Learning activities are the training methods that enable participants to achieve and to demonstrate their learning. Different learning activities are appropriate for different learning levels.
Participants can:
- gain information [KNOWLEDGE] when they attend a lecture (enhanced for different learning styles), participate in a discussion, listen to a panel, or read reference materials;
- demonstrate that they understand what they have learned [COMPREHENSION] when they read and discuss a case study, brainstorm answers to a discussion question, respond to a quiz or questionnaire, or complete a writing assignment; and
- put what they have learned to use [APPLICATION] when they play a game, perform a hands on exercise, participate in a simulation or role play, conduct an on-site visit, or solve problems in small groups.
Participants can achieve and demonstrate:
- ANALYSIS when they analyze real-life situations or problems [case studies or simulations], sort and reorganize information into categories [hands on exercises or games], or illustrate or outline information [flow charts and diagrams];
- SYNTHESIS when they plan or design something new [hands on exercises or games], or modify or reconstruct policies or procedures [case studies or simulations]; and
- EVALUATION when they critique and assess the work of others [by providing feedback on a hands on exercise, simulation, or role play].
Many learning activities can be restructured to accomplish several different levels of learning. For example, a case study can be used to accomplish any level of learning, simply by varying its degree of complexity,
Only lecture is limited to accomplishing one level of learning: KNOWLEDGE.
