Learning vs. Feelings of Learning: Paradox Tested

Teaching for Student Success

OLD NEWS: A 2014 meta-analysis by Scott Freeman and colleagues of 225 peer-reviewed studies concluded that students taught in an active learning environment significantly outperform peers taught using more traditional formats.
CURRENT STATUS: Most colleges and universities are still a long way from full adoption of these practices. The reasons are complex. Resistance comes from institutions and often from faculty, but also from students. We have trained our students to think that traditional lecturing is THE way to learn, in spite of mountains of evidence to the contrary.
In this episode, we discuss an elegant, controlled classroom study by Louis Deslauriers and colleagues that again tests the value of active learning, but importantly then pays attention to the student perspective and provides suggestions about getting students on board the active-learning band-wagon. This is a beautiful and important study. Enjoy!