The benefits of participative learning

Participative or Active Blended learning

More teachings and trainings than ever before are going  totake place online. It is therefore imperative that we connect better with students. There are distractions everywhere, even during face to face sessions.  Trying to get students to prepare  and have the confidence to speak in class can be challenging, but also rewarding. Participative learning not only allows students to get involved in class activities, but to make sure they network and get everyone to contribute to the learning process. Making sure no student is left behind in the search for knowledge.

It is not easy for students to engage in class activities. Most of students believe they are in schools to learn from teachers, but learning is a partnership, not a one way street.  Most of us are dreamers, it  is therefore easy to get lost in our own little world, unless we know that there is a possibility of being called or be part of the class. As a student, I used to day dream through some classes and sessions. So physical presence does not equate to been attentive in class.

I understand why some students do not want to participate in class, but the days of a teacher  standing in front of the class, telling the students what they know should be truly over, these days,  knowledge is everywhere and learning should be collaborative. We learn from and with each other. We remember 80% of what we do and only 20% of what people tell us.

The role of a  teacher is to  direct, guide and provide practical support to help students understand better.  Encouraging learners to express their thoughts is a great way to engage the brains to understand and then reprocess information.

Getting excited

As a teacher, I get excited when students express themselves, even if the answers are not perfect, at least we can rephrase and correct. It is difficult to know what is in the students’ heads unless they express themselves. The ideas of a group of 20 to 30 students in a class can provide a wide range of knowledge far beyond what one teacher can provide.

One of the best experiences for me is getting as many students as possible to come out of their shells. The fact that they want to come to class not because they have to, but because they enjoy the learning experience. It is a great pleasure when shy students have the confidence to express themselves. Of course it is not easy, but taking part in activities can be beneficial to everyone.

From caterpillar to butterfly

It’s like watching a caterpillar 🐛 slowly developing into a  butterfly 🦋 . The process may seem slow, but the eventual result is beautiful. No matter how much a caterpillar loves that stage of its life, it has to grow into a beautiful butterfly. That is an inevitable next stage in life. You are full of pride and it is the essence of teaching

For MBA students, it is a step towards fulfilling their full potential and  progression to future roles. You have to practice stepping up. No better way to prepare than with others in the same boat. 

So a big shout out to all the students who have made my week, so very proud of all of you. Keep taking the steps and keep moving forward.

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