Active learning engages P1 pupils in West Lothian
An article in the Times Educational Supplement (Scotland) describes how Peel and Murrayfield Primary Schools have transformed their P1 classes through active learning.
Now, instead of whole-class teaching for much of the day, teachers talk less and pupils (who spend a far larger chunk of the day in groups) talk more. Text books and worksheets, for the most part, lie gathering dust, and learning has become less rigid, with teachers more able to respond to pupils’ interests. Joined-up learning - rather than single lessons on different subject areas - is also far more common.
The new approach has led to 'a significant increase' in pupils’ 'engagement with activities' and 'a significant increase in on-task behaviour during lessons', according to research carried out by West Lothian psychological services, which compared the old and new approaches to learning.