ACTIVE LEARNING
ACTIVE LEARNING cONTENTS
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What is Active Learning?
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Why is it a good thing?
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How do our resources promote Active Learning?
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Active Learning FAQs
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How can parents help their children?
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Active Learning resources
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What is Active Learning? Active Learning is a classroom approach which focuses on how students learn, not just on what they learn. Students are actively engaged in the learning process through building knowledge and understanding in response to learning opportunities provided by their teacher. Students develop critical thinking skills, learn to work collaboratively and independently and gain sophisticated communication techniques. The teacher is at the heart of this process, challenging students’ thinking and encouraging them to build up their own understanding. Under the guidance of their teacher, students work on activities which help reinforce important knowledge, concepts and skills. Rather than simply memorising facts, students master a wider set of skills – becoming more confident in continuing to learn beyond school and better equipped for the transition to higher education or work. 3
Why is it a good thing? Active learning: •
Encourages a classroom ethos which focuses on student learning and understanding rather than simply attainment in tests. Having a deeper understanding of the topic being studied means that teachers and students can approach exams with confidence, and prepares students for university and future careers.
• Equips students with the skills to welcome new challenges and meet them resourcefully, creatively, imaginatively and with enthusiasm. •
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Helps deepen understanding of the topic being studied and enriches all areas of the curriculum. Students learn to successfully apply problem-solving skills to new and unfamiliar content.
How do our resources promote active learning? You will find a variety of activities in our resources that promote Active Learning. Our resources help teachers develop and apply engaging activities that support an Active Learning approach. Active Learning engages students by encouraging them to communicate effectively about the topic they are studying under the guidance of their teacher. Critical thinking is at the heart of many of our resources; universities and employers place a high value on such skills. We promote Active Learning by including a number of the following activities in our resources: • Investigations and experiments • Group and pair-work • Reflection, peer assessment and self-assessment activities • Presentations • Debate and discussion • Real-life simulations and role-play scenarios
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Active Learning FAQs Will it add to my workload and take a lot of extra time? No. Active Learning is another way of planning your lessons, replacing more time-consuming memorisation activities with engaging and dynamic activities that promote genuine understanding.
If I already have lesson plans, why should I change? An actively engaged classroom requires a lot less time to be spent on classroom management and gives you and your students a positive experience of learning and attainment. Cambridge University Press resources will help you plan successful Active Learning lessons as they include practical opportunities and ideas for applying knowledge and understanding in the classroom.
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WILL ACTIVE LEARNING AFFECT MY CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT? Yes, positively. Actively engaged students are more likely to enjoy the learning experience, making them receptive to new skills and ideas and your task easier. Well-planned activities that involve all students can build student confidence, and result in improved speaking and listening skills.
Do I need space and extra resources? They would be helpful for some activities, but the vast majority of activities just require imagination and planning. (Please see our example download: Active Learning Activities at education. cambridge.org/activelearning)
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Active Learning FAQs How will active learning affect my students’ attainment? Active Learning can help improve attainment as, under your guidance, students become better learners. Revision is essentially revisiting ideas you have already understood*. Cambridge assessments do not just rely on recall of information, but rather ask learners to understand, analyse, evaluate and synthesise ideas – which is why Active Learning is a vital element in The Cambridge Approach, formulated byTim Oates CBE (April 2016).
*for further reading please see John Hattie’s Visible Learning (2009).
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If active learning is a good approach, why don’t more people use it? We often teach in the way we were taught ourselves rather than exploring new and potentially better methods. We also enjoy explanation as a method of teaching. Active Learning challenges traditional accepted teaching and requires a fresh understanding of how learning is best achieved.
What resources are available to support me in implementing active learning? Cambridge University Press produce a variety of resources that help teachers develop and apply engaging activities that support an Active Learning approach. Please see pages 11-19 to find out more.
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How can parents help their children? Parents can support their child’s learning by: • Taking an active interest. • Talking to their child about their day-to-day activities. For example, asking them what they did today and how they did it. • Encouraging their child to use English at home, even though it may not be their home language, and asking their child to help them improve their English! • Engaging with them on their homework activities and tasks. • Building a strong home-school partnership and sharing successes as well as concerns. • Support their class teacher through regular communication about the tasks their child is working on. • Recognising that active learning, not just memorisation, really can improve exam results.
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Active Learning Resources: Science, Technology and Mathematics Cambridge International AS and A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics Fully revised and updated content matching the new Cambridge International Examinations Biology (9700), Chemistry (9701) and Physics (9702) syllabi, respectively, for first examination in 2016.
Cambridge INTERNATIONAL AS and A Level Biology Workbook with CD-ROM
Cambridge INTERNATIONAL AS and A Level Chemistry Workbook with CD-ROM
Cambridge INTERNATIONAL AS and A Level Physics Workbook with CD-ROM
ISBN: 978-1-107-58947-6
ISBN: 978-1-316-60062-7
ISBN: 978-1-107-58948-3
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Uses an Active Learning approach for students to reinforce and refine the key skills of handling data, evaluating information and problem-solving.
• Detailed learning support is provided throughout to help students tackle the different exercises and build confidence to answer questions independently. • Exercises to help students practise the necessary skills for studying Biology, Chemistry and Physics at Cambridge International AS and A Level.
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Cambridge IGCSE® Biology, Chemistry and Physics A fully updated edition of our successful series to support the Cambridge IGCSE® Biology syllabus (0610), Chemistry syllabus (0620) and Physics syllabus (0625), respectively.
