Interactive curricula are among the most effective ways to teach a subject. Most educators can tell you that children learn better when hands-on tasks are involved. Thus, an effective curriculum is one that balances traditional didactic strategies with in-class exercises.

All children learn best when they are engaged fully. Although a quality lecture may serve this purpose in part, most students benefit from the addition of hands-on exercises. Whether building models of the early settlements in social studies or participating in math games, the benefits of interactive curricula are clear.

Advantages to Interactive Curricula

First, the use of games and interactive tasks in the classroom allows children to work with course material in a different format. This encourages mental flexibility and can reinforce the key points of course material. Second, and perhaps just as important, interactive curricula serve to make learning an active endeavor on the part of the child. No longer the passive recipient of knowledge, students can take responsibility for what they learn by being active in exercises and games.

Finally, interactive curricula are simply more fun than traditional lecturing. Learning can be an exciting, rewarding process when presented the right way. Parents and educators should keep this in mind and should strive for creativity and interaction in the classroom.