Students' perspectives on interactive Learning

In Hong Kong, as in many countries, a central element in teachers' innovatory experimentation in the classroom is interactive learning. In itself, of course, 'interactive learning' is a broad term: learning may take place through any form of interaction between a person's current conception of some aspect of the world and an alternative conception of this aspect. This alternative conception may come from a source external to the learner (such as a written text or another person), or it may arise internally in the learner (through reflection). For the purposes of this chapter, however, I focus on learning which occurs though interpersonal interaction and which includes the following features: 

It occurs in the social context of the classroom. 

It takes place through the purposeful exchange and/or confrontation of ideas, information, and opinions. 

It may occur among groups of students, or it may also involve the teacher. 

All participants in the interaction enjoy, at least in principle, equal rights to contribute to it.