Original scientific paper
Active learning strategies in science and social studies classes
Alena Letina
orcid.org/0000-0001-7065-6660
; Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
This paper analyzes the basic characteristics of active learning and its advantages in the development of students’ competencies in relation to passive learning and direct instruction. To test their presence in Science and Social Studies teaching, a research study was conducted whose aim was to examine the frequency of use of active learning strategies, and to identify the most commonly applied active learning strategies in the Science and Social Studies classes. The study was conducted on a sample of 118 primary school teachers in Zagreb and Zagreb County. The results showed that the active learning strategies are partially represented in Science and Social Studies teaching, and that active learning strategies with the use of information and communication technologies are especially rare. The results suggest that the presence of teacher- centered instruction is still dominant in comparison with the active forms of learning. Therefore it is necessary to promote the application of active learning strategies in the Science and Social Studies classes, especially its basic form such as inquiry-based teaching.
Keywords
efficiency, frequency of use; responsibility for learning; student centred teaching
Hrčak ID:
177318
URI
Publication date:
10.2.2016.
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