Page 23 - 2019_Issue1_Rosendin Newsletter

doing something besides passively participation by students who may
hink back to when you would sit listening." -Bonwell 91' typically fly under the radar in larger
Tin class and listen to a teacher environments. The technology used
lecture on for hours about some inane Here are some of the more well- within the learning pods would usually
topic that had no apparent practical known examples of active learning: be a display with some means for the
use. Even better, how about those • Small group discussions students to share their work on it or
teachers that used slide projectors • Learning by teaching interact with it.
and would dim the light? If you’re like • Class Games
most people, you didn’t do your best • Group Projects The following are a few examples of
learning sitting in a classroom pinching these pods in action. Students break
yourself to stay awake; you did it on off into a group where they each
the job or in the library self-studying. How can technology present their topic to the rest of the
enable active learning? group. (i.e., learning by teaching).
Sitting in a classroom listening to At the core of active learning is the Quizzes and/or exercises are given
someone lecture is a form of passive idea of participation. The goal of an in a group format with students
learn, and passive learning is one active learning environment should, collaborating while the professor
of the least effective methods of therefore, be to create as much keeps an eye on their work using a
education. Numerous studies have participation on the individual level as preview monitor. Smaller groups can
shown that students learn new possible. Breaking the classroom up work through lesson modules allowing
information and retain it better when from one lecture room into multiple them to work at their own pace rather
they are engaged, such as active “learning pods” is one of the more than the pace of the class. The key
learning. popular methods. factor in the technology is allowing
the instructor to have control of all
What is active learning? LEARNING PODS the pods at once.
"In active learning, students Learning pods are small areas where a
participate in the process and group can work together. The smaller INSTRUCTOR CONTROL
students participate when they are size of the group encourages more Through smart classrooms, the
Photo Steve Zylius / UCI
continued on next page
Think Smarter

Not Harder.

Smart Classrooms and

Why We Need Them

By Steffan Crowley, Estimator (Anaheim)

Recently, our team at Rosendin designed and integrated all the smart classrooms at the University of California
Irvine (UCI) Anteater Learning Pavilion. The UCI Pavilion is the first active learning facility in California and
one of the first of its kind. This state-of-the-art structure will help students succeed by providing high tech,
collaborative spaces that encourage them to learn actively.

22 The Feeder | Issue 1, 2019 Issue 1, 2019 | The Feeder 23
Photo Steve Zylius / UCI