We learn every day, although we often don't realize it. Everyone has come across different ways/approaches of learning and teaching in their life, which suit them best. Some learn easier from books, while others rather learn through experiential learning and practice. In the 18th century Kant claimed that theory without practice is dead, and practice without theory is blind. In my master's thesis, I researched what teachers' views on active learning are and to what extent they use activities related to active learning, and in what type of lesson they use them.
In the theoretical part of my thesis, I first defined learning, where I focused mainly on active learning, different definitions of active learning and on the role of the teacher and student in the integration of active learning and teaching in lessons. I studied the use of the elements of active learning in various subjects in elementary school and highlighted the key differences between the subject areas.
In the empirical part of my master's thesis, I conducted semi-structured interviews with eighteen teachers at one of the elementary schools in the Central Slovenia region. I researched how teachers of various subjects define active learning, how much they use and favor the elements of active learning. I was also interested in which type of a lesson teachers of various subjects use elements of active learning the most. Finally, I highlighted the differences between the teachers of natural and social science subjects regarding all the previously mentioned problems.
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