From Passive to Participatory: Designing Learning Experiences That Engage Students

What can instructors do to move students from passive listeners to active participants in their own learning? Active learning has been shown to improve student engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes, but successful implementation requires thoughtful planning. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore a range of active learning approaches—from quick classroom activities to more structured collaborative exercises—and discuss when and why to use them. We will also examine considerations related to course design, student buy-in, and classroom climate. Participants will leave with strategies for creating more engaging and meaningful learning experiences.