Question

How could active learning principles be applied in a safety training course on machine guarding?

Answer 1

Active learning is a method of teaching that focuses on involvement of students more actively than passively in the learning process. It trains the learners to take more responsibility in the learning activities such as reading, writing, discussion and problem solving so as to ensure analysis, synthesis and evaluation of the learnt concepts.

Active learning principles should be applied in safety training courses on machine guarding. The facts learnt should be used in the practical situation. For instance, the students should be able to have a basic knowledge of common machinery and the related safety standards and should be able to employ that in using the machine safely e.g. in an emergency situation. Individuals are likely to learn more with others than when they learn alone. The learning process will be more essential when learners articulate explanations to their colleagues, themselves or the teachers. In this way, the learners are able to recognize hazards and provide solutions among themselves to achieve abatement e.g. the points of operation that they can engage while guarding its efficiency at the same time. Active learning has knowledge acquired from a specific domain or transferred from other domains. Safety measures on machine guarding are specific to this domain. The learners acquire knowledge on how to safely use the machines to identify and mitigate hazards.