"...mere activity masquerading as learning." -- Rosemary Clark

Rosemary Clark wrote a compelling article for the Guardian today about how automatic it has become for teachers to build group activities into lesson plans even when it doesn't make the most sense.

"I am not suggesting that active learning is a bad thing. Quite the reverse. Active learning is essential for developing cognitive skills. I am suggesting that it is tempting to confuse physical activity with active learning. Unwarranted physical activity in class may be no more than a distracting displacement activity, giving the illusion of learning but failing to develop understanding."

Clark makes some very good points. In our effort to involve every student, it's easy to forget that some people learn better through quiet reflection. It, too, is active learning. It's just quieter.

"This has nothing to do with the now-discredited notion of preferred learning styles but instead demonstrates genuine differentiation by focusing on the use of the most effective and efficient method to ensure the greatest learning."

The mechanics of teaching can sometimes get in the way of the most important thing of all---understanding---what Clark calls "learning for life, not just for exams."

I plan to keep an eye on Rosemary Clark. She's an education consultant and former quality manager at the Association of Colleges, and I have a feeling she's got a lot more good advice for us. Besides, I like where her head and her heart are.