What are the main features of active teaching methods?

Teaching has undergone a remarkable evolution over the years, moving from a traditional teacher-centered model to more dynamic approaches emphasizing active student participation. Active pedagogies, at the heart of this transformation, offer an immersive learning experience, fostering students' personal development and their ability to take ownership of their knowledge. Montessori is one of these active pedagogies, and we've written an article on the subject. If you'd like to find out what it's all about, we invite you to read it. 

The Context: A Real-World Learning Experience

At the heart of these pedagogies is a hands-on experience of learning. Classrooms are no longer simply places of passive listening, but interactive environments where engagement is encouraged. Hands-on projects, group discussions, and experiential activities become commonplace, providing students with an opportunity to truly connect with the material being taught.

The roles of the child and the teacher are modified for a varying degree of control over learning

In this paradigm shift, the traditional roles of child and teacher are modified. The teacher becomes a guide, a facilitator who stimulates curiosity, encourages critical thinking and supports students in their autonomous learning process. For their part, children become active learners, taking charge of their education, asking questions, exploring and discovering through experimentation. This way of teaching children is known as innovative learning. In this article,we explain what makes a school 'innovative'.

Involvement and active experimentation

One of the key characteristics of active pedagogies is the emphasis on involvement and experimentation. Students are encouraged to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts, experiment and draw conclusions on their own. Whether through simulations, research projects or hands-on experiments, each activity is a meaningful learning opportunity. 

The active pedagogy approach to mathematics is an example of active involvement and experimentation for children at école M.

Click here to listen to Radio France's fascinating podcast 'Le temps des pédagogies innovantes, l'enfant au centre de l'école'.

Group interaction, collaboration and learning

Peer interaction, collaboration, and group learning play a crucial role in these pedagogical approaches. Students learn to work together, share ideas, solve problems collectively, thus promoting the development of essential social skills for their future.

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In sum, active pedagogies transform the educational landscape by emphasizing the engagement, experimentation, collaboration, and empowerment of learners in their knowledge acquisition process. This approach not only prepares them for the challenges of the modern world but also stimulates their intrinsic curiosity, thus establishing a solid foundation for continuous and sustainable learning.

If you are looking for an establishment offering this type of pedagogy, we have listed for you all the Montessori and Freinet schools in the following two articles: