Active learning Approaches

Abreena Tompkins, instruction specialist at Surry Community College, has developed a brain-based online course design model based on a meta-analysis of more than 300 articles. In this study, she distilled the following elements of brain-based course design:

- Low-risk, nonthreatening learning environment

- Challenging, real-life, authentic assessments

- Rhythms, patterns, and cycles

- Appropriate chunking or grouping

- Learning as orchestration rather than lecture or facilitation

- Appropriate level of novelty

- Appropriately timed breaks and learning periods

- Purposeful assessments

- Learning that addresses visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners

- Active processing with mental models

- The use of universal examples, analogies, and parallel processing

Via Patty Ball, Louise Robinson-Lay, Jim Lerman