Effectiveness of Active vs. Passive Learning
The article “Uniting Active and Deep Learning to Teach Problem-Solving Skills: Strategic Tools and the Learning Spiral” by Nina Diamond, Stephen K. Koernig, and Zatar Iqbal was convincing in many ways: from comparing active and passive learning to choosing a plan of strategies and timing to teach students. It is hard to disagree that active learning is more effective than passive learning, as it is easier for students to memorize and develop skills for the practical application of theory when they are actively learning.
The Role of Deep Learning in Practical Application
The value of active learning is that students do not just listen to a lecture but try to find a correlation with the knowledge they already have. According to the author, it is not enough to just study actively; it is vital to be able to apply this knowledge in practice, which is where deep learning comes in. This kind of learning allows one to apply new information in different contexts and live through situations in advance to better understand the material.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Article’s Argumentation
The article does not raise any concerns in general, except for the fact that it uses outdated sources. First, the text of the article has no logical errors and contains no contradictions. Secondly, it contains sufficient evidence, as it refers to the work of other authors and logically argues its point. Thirdly, the opinion in the article is not considered one-sided but is contrasted with another opinion. The authors of the article aimed to explore the topic and consider different points of view and arguments.
The only reason for distrust is the years of writing the article and the difference in the years of writing the works to which the authors referred. Although the topic of the article is still relevant today, it was written in 2008, which is 15 years ago. It does not examine the latest research and only considers studies from 1970 to 2007. The outdated nature of the information due to the changing context and the failure to use the latest research is a cause for concern.
Key Takeaways: Strategies, Tools, and Learning Spiral
The main takeaways from this article are learning strategies at different levels of the spiral and the importance of active and deep learning. Conjoint analysis and perceptual mapping are the main techniques that should be used to teach students. By using the spiral learning format, students will acquire problem-solving skills in various situations.