They say that there are three types of learning — Visual, kinetic, and auditory. Visual refers to sight-based learning, while kinetic and auditory refers to touch and hearing-centric learning, respectively.
In classrooms around the world, teachers sometimes struggle to devise lessons that cater to all three learning styles. As such, as is the case in other facets of life, technological aid has come to the rescue.
Facilitating what is known as interactive learning, technology-infused classrooms, particularly those using digital whiteboards, have increasingly become the norm. As a result, lessons are now more engaging than ever, and the benefits of interactive learning are readily apparent.
So, What is Interactive Learning?
Interactive learning is a term that is used often now in education, but what does it actually mean?
Interactive learning is an all-encompassing approach to education. By emphasizing student engagement with new material, interactive class structures are much more holistic. Classes that embrace interactive learning are less about regurgitating information and more about discussions, critical thinking, and open-ended questioning. As such, students with all manner of learning requirements are accommodated.
How is Interactive Learning Commonly Implemented?
Interactive teaching is not something that classrooms can adapt to overnight, in that it requires adaption on the part of both teachers and students. As part of that undertaking, all involved must get used to a more flexible and open-ended classroom process, complete with collaboration, freedom of choice, and adaptive course correction.
Collaboration
Student-to-student collaboration is the best way to facilitate learning. Regardless of the subject, students are proven to learn more efficiently when doing so in a collaborative setting. This doesn’t necessarily mean group work or presentations, but also a quick consultation before answering a question or the use of online tools after class.
Freedom of Choice
In the context of interactive learning, there is no single correct way to complete an assignment/project. Therein, students are encouraged to select a method that best suits their style of learning. For some, essay writing may be the way to go, while others may opt to make videos or construct presentations.
Course Correction
The student-teacher dynamic, as well as the much-vaunted lesson plan, was once unassailable and resolute in its rigidity. Interactive learning’s emphasis on a hands-on approach has forced teachers to open up their process to their students. As such, the resultant inherent feedback allows for constant course correction and improvement on both sides.
Why is Interactive Learning Important?
The importance of interactive learning goes well beyond that of a single aspect, whether it be class size, age group, subject, or style. In fact, as is the point, there is no barrier associated with interactivity. Considering this universal nature of interactive learning, its important tenets hold true for every situation.
Engagement
Imagine teachers droning and students sleeping. You shouldn’t, since nothing about education should be so passive. Interactive teaching, complete with student-to-student interactions and hands-on lessons, may result in a 60% uptick in student engagement. This process commonly manifests as an alternative knowledge demonstration, such as paraphrasing, as opposed to pure fact repetition.
Life Preparation
Recall that students everywhere ask themselves, “When will I actually use this?”. Although reductive, this saying indicates a trend that has seen curriculums shift focus from life-skills to college preparation. With interactive learning, however, teachers are able to integrate real-life applications of the subject matter by way of online tools and supplements.
Variety is the Spice of Life
For a long time, teachers were limited by a school’s resources and the contents of the textbook. That is no longer the case! With interactive learning and the availability of relevant technology, teachers may now create varying lesson plans that cater to different learning styles and offer contingencies based on student engagement.
What are the Challenges of Interactive Learning?
For all its importance and positive attributes, interactive learning possesses its own set of inherent challenges as well. Far from a bad thing, these challenges are largely associated with the technological aspect of the approach. This is especially true on the side of the teacher, as opposed to that of the students.
Technical Reliability
Anyone who has ever interacted with technological products has probably suffered technical breakdowns and glitches. There’s nothing more annoying than something not working the way it should, and interactive learning technology, such as digital whiteboards, are no exception. This is especially the case when classes are disrupted due to IT wait times.
Time
Interactive lesson plans, particularly those using digital whiteboards, do not pop into existence. Teachers will commonly exceed allotted planning time in order to make sure that everything is adequately prepared. Beyond planning, interactive learning and its associated technology require training and time to get used to it, which is often not optimal.
Visibility
Classroom sizes are usually larger than is optimal. Combined with the tendency of whiteboards to be smaller than required, visibility could become an issue. While this is possible in any situation, it becomes more critical in classes involving interactive learning and digital whiteboards, especially when the latter is the lesson’s focal point.
What are the Benefits of Interactive Learning?
Challenges of the technology aside, the benefits of interactive teaching outweigh all else. There is no situation where regurgitation of facts, as well as other variants of passive learning, is preferable to, or more beneficial than, interactive learning. Distilled down to its essence, the benefits of interactive learning involve adaptability, cost savings, and fun.
Adaptability
The mark of any good lesson is the ability to adapt. If an activity is not going well, then the teacher should be able to change course at a whim. In the case of interactive learning, teachers’ capabilities are expanded, particularly to include video and audio outlets that were not possible previously.
Cost Saving
Resource management is an unfortunate burden placed on too many teachers around the world. Proper lesson planning may be disrupted by concerns of supply shortages. As is the case with interactive learning technology, particularly when digital whiteboards are implemented, the education processes may become largely digitized. Therefore, supply concerns can be extinguished.
Fun
Combined with its ability to bolster engagement, collaboration, and motivation, the introduction of interactive learning into the classroom should be nothing short of fun! With boring lectures done away with, teachers have the opportunity to turn everything into a game and foster a fun and enjoyable classroom environment. Let the games begin!
Implement the Benefits of Interactive Technology in the Classroom
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for ideal classroom display solutions for interactive learning. Fortunately, schools have options when it comes to ‘edtech’ or education technology. Most classrooms benefit (hugely) from at least one interactive touch screen display. ViewSonic’s award-winning ViewBoard Interactive Flat Panel displays are incredible for classrooms everywhere; with many different sizes and accessories to choose from, you can completely customize your technology set up to fit exactly what you need! Additionally, each panel comes integrated with the award-winning MyViewBoard software – which is what truly sets ViewSonic interactive displays apart from the competition.
(From the editor: This article was originally published on ViewSonic Library.)
