Can learners drive learning? Find out !!

 

Quick Tip 👎

Last week we talked about quitting the driver's seat to allow the learners to drive the learning vehicle. This week we want to discuss 'how'. 

This is simply done with learners' engagement popularly known as(students' engagement).

Plutarch once said and I quote:

"Spark their minds with activities and not content. Give them responsibilities to handle. Allow them time to read and think significantly. Remember "The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled."

I believe that this quote is for learners. Engaging learners requires activities and intentional responsibilities for the learners that is to say that teachers and educators should be well prepared before meeting their students. This is because significant impact must accompany significant action(s).

Spark the learners with mind-activating questions and activities that will open up their curiosity. Do not subject their minds to an idle mode. Approach your classroom with an engaged spirit, not content. This is because our learners are neither banks nor dumping grounds. As far back as 1972, Freire spoke extensively on banking education and its consequences. I urge you to explore that.

Learners are human beings with active minds capable of meaningful constructions. Do not underestimate that.

Give them work to do, communicate the rubrics (the learning expectations and standards) to them and guide them in the process. Be the facilitator, not the doer. It is that simple. Yes.

Here is what happens when learners are actively engaged; they become builders and creators with the process. They will embrace the process of problem-solving instead of diving straight into the answer. That sounds great huh!!!!!

Allow them the opportunity to make a meaningful psychological investment in their lives. Endeavour to open up continuous learning even when you have ended your lesson. Trigger interest, motivation and passion for learning. Allow your learners to live, not just exist.

As an educator or teacher with student engagement orientation, you must endeavour to come to a classroom loaded with active learning activities that will kindle the learning process. Never come unprepared because most times unpreparedness is one of the major reasons we indulge in content delivery. Instead of taking responsibility for our actions, we rather settle for content teaching at the expense of active learning.

Watchout for more on students'Engagement .Stay tuned