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Students working on assignment together.

What is Active Learning?

Active learning engages students in the learning process through hands-on activities, collaborative exercises, and critical thinking tasks, moving beyond traditional passive lecture-based methods. Dr. Michael Prince defines active learning as, “...any instructional method that engages students in the learning process. In short, active learning requires students to do meaningful learning activities and think about what they are doing” (Prince, 2004). This definition draws heavily from the foundational work in active learning studies done by Bonwell and Eison (Bonwell, 2000 and Eison, 2010) and which has become widely accepted in the field of learning and teaching.

During class sessions, students engage in skill practice, tackle complex problems, grapple with challenging questions, make decisions, suggest solutions, and articulate their thoughts through both written expression and active discussion.

Why Use Active Learning?

Students are more successful in active learning classrooms. Broad-based research shows that students perform 6% better on exams, and 10% fewer students fail in active learning classrooms. (See  Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics)

"[Under active learning,] students learn more, which means we're doing our job better. They get higher grades and fail less, meaning that they are more likely to stay in STEM majors, which should help solve a major national problem. Finally, there is a strong ethical component. There is a   growing body of evidence   showing that active learning differentially benefits students of color and/or students from disadvantaged backgrounds and/or women in male-dominated fields. It's not a stretch to claim that lecturing actively discriminates against underrepresented students."

Classroom with whiteboard and vibrant furniture.

Active Learning Classrooms

Active learning classrooms (ALCs) and other active learning spaces are spaces designed to promote active learning, facilitate collaboration among students, and encourage student engagement. 

At Stony Brook University, our active learning classrooms (ALCs) feature modular furniture, expanded AV equipment that allows for multiple device connectivity, and collaboration-centered equipment such as moveable white boards and work stations.

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Students working together on an assignment.

Active Learning Activities

There are many different types of active learning activities that range from individual to large group activities. These activities are highly engaging while allowing students to work collaborativley in an environment where they are encouraged to apply higher-order thinking skills, connect personally with course content,  and provide feedback to both students and instructors which can be instrumental in designing more effective learning experiences.

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