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Cambridge IGCSE® Biology Practical Workbook
Cambridge IGCSE® Chemistry Practical Workbook
Cambridge IGCSE® Physics Practical Workbook
ISBN 978-1-316-61103-6
ISBN 978-1-316-60946-0
ISBN 978-1-31661107-4
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Supports teachers to include more practical work in lessons.
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Helps students to practise skills of handling data, analysis and evaluation; application of theory to practice (Assessment Objective 3 in syllabus).
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Encourages scientific enquiry.
Cambridge IGCSE® and O Level Additional Mathematics This series of resources has been developed to accompany the Cambridge IGCSE® and O Level Additional Mathematics syllabi (0606/4037). Cambridge IGCSE® and O Level Additional Mathematics COURSEBOOK
Cambridge IGCSE® and O Level Additional Mathematics PRACTICE BOOK
ISBN: 978-1-316-60564-6
ISBN: 978-1-316-61168-5
• Practice exercises for consolidating skills. • Revision exercises that draw in mathematical skills learnt in prior chapters. • Classroom discussion activities for deeper discussion of concepts between peers.
Mathematical Thinking in the Lower Secondary Classroom Offers teachers ideas for introducing mathematical concepts through enquiry-based learning. Mathematical Thinking in the Lower Secondary Classroom ISBN: 978-1-316-50362-1
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Cambridge IGCSE® Computer Science Cambridge IGCSE® Computer Science provides in-depth resources that cover recent developments in computer science, offering support on theoretical and practical aspects of the Cambridge International Examinations Computer Science (0478) syllabus.
Cambridge IGCSE® Computer Science CoursebooK
Cambridge IGCSE® Computer Science Programming BooK
ISBN: 978-1-10751869-8
ISBN: 978-1-10751864-3
• Covers theoretical and practical aspects. • ‘Test yourself’ questions throughout for students to take responsibility for their own learning. • The Programming Book builds up programming skills through tasks leading to skill acquisition.
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Active learning resources: ENGLISH Cambridge Global English Cambridge Global English is an exciting, nine-stage, languagerich English course for Primary and Secondary 1. It takes an active, creative, ‘learning to learn’ approach that teaches learners to communicate clearly and confidently in English. •
Cambridge Global English Coursebook 8 ISBN: 978-1-107-61942-5
Features an innovative enquirybased approach to teaching and learning. Harnesses and develops creativity, critical thinking and ‘learning to learn’.
• Includes skills-building tasks including listening, reading and writing, as well as language focus and study skills. Develops students’ skills and builds English language literacy by engaging them in a variety of activities. •
18 thematic units are mapped to the Cambridge International Examinations framework, presenting English in an international context.
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Active learning resources: humanities Cambridge IGCSE® and O Level Global Perspectives Our approach is skills-focused rather than topics-focused. The Coursebook is structured around information skills, critical thinking skills, independent learning skills, collaboration skills and communication skills to help embed the ethos of the syllabus. • Activities engage students, enhance collaboration skills and offer opportunities for Active Learning. • Discussion points encourage students to communicate and collaborate with peers and consider other viewpoints.
Cambridge IGCSE® and O Level Global Perspectives CoursebooK ISBN: 978-1-31661110-4
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• Reflection points enable students to reflect on their views and learning.
Active learning resources: humanities Cambridge IGCSE® Geography We have adopted an activity-led approach, setting us apart from other coursebooks on the market that opt for a more traditional theory-led teaching approach. This particularly supports EAL learners. •
Cambridge IGCSE® Geography Coursebook with CD-ROM (Second edition) ISBN: 978-1-107-45894-9
Fieldwork ideas for theoretical and practical use encourage learning through practical application. The Coursebook has a practical-led approach, helping students to feel more involved with the subject.
• The CD-ROM contains support sheets for use with topics in the Coursebook. Support sheets provide additional activities for students who may require some assistance. • The book is designed so that each spread comprises a lesson containing excellent source material, supporting the Cambridge International Examinations ethos of ‘learning by doing’ and helping teachers break down the syllabus to be manageable for lesson planning.
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Active learning resources: primary English Our Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Global English series use an enquiry-based approach to encourage children to: • Reflect on what they already know about a given topic. • Present children with a context or scenario and encourage them to use the material in the unit to explore the topic, gather information and ‘solve’ the questions posed. • Develop critical thinking skills and allow them to explore a topic in greater depth than if answers were simply presented to them. • Our Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Global English resources are endorsed by Cambridge International Examinations and support the Cambridge Primary Curriculum frameworks.
Cambridge Primary English Cambridge Primary English encourages first language English learners to actively explore, use and apply their core listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through engaging activities.
Cambridge Primary English: Activity Book Stage 1 ISBN: 978-1-107-68345-7
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Cambridge Global English (1-6) A six-level Primary course specifically created to support ESL learners worldwide. In addition, the series content encourages an enquiry-based approach to learning, building learners critical thinking skills, enriching their vocabulary and increasing their conceptual understanding. Leads on to Global English Stages 7-9. Cambridge Global English: Activity Book Stage 4 ISBN: 978-1-107-61361-4
Cambridge Primary Mathematics A flexible, engaging course which takes an investigatory approach to help learners develop the skills and language to find answers, solve problems and apply their knowledge through engaging activities and games.
Cambridge Primary MATHEMATICS: Learner’s Book Stage 2 ISBN: 978-1-107-61582-3
Cambridge Primary Science Cambridge Primary Science provides enquiry-based learning and teaching. The scientific enquiry objectives are integrated throughout to encourage learning of these skills alongside the scientific concepts.
Cambridge Primary SCIENCE: Learner’s Book Stage 3 ISBN: 978-1-107-61141-2
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education.cambridge.org/activelearning