Therese Collins, Marian McCarthy, Catherine O’Mahony
There is an increased emphasis in European Higher Education on teaching approaches that foster active learning (High Level Group, 2013, EUA, 2018) and “encourage students to take an active role in creating the learning process” (ESG, 2015). Active learning can be supported through a multitude of pedagogical approaches which involve “students in doing things and thinking about the things they are doing” (Bonwell & Eison, 1991).
This poster will review differing active learning approaches used in higher education institutions in 10 countries in Europe. The different approaches will be critiqued to uncover how they could better support a culture for learning. Key questions to be asked of the institutional examples will include:
- to what extent is active learning included in institutional strategies and policies?
- how are staff supported and incentivised to engage in active learning approaches?
- are there disciplinary differences in how teachers enact active learning strategies?
- what learning can be drawn from these case studies in terms of addressing common challenges in active learning?
This poster will conclude with a series of recommendations on how to promote and embed active learning in Higher Education.
