Critical and creative thinking require that students be actively engaged in learning science, as opposed to the more traditional, yet typical approach in which the student is on the receiving end of a lecture. The interactive classroom is one in which communication patterns involve students to teacher, teacher to students, and students to students. The interactive classroom is a stimulating place in which students have been motivated to learn, and are given the freedom to explore, discover and inquire. In the interactive classroom you will find teacher-centered as well as student-centered activities. Regardless of the type of activity that the teacher selects, there appears to be at least six specific strategies that teachers use to create an interactive science classroom.
Interactive teachers:
• Use advance organizers to establish interest and instructional goals• Create a stimulating classroom environment
• Understand the art of questioning
• Use examples to help students understand concepts
• Create a positive learning environment
Lets look at each of these strategies in some detail.