3Pf: Prepare-Present-Positive Feedback -- An Active Learning Approach for Low Achievers

Abstract

Active learning is a well established technique for improving student engagement. However, research shows that low achieving students tend to have passive participation in active learning. Further, the approach for providing feedback to students, during the active learning process, impacts the confidence of the students. These students could lose interest in the process, if they do not feel confident about themselves. We propose an active learning approach - Prepare-Present-Positive feedback, focused on low achievers. We experimented with our approach in a postgraduate engineering course in information technology/computer engineering. We report our experiences with this approach, using an example. We evaluated the process using a student perception survey. Our preliminary results show that this approach helps the students, especially low achievers, in improving their self-study, analytical, written and oral expression skills. The results, though preliminary, indicate that the approach has a positive impact on low and also high achievers. Based on our experiences, we provide tips and caveats for implementing this approach. We also identify some of the areas where further research is needed to quantify the benefits and improve the approach.