An innovative, student-centred approach to active learning
Initiatives that promote active and collaborative learning are being strongly advocated in the New Junior Cycle and are also central to the ethos of Instructional Leadership. The importance of the active participation of students in the classroom is also stressed by the DES inspectorate.
Under the DEIS/SIP plan teachers are asked to embrace a new measure into their teaching to encourage active learning and collaboration. The main idea is not to make more work for the teacher but to shift the focus from teacher-centred learning to active learner-centred learning.
There is a vast array of different measures to choose from and some of these are included in the following tables. Some teachers may try more than one initiative.
Teachers who are involved with the new Junior Cycle may also be using Learning Intentions and Success Criteria.
The Errigal College Student Journal has many features added that will support active, co-operative learning and assessment for learning (AFL):
| Traffic lights | 3-2-1 | Graphic Organisers (wish bone and placemat) |
| Laminated Show me board | 2 Stars and a wish | Question maker |
Instructional Leadership is where the art and science of instruction come together to create the most powerful learning experience for learners. Dr. Barrie Bennett is a master at combining his classroom experience with a vast amount of research on educational topics. He defines Instructional Intelligence as the integration of content knowledge, assessment, knowledge of how we learn, instructional repertoires, personal/professional change, as well as systemic change.
Donegal ETB is supporting the implementation of Instructional Leadership in ETB schools and has provided continuous professional development (CPD) for staff in this area.
Teachers involved in using Instructional Leadership initiatives express that it has had a positive impact on changing their classroom environment and the manner their students learn.
