Active Learning Classrooms
This page serves as a resource for those interested in learning more about the pedagogical and design recommendations to consider when creating and using Active Learning Classrooms (ALCs).
What is an Active Learning Classroom?
Active learning classrooms (ALCs) are defined as “student-centered, interactive, integrated, flexible, active learning spaces” (University of Minnesota, 2009). These spaces can take many forms, but typical ALCs include: 1) movable chairs/tables or tables configured into groupings (often referred to as pods), 2) multiple projection/viewing systems, 3) multiple whiteboards/writing surfaces.
|Implementation of ALCs at the University of Michigan||A creative example of an ALC at Virginia Tech|
How are teaching and learning different in an Active Learning Classroom?
ALCs encourage student collaboration. The furniture and technology are designed to enable students to work in small groups and for instructors to work more interactively with students during class activities. They provide more options for student interaction and class structure (University of Minnesota, 2009). This video from the University of Iowa, discusses their ALC initiative and provides a nice overview of an ALC in action, instructor and student reactions to this new environment, and preliminary learning outcomes.
Research generated in ALCs across multiple universities have shown positive effects, including:
- improved student learning as measured by final grades (University of Minnesota, n.d.), ability to solve problems (NCSU Physics Education R & D Group, 2016), and increased conceptual understanding (NCSU Physics Education R & D Group, 2016).
- reduced failure rates, particularly for women and minorities, learning in these spaces (NCSU Physics Education R & D Group, 2016).
- positive perceptions and attitudes on the part of both students and instructors (NCSU Physics Education R & D Group, 2016; University of Minnesota, n.d.).
Instructors do note that these spaces are not conducive to lecture-based approaches and that adjustment of one’s teaching strategies is necessary to allow for more active, student-centered methods (University of Minnesota, n.d.). The following videos provide more insight on the type of teaching that happens in these spaces:
- TLC Workshop: New Spaces, New Opportunities: a workshop led in the redesigned classroom, Tribble C3, by Laura Giovanelli, English and Dr. Dana Gierdowski, English (North Carolina State University).
- Inside Active Learning Classroom: University of Minnesota
- Active Learning Classrooms: Everyone is engaged!: McGill University
- SCALE-UP: North Carolina State University
Active Learning Classrooms at Wake Forest University
WFU has begun redesigning some of its classrooms to be more flexible and active
Interested in Designing an Active Learning Classroom?
- Learning Spaces Collaboratory: a collaboration of academics, architects, and national societies dedicated to the redesign of learning spaces.
- Steelcase Education: browse multiple resources, such as planning ideas, case studies, whitepapers, photos, and videos
- Steelcase Planning Ideas: browse different potential classroom/space configurations (this tool can be customized)
- Herman Miller Education: research, ideas and other resources to help you customize your own space
- FLEXspace: Flexible Learning Environments eXchange
- 6 Secrets of Active Learning Classroom Design (Campus Technology, 2015)
- Learning Space Toolkit (for informal spaces)
Additional Resources on Active Learning Classrooms
ALCs at Other Universities
- North Carolina State University: SCALE-UP (Student-Centered Active Learning Environment with Upside-down Pedagogies)
- University of Iowa: TILE (transform, interact, learn, engage)
- University of Minnesota: Active Learning Classrooms
Articles, Books, Journals
- Baepler, P., Walker, J.D., Brooks, D.C., Saichaie, K., & Petersen, C.I. (2016). A Guide to Teaching in the Active Learning Classroom. Sterling, Virginia: Stylus Publishing.
- Baepler, P., Brooks, D.C., & Walker, J.D. (Eds.). (2014). Active Learning Spaces: New Directions for Teaching and Learning. J-B TL Single Issue Teaching and Learning, 2014(137).
- Journal of Learning Spaces
- Oblinger, D. G. (Ed.). (2006). Learning spaces. EDUCAUSE. Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/research-and-publications/books/learning-spaces
- Painter, S., Fournier, J., Grape, C., Grummon, P., Morelli, J., Whitmer, S., & Cevetello, J. (2013). Research on learning space design: Present state, future directions [Report]. Society for College and University Planning. Retrieved from http://www.acmartin.com/sites/default/files/LearningSpaceDesign-L_0.pdf