of engaging students. For example, if I am teaching about the French, I can pick examples from our country that students are able to identify with, or I could ask them to localise the information and give me local examples.” That way, students feel that this is part of their daily experiences, making what they learn a part of themselves.

On the side of students, engaging them in the teaching and learning process helps them achieve better learning benefits.
“This is what happens; for that teacher who you know asks a lot of questions during class, who can pick anyone at random while they are teaching, who wants you to think – you tend to pay more attention, and you keep following. You even go the extra mile and read on your own and extensively, so that when they are teaching you can engage them. Ironically, that is sometimes a teacher students do not like a lot,” Edwin Kironde, a student of Lubiri Secondary School, says. He contrasts this teacher to another who just comes to class, lectures, and goes away. “That is the teacher many students will want, but the learning benefits from such a teacher remain few,” Kironde notes.

Challenges
“Some of the greatest temptations we have as teachers today are; the drive to finish the syllabus or our teaching timetable in time, backed by the urge to ‘pass’ students, and two, the often overwhelming number of students in a class,” Catherine Wanyana, a teacher at Seguku Primary School, says. She explains that a teacher dealing with a big number of students in a class cannot do much with engaging the students. “You will naturally go with those that are following and leave the rest. Time also cannot allow you do much because there is a lot to cover in a short time,” she says.

Mark Kukkiriza, a student of Aiden College Ndejje, mentions that one of the challenges to active learning is attitude. “Some students see the teacher as a god who knows everything, so the teacher should teach them everything. Some do not know that they should also be contributors in the teaching-learning process. The other challenge is, some teachers can at times see you as challenging them when you try to actively engage and reason things out,” he says.

The strategy
In his handout, on Active learning: Creating Excitement in the classroom, Charles Bonwell (PhD), says, “Active learning requires students to participate in class, as opposed to sitting and listening quietly.
Strategies include, but are not limited to, brief question-and-answer sessions, discussion integrated into the lecture, impromptu writing assignments, hands-on activities and experiential learning events.”

In emphasis of why active learning is important, he notes that, “Numerous researches and reports say; all genuine learning is active, not passive. It is a process of discovery in which the student is the main agent, not the teacher. Students learn what they care about and remember what they understand.”He adds: “Learning is not a spectator sport. Students do not learn much by just sitting in class listening to teachers, memorising pre-packaged assignments and spitting out answers. They must talk about what they are learning, write about it, relate it to past experiences, and apply it to their daily lives.”

Quick take
Adds interest: It is hard to maintain students’ focus and attention when all they hear is the professor talking.
Engages students: A good question can pique their interest, make them wonder why, get them to think, and motivate them to make connections with the content.
Teacher feedback: When students answer or try to explain, teachers can see the extent of their understanding.
Students feedback: When teachers ask questions or otherwise seek student input over a topic, they are letting students know something about the importance of certain ideas and information.
facultyfocus.com

What students say

“The more a student is engaged in their own learning, the more learning actually takes place because then they exercise their minds to think beyond what the teacher feeds them, and will be able to solve problems even when out of school.”
Sydney Mutyaba, Masters in Computer Science, Makerere University

“Active learning is one of the ways students are able to appreciate the resources they are given and utilise them fully. For example, if I know that I am actively engaged in the learning process, I research more and use the Internet more.”
Lillian Nakuya, student Psychiatric Nursery, Butabika School of psychiatric nursing

[email protected]