ACL is defined as: a pedagogical approach that promotes a high level of student engagement with course content while the students work individually and collaboratively on course goals/outcomes. An ACL experience contains the following hallmarks: student to student interactions, positive interdependence (shared goal and resources), individual accountability (assigned roles, specific tasks and timelines), group processing (discussion and synthesis), and social skills (encouraging, reflecting, and active listening) (Johnson, Johnson, & Smith, 2006).
Scholarly Evidence on the Importance of ACL
Data shows that retention, persistence, grade point average, and in some instances, degree completion improve with ACL (Price and Esau, 2014).
- 2015 Leah Meyer Austin Brochure - Patrick Henry Community College
- A Matter of Degrees - Engaging Practices, Engaging Students (High-Impact Practices for Community College Student Engagement) -- 2013
- Student Engagement and Institutional Graduation Rates - Identifying High-Impact Educational Practices for Community Colleges
- CCSSE Validation Summary - Student Engagement and Student Outcomes Key findings from CCSSE Validation Research
- Active Learning Center Purdue
- Active Learning at Case Western University - EDUCAUSE
- CCSSE for CSCC 2015 Executive Summary
Structure of FPDi and ACL
Each department already has a professional development committee to monitor department professional development funds. Under the new PD plan, these committees will also be used to create department PD plans. All faculty — tenure-track, ACF, and adjunct — may serve on these committees and contribute to the department PD plans. One faculty member from each department will serve on the College-wide PD Advisory Group. The department PD plans will address traditional, online, and blended modalities. Faculty will determine the extent and use of ACL in their departments, forming a plan about how faculty can benefit from College-wide ACL trainings as well from the knowledge of their own "faculty experts." The department PD plans will be aligned with annual appraisal, teaching observation, and tenure and promotion processes.
In addition to the academic department professional development process, the FPDi will offer a centralized series of ACL learning modules geared towards beginners, intermediates and experts in understanding and applying ACL strategies in their classrooms. Each academic department professional development committee will determine which of these modules will be helpful to faculty members in their area and include these in department professional development plans.
If you have any questions, please contact the Faculty Professional Development team (FPDi) at FPDi@cscc.edu.
Active and Collaborative Learning Self-Help Videos
Click on thumbnails below to view associated videos for each of the following topics.
What is Active and Collaborative Learning (ACL)?
ACL is defined as: a pedagogical approach that promotes a high level of student engagement with course content while the students work individually and collaboratively on course goals/outcomes.
What is Faculty Professional Development Initiative?
A College initiative where faculty will collaborate to explore Active and Collaborative Learning (ACL) for all aspects of student teaching and learning. In addition, within the context of ACL, the initiative will focus on four other key areas of teaching and learning:
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: understanding student diversity and its impact in the teaching/learning process.
- Teaching with Technology: increasing student engagement in the digital age.
- Alternative Assessment: assess students’ proficiency in performing complex tasks that are directly associated with learning outcomes.
- Critical Thinking: improving student critical thinking.
Group VS Collaborative Work
Group work is not collaborative learning. With traditional group work, very little interaction may be required of the students. With cooperative learning, also called active and collaborative learning, the students have to work together cooperatively in order to complete the task.
PIGSface
An Active and Collaborative Learning Activity contains five key elements. These elements are Positive Interdependence, Individual and Group Accountability, Group Processing, Social Skills, and Face to face Interactions (live or virtual).
If you have any questions, please contact the Faculty Professional Development team (FPDi) at FPDi@cscc.edu.