Check out your active learning roadblock results!
You're flying an
Adventurous Airplane!
You are not afraid of taking off, you are already in the air! You move at a jet-setting pace and are always looking for new learning adventures, but this can sometimes make you feel a bit out of control. But no worries! With a few simple changes, you can be well on your way to confidently leading an active learning classroom.
🚧 Your roadblock is instructional turbulence. You love experimenting with new tools and engagement strategies, but without clear structure, it can start to feel chaotic and you’re left wondering whether students are truly mastering the material.
✈️ The best way to protect your energy is to anchor your creativity in clarity. When your imagination is supported by clear expectations and intentional design, your classroom feels exciting and effective.
You’ve taken off and started layering active learning into your classroom. You’re imaginative, bold, and energized by new tools and fresh strategies. You are confidently moving away from stale lectures. But lately, it can feel like there’s a bit of instructional turbulence.
Some days the room feels electric. Other days it feels scattered. You hear students whisper that they’re “teaching themselves.” You wonder if engagement equals understanding. And am I actually helping them learn or just keeping them busy?
Your greatest opportunity for success is finding balance between creativity and clarity.
When your creativity is anchored in structure, including clear expectations, measurable outcomes, and intentional debriefs, your classroom becomes both dynamic and deeply effective. That balance builds confidence and sustainable momentum in active learning.
Key Characteristics of an Adventurous Airplane:
Does this sound like you?
You love trying new things and experimenting with new tools.
You feel a lack of control in your classroom and are unsure if students are truly learning.
You are imaginative and like to try different engagement strategies.
p.s. If you are like, “No way, not me!” no problem. Just head over to this page of all the results and choose one that fits better. We are all unique individuals!
Three strategies to maintain a clear path as the Adventurous Airplane:
Set clear expectations
Creative classrooms thrive when students know exactly what success looks like. Providing structure gives your innovation direction.
⚡️ Action step: Update your activity instructions to be as clear as possible. Like ridiculously clear. And put it in writing.
Use micro-lessons
Big, bold activities are exciting but shorter, focused teaching segments keep your classroom grounded and ensure students master one clear objective at a time.
⚡️Action step: Break one longer lesson into 10–15 minute micro lessons, each followed by a structured activity or check-in for understanding tied directly to the learning objective.
Measure what matters
Engagement is exciting but evidence of learning builds confidence. When you intentionally measure what students actually understand, your creativity becomes powerful instead of unpredictable.
⚡️ Action step: At the end of your next activity, include one structured check-for-understanding. This could be a one-minute written response, a case-based application question, or a quick exit ticket tied directly to the learning objective.
What's next ...
Want to know EXACTLY how to implement these strategies?
There is an short email series about how to find calm on the adventurous airplane headed to your way now!
The first step is arriving in your inbox shortly so watch for an email with the [✈️] in the subject line.
See you there!