How do you provide feedback and support to learners during and after active learning activities?

1 Set clear goals and criteria

Before starting any active learning activity, you need to communicate the learning goals and the assessment criteria to the learners. This will help them understand the purpose and the expectations of the activity, and guide their self-evaluation and peer feedback. You can use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) to define the learning outcomes and rubrics or checklists to describe the performance standards.

2 Monitor and intervene

During the active learning activity, you need to monitor the learners' progress and intervene when necessary. You can use different methods to observe and collect data, such as surveys, polls, quizzes, or observation sheets. You can also use open-ended questions, prompts, or hints to scaffold the learners' thinking and problem-solving. However, you should avoid giving direct answers or solutions, as this may undermine the learners' autonomy and inquiry. Instead, you should encourage the learners to explore, experiment, and collaborate with others.

4 Encourage reflection and action

Another way to support the learners after the active learning activity is to encourage them to reflect on their learning experience and to plan for future actions. Reflection is a critical skill that helps the learners analyze their performance, identify their challenges and successes, and connect their learning to their goals and context. You can use various tools to facilitate reflection, such as journals, portfolios, or blogs. You can also ask the learners to share their reflections with peers or mentors, to receive feedback and support. Moreover, you can ask the learners to set action plans based on their feedback and reflections, to apply their learning to their work or life situations.

5 Follow up and reinforce

Finally, you need to follow up and reinforce the learners' learning after the active learning activity. This will help the learners consolidate and transfer their learning, and prevent them from forgetting or losing interest. You can use different strategies to follow up and reinforce the learning, such as sending reminders, resources, or tips via email or social media, organizing review sessions or quizzes, or creating opportunities for practice or application. You can also use gamification, badges, or rewards to recognize and celebrate the learners' achievements and progress.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?