Wouldn't it be wonderful if all learning environments consisted almost entirely of active learning! Sarena mentioned in her lecture that university students can focus for about 15 minutes in a lecture. That focus time decreases dramatically and incrementally for senior, intermediate, junior and primary students. Lectures like Serena's are particularily poignant for me as I contemplate my teaching style and its effects on my future students.

As a parent I've always subscribed to the belief that providing my children an opportunity to make their own discoveries is extremely important in their intellectual development. As a teacher, I've also seen first hand, the difference in the motivation level of students when they are actively engaged in their learning compared to being passively engaged. They retain much more of what they learn too. Why then do elementary teachers fall back on giving photocopies of seat work to their students? Some elements of the school curriculum lend themselves to active learning more than others. Some aspects are learned best through repetition. Active learning lessons take a great deal of time. The process of making your own discoveries takes much more time than being given the answers and frankly, there isn't enough time in the school day to cover the entire curriculum effectively as it stands. So... teachers need to blend active and passive learning opportunities. I also believe that passive learning opportunities are necessary to help child develop the skills needed for sustained attention. Let's face it, sometimes people need to just shut up and listen.

So yes, I will plan as many lessons as I can to actively engage my students, but I will also need to blend some passive learning opportunities into my lesson plans as well. Hopefully, I will find the balance that provides enough active learning opportunities to engage, excite and motivate my students, and enough passive learning opportunities to develop skills and help develop their sustained attention.