A traditional classroom setting offers a bit of a “one-size-fits-all”
approach to learning. Each child has their own desk and their own
supplies, but that’s often where the individuality ends.
A “student-centered” learning experience is a bit different—and, some may argue, a better experience for the child.
However,
many parents are unfamiliar with the term and how it can be used in
education. Here are all the details regarding student-centered learning.
Student-Centered Learning
Student-centered learning
is a broad term that can be used to describe a variety of different
educational strategies, but the premise is usually to focus on the
unique learning abilities of each student. Each child has his or her own
personality, quirks, and study habits. While traditional learning
techniques tend to focus on how long should the college essay be, a child with dyslexia or other learning issues may slip through the cracks. Even children without specific learning challenges may simply learn differently
than the ways his or her teacher teaches in the classroom. For example,
if the lessons are primarily presented orally, some children may have
trouble keeping up because they are visual learners.
Student-centered
learning aims to correct this problem. It’s a simple term that
describes a complex system of teaching methods, which may vary from one
classroom to the next because each child is different.
The History of Student-Centered Learning
Student-centered
learning is a fairly new term, but the idea has been growing for a
while now. Many parents, educators, students, and child psychologists
determined that traditional techniques simply weren’t working for many
children.
In fact, student-centered learning dates back as far as
the 1930s. At this point, classrooms were quite organized and
structured, and some began to suggest a more “student-centered”
environment rather than only “teacher-centered.”
“Teacher-centered”
learning techniques focus on helping the teacher keep the classroom
organized and the learning styles streamlined. The teacher conducts the
lessons and asks most of the questions. The children rarely speak and
follow the teacher’s orders.
It’s an efficient system, but opponents believe it leaves many students scrambling to keep up.
Fast
forward to today: Classrooms are much more relaxed than in the 1930s,
and students are encouraged to discuss concepts and interact more. But
often, the teacher still stands in front of the class, chooses the
material to study, leads the lesson, and only asks questions at the end,
leaving little time for students to process the material, discuss it,
and determine what they might need to fully learn it.
A Student-Centered Classroom
By contrast, a student-centered classroom looks a little bit different. In these classrooms, students are encouraged to seat themselves in circles or groups. With a teacher’s guidance, the students decide the direction of each lesson.
Students
are encouraged to move throughout the lessons as needed, and activities
are a regular part of the learning experience. They may also ask
questions and lead discussions if it helps the learning process.
In
fact, sometimes student-centered learning doesn’t use a classroom at
all. Many students learn best via internships or through travel. Others utilize technology to learn from any location with internet access.
Student-Centered Learning Benefits
The
most obvious benefit of student-centered learning is that it seeks to
meet every child’s needs. With this method of teaching, there is the
expectation that more students will be engaged and better learn the
material. In fact, one high school reported an adjusted 16 point jump in graduation rates because they adopted student-centered learning techniques.
It
also makes learning more interesting and entertaining, and many
students find that the educational experience doesn’t stop at the end of
the school day. In fact, students often keep learning at home, and they
may even choose to study primarily on nights or weekends.
Because
children are active participants in their learning, they are generally
more engaged and focused. This type of involvement also fosters growth
and independence for the child as they mature into adulthood.
The Future of Student-Centered Learning
Student-centered
learning has made great leaps in recent years, but it’s still far from
mainstream. In fact, only a small percentage of schools utilize this
method (though more and more teachers are adopting some of its
practices).
In the future, though, it’s possible that this type of
learning will become more commonplace, possibly even replacing
teacher-centered learning altogether.
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