How do you teach with student-centered approaches?

1 What are student-centered approaches?

Student-centered approaches are based on the idea that students are active participants in their own learning, rather than passive recipients of information. Student-centered approaches recognize that students have different backgrounds, interests, strengths, and needs, and that they can learn from each other as well as from the teacher. Student-centered approaches also emphasize the development of skills and competencies that are relevant for the 21st century, such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration.

2 Why use student-centered approaches?

Student-centered approaches can have many benefits for both students and teachers, such as increased motivation and engagement, improved achievement and retention, enhanced collaboration and social skills, reduced boredom and frustration, empowered student voice and agency, and enriched teacher practice and satisfaction. Students are likely to be more interested in learning when they have some choice in their learning goals, activities, and outcomes. They can construct their own knowledge rather than memorizing facts, collaborate with peers on meaningful tasks, be challenged at an appropriate level, express their opinions, make decisions, and take action on issues that matter to them. Teachers are likely to find teaching rewarding when they can design and facilitate student-centered learning experiences.

3 How to plan student-centered learning activities?

Planning student-centered learning activities requires a shift away from the traditional teacher-centered approach. Instead of beginning with the content and standards, you should start with your students' needs, interests, and goals. To help you plan such activities, first identify your students' prior knowledge, skills, and attitudes through formative assessment strategies. Then set clear and meaningful learning objectives to ensure that your students learn what is expected of them. Additionally, choose engaging and authentic learning tasks that allow for multiple perspectives and solutions. Provide flexible and differentiated learning options to meet the needs of all learners. Finally, incorporate collaborative and reflective learning strategies to encourage communication between your students and you.

4 How to facilitate student-centered learning activities?

Facilitating student-centered learning activities requires a different role and skills from the traditional teacher-centered approach. Instead of being the main source of information and authority, you need to be a guide, coach, and facilitator of learning. To help you in this endeavor, here are some tips to consider: Establishing a positive and safe learning environment is key - set expectations and norms for behavior and participation, build rapport and trust with your students, respect their diversity and individuality, and create a physical and emotional space that encourages collaboration and creativity. You should also monitor and support student learning by observing their work, providing timely feedback, asking open-ended questions to extend their thinking, scaffolding instruction according to their needs, praising their efforts, etc. Additionally, promoting student autonomy and responsibility is important - give them control over their learning, help them develop self-regulation skills, hold them accountable for their learning. Finally, foster student interaction and collaboration by facilitating group work and discussions, teaching social skills, providing feedback on group dynamics and performance, helping with conflict resolution, etc.

5 How to assess student-centered learning outcomes?

Assessing student-centered learning outcomes requires a variety of methods and tools that capture the depth and breadth of your students' learning. Instead of relying on summative assessments, such as tests and exams, formative and alternative assessments should be used to measure application and synthesis. Examples of how to assess student-centered learning outcomes include portfolios, rubrics, performance tasks, self-assessment, and peer assessment. A portfolio is a collection of your students' work that demonstrates their learning progress and achievements over time. Rubrics define the criteria and levels of performance for a specific learning task or outcome. Performance tasks require your students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a realistic or simulated context. Self-assessment and peer assessment involve your students in assessing their own or each other's work, using criteria and standards you provide or co-create with them. All of these approaches can provide feedback and evidence of learning as well as support for learning.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?