The exemplars on the following pages illustrate a variety of strategies that encourage the child to be an active agent in his/her own learning. Some of those outlined are appropriate for acquiring information, some for exploring opinions and viewpoints, and others for developing and practising skills.
Teachers can choose a particular strategy depending on the objectives of the lesson, the needs and ability levels of the children, and the resources available.
Flexibility and variety are crucial to the use of any of these strategies. An openended question could be used as a starting point for a lesson, and this could be followed by encouraging the children to explore, say, a picture. The lesson could conclude with children drawing up a list of strategies for dealing with the issues before them. Most of the recommended techniques can be used with all age groups.
Links for integration with specific subject areas are evident in many of the exemplars in the following pages. This will help teachers in planning and organising the most effective use of active learning in SPHE and within other subjects.
The strategies outlined in this section are: