Active learning in large classes

In this chapter I will explore the concept of active learning, its relationship to flipped learning and its use in large STEM classes. I will begin with a definition of active learning, an overview of the evidence base for its benefits and discuss the challenges of implementing active learning. I will then provide an introduction to the main learning theories which support the use of active learning and examine how three different types of activity (teacher talking, student-teacher interaction and student-student discussion) contribute to learning through a discussion of the most commonly used active learning strategy in STEM: Peer Instruction.