Active Learning Classrooms

When students are engaging in active learning, they are constructing meaning and taking responsibility for their learning. Rather than being a passive recipient of information, the active learner puts knowledge to use. Words capturing an active approach to learning include action verbs such as analyze, evaluate, generate, apply, connect, and extend. These actions engage students to think at a higher level, taking learning beyond memorization and recall towards active thinking, doing, and engagement.

Because approaches to teaching, technology and space design can have a profound effect on student learning, the Queen's active learning classrooms have been intentionally designed, built and equipped to accommodate a different numbers of students in different configurations and with different technologies. By enabling a range of uses, we will have the opportunity to assess a variety of approaches to student engagement.

For those that wish to learn more about integrating active learning strategies into your teaching practice, the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) offers research and resources on Active Learning and a guidebook with sample strategies that Focus on Active Learning: Active Learning Strategies (PDF, 599KB). If you have questions or would like to discuss your ideas for course design and use of the active learning classrooms space with an Educational Developer, please contact the CTL at ctl@queensu.ca.