The most obvious benefit of interactive learning is that it enables students to master new skills. Traditional teaching methods rely heavily on one-way communication from teacher to student, encouraging passive learning and leaving students with a superficial understanding of topics. In contrast, interactive learning techniques, like group discussions, debates, and role playing, allow students to explore concepts and apply their knowledge in real-world contexts, increasing engagement and improving retention.
In addition, the interactive nature of these activities encourages students to think more critically about what they’re learning and ask questions that can deepen their understanding of a topic. These skills will come in handy later on, as students will need to apply their knowledge to real-world situations in the workplace.
Another benefit of interactive learning is that it teaches students how to work with others. In an age where collaborative working has become the norm in many professions, it’s important for students to learn how to effectively collaborate and communicate with their peers. This can be accomplished by incorporating teamwork exercises, such as case studies, project-based learning, and even virtual team meetings through digital platforms such as Genially.
Finally, interactive learning helps students become more creative by allowing them to express themselves in different ways than writing. This can be done by enabling them to create their own presentations, videos, drawings, or even audio recordings of their thoughts and opinions. This will help to develop their creativity and prepare them for the future, as more and more jobs will require these skills.
The interactive nature of these lessons allows students to become more engaged, resulting in improved test scores and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. In addition, it gives teachers a much better idea of what students understand and don’t understand, which can be difficult to get from a written test.
Additionally, these types of activities often involve hands-on learning, which is very appealing to many students. This can include everything from touching objects to enhance their description skills, to going on a nature walk to observe tadpoles and then creating a case study on how to improve transportation infrastructure in their city.
Students can also engage in immersive learning through digital simulations. These programmes replicate real-world scenarios and allow students to experiment in a safe, controlled environment. Examples of these programmes include virtual labs in science education and flight simulators in aviation training.
Some students may initially resist interactive learning, due to their lack of experience with it and the fact that it requires more effort than a typical lecture. However, these students can often be persuaded to change their tune, once they see how engaging and effective it can be. In addition, the instructors who facilitate these lessons can provide just-in-time mini-lectures to address areas of confusion or uncertainty. This reduces resistance and makes interactive learning a valuable tool for all learners, especially those with learning disabilities.
