What Is Active Knowledge Making?
With active knowledge making in learning, people are put at the forefront and pushed to research the meaning of a topic instead of being told by others. In other words, individuals are encouraged to use trustworthy external sources to form opinions and ideas and not rely solely on the cemented ideology someone else has imparted to them. As a result, learners form their understanding of a subject and use their critical thinking during discussions. Educators proceed to ask thoughtful questions to prompt people to further explain their points of view or create doubt around their initial ideas.
How Has Constructivism Impacted This Learning Model?
The theory of active knowledge making in learning has been heavily influenced by constructivism. It's a philosophy that focuses on learners' experiences and efforts to build knowledge and understanding. Every person constructs their own rules and mental models to make sense of their experiences. These mental models must be adjusted every time a new learning experience is processed. Yet, not everyone uses the same methodology to give meaning to knowledge. That's why constructivism concentrates on each individual's mental models that help them perceive the world and form assumptions. Tutors should know each learner's process style and not just ask them to memorize the right answers. This philosophy additionally calls for the elimination of a standard curriculum and promotes detailed discussions between learners and tutors. Based on someone's opinion, educators must ask them to further analyze and interpret the information they've gathered. Lastly, learners engage in open-ended communication that generates constant questions and, therefore, keeps a conversation evolving.
How Can Learning Design Help Promote Active Knowledge Making?
In learning, cognition usually takes the front seat, while emotion takes a step back. However, learning design can offer a holistic approach and aims to create multifaceted experiences for learners that focus on fresh ideas, unexpected observations, unique solutions, and instinctive designs that are elegant and functional. It is not a one-size-fits-all formula but instead cares about learners' unique needs and preferences to build a learning journey. Course designers go beyond the learning material and try to think of the best way to deliver information. They try to curate a learner-centered design, where every choice and action surrounds the user and their best interests. That's why the learning objectives must be very clear from the beginning so participants know what they are working on and what their goals should be. The use of interactive material is preferred, and media like video, audio, and tests may be incorporated.
Benefits Of Active Knowledge Making In Learning
Increased Engagement
When learners are offered new pieces of information, they feel encouraged to dig deeper, debate what others share, solve problems that arise, and process new ideas and knowledge. This way, they get a better understanding of the subject matter and maintain high levels of engagement. They don't observe a tutor serving them knowledge but participate in acquiring the material. Also, they refrain from multitasking while the educator is talking and, therefore, connect on a deeper level with the subject at hand. When active knowledge making in learning is processed in a traditional class, learners can ask questions, role-play, and even have team activities. On the other hand, if an organization opts for digital learning, they may need to incorporate gamification and other interactive tools to keep participants' engagement high.
Better Collaboration
Collaboration is one of the main pillars of any successful business venture, and active participation in learning promotes it. Instead of listening to an educator talk and give instructions, learners are actively engaged in the learning process. Through social interaction, people discuss matters, disagree on viewpoints, do further research to prove their ideas and solve problems together. Teamwork is fostered, which is an invaluable tool for any team to succeed and beat the competition. For remote teams, there is a variety of eLearning development training tools, including virtual classrooms, with which participants feel closer to their colleagues and feelings of loneliness are diminished.
Improved Confidence And Risk Taking
In traditional teaching functions, learners are fed all the information and material and rarely speak their minds. With the addition of active knowledge making in learning, individuals are pushed to share their thoughts, make assumptions, and draw conclusions based on their perceptions and experiences. The more they speak up, the more confident they feel in their abilities. They are regularly challenged regarding their ideas and have to think outside the box and come up with answers. Therefore, their critical thinking is built, and they can pinpoint flaws in their thinking. As a result, they can ultimately make better decisions and not stick to their viewpoints egotistically.
Higher Learning Retention
According to the data, learners retain about 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear, and 90% of what they do. Through active learning, individuals put into practice what they have learned and see the outcomes. Through collaborative projects, constant discussions, and real-time feedback, they solidify their learning and retain most of the information they receive. Additionally, interactive learning experiences are so much more fun and exciting. Learners can't wait to start their training and connect with their colleagues. Their interactions may involve games and other activities that not only promote learning but also unify the team and build friendships.
Enhanced Innovation And Creativity
In a highly competitive world, every organization is on the lookout for new ideas and concepts. With active learning, people are encouraged to flex their creative muscles and think innovatively. The more trust they have in their abilities, the more unique ideas they will bring to the table. Also, continuous collaboration offers the opportunity for team members to bounce off of each other's ideas. One thought can be the starting point for a much bigger construct built by multiple voices. When everyone feels free and confident enough to express their opinions, innovation occurs. Finally, learners do a lot of self-reflection regarding past decisions and learn not to be afraid to take risks, no matter their outcomes. Such fearlessness can birth groundbreaking ideas.
Conclusion
The benefits of active knowledge making in learning don't stop there; instant feedback is another plus. With live activities, quizzes, and assessments, eLearning platforms can offer corrections and evaluations immediately, notifying participants of their mistakes and allowing them to bridge gaps autonomously. The more motivated people are to learn and grow their skills, the more beneficial eLearning experiences will be for corporate and personal success.
