The Department of Educational and Psychological Sciences at the College of Education for Humanities, University of Diyala, held a seminar on Active Learning Strategies (The Beehive Strategy)

The Department of Educational and Psychological Sciences at the College of Education for Humanities, University of Diyala, held a seminar on Active Learning Strategies (The Beehive Strategy). The seminar, presented by Dr. Zeinab Abbas Jawad, aimed to encourage students to actively participate and engage with the educational content by using a variety of teaching strategies. It also sought to enhance students’ analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as to develop their abilities in problem-solving and decision-making.

Key Points Discussed:

1. Beehive Strategy Overview:
   • The Beehive Strategy is one of the latest active learning techniques designed to enhance the student’s role in the educational process, making them an active participant in lessons.
   • This strategy involves students receiving and analyzing information, which they then interpret in the form of questions, answers, and ideas to facilitate understanding. The teacher supervises this process to ensure it runs smoothly.
2. Educational Benefits:
   • The Beehive Strategy encourages students to take a more active role in their learning by prompting experimentation, research, and self-reliance in understanding and acquiring knowledge.
   • It also fosters mental and spiritual development by training students to participate and communicate effectively with others.
   • The strategy is easy to implement and suitable for all age groups and various teaching methods, making learning more enjoyable and engaging.
3. Steps for Implementing the Strategy:
   • The teacher designs a set of cards in the shape of a beehive, which is hexagonal.
   • The students are divided into pairs, and each pair receives a beehive card.
   • The teacher starts by explaining the lesson in detail and selecting a specific topic.
   • After explaining the topic, the teacher asks questions about the main ideas, characteristics, advantages, or components of the subject.
   • Students write down the concepts in the center of the beehive and, in the adjacent cells, note ideas, advantages, or definitions.
   • Once the activity is completed, the teacher evaluates the students’ performance.

The seminar emphasized how this strategy not only promotes active student participation but also builds skills essential for effective learning, critical thinking, and collaborative communication.