Definition
Any teaching method where students do more than passively listen to lectures, supposedly engaging them more deeply with material. It's education's way of admitting that sitting and listening for hours doesn't actually work, though many professors still resist the evidence.
Example Usage
The chemistry professor incorporated active learning by having students work through problems in small groups rather than just watching her solve them.
Origin
Term popularized in the 1990s, though the concept traces to progressive educators like John Dewey in the early 20th century.
Fun Fact
A 2014 meta-analysis of 225 studies found that active learning increases exam scores and reduces failure rates, yet lecture remains the dominant teaching method.
Related Terms
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