Leah Carmichael, director of active learning, spoke with EdTech about putting active learning into practice at the University of Georgia.
As an instructor in the School of Public and International Affairs, Carmichael is familiar with what it’s like to deliver a lecture without active learning training and what it takes to implement such strategies.
“Even today, when I’m in a classroom with stadium seating, teaching the way I want to teach now and getting the students involved — that really requires creative thinking,” Carmichael said. “If I’m trying to get them to adopt these techniques, I need to understand the barriers they face.”
Embracing active learning provides an answer to students who question the need to show up to class.
“They can point to the data that shows this is how education should be,” Carmichael said. “This is how to develop those higher order thinking skills that are going to prepare them for the world.”