Activity-based learning, which involves using different activities based on a central topic, engages students in a way that traditional teaching cannot; therefore, it should be implemented in every subject.

Activity-based learning triggers most of our senses and activates multiple areas of our brain, aiding many facets of learning, such as memory retention, connections with the material at hand, and the ability to dive deeper into a topic. According to the National Training Laboratories, you retain only 5% of a topic when listening to a lecture, while you retain 75% of what you learn when practicing it through activities. 

Despite its benefits, such as encouraging collaborative work and providing a physical way to learn the material, activity-based learning remains unused in many subjects. 

While prevalent in subjects like science, other subjects rely on passive or traditional teaching, a learning method that only scratches the surface of a topic. Instances of passive learning include note-taking during lectures, where students learn information through listening and writing down what “feels right” rather than engaging with the material to find gaps in their knowledge. 

Even the classes that don’t translate well into an activity-based class can learn from the philosophy and methods used in the classes that do. “I think it’s about engagement, and every class could benefit from it…” said Mr. Mike Welty ’83.

In an 80-minute system where learning can become monotonous, activity-based teaching offers a form of engagement. 

“Any class that’s not breaking up their class period into small time periods within which there will be a slightly different activity is losing out on an opportunity to engage better,” said Mr. Welty.