Student-centered learning methods empower students with voice and choice. They provide meaningful learning experiences and teach critical life skills.
Student-driven activities like projects, simulations, and educational games make content relevant. They foster a love of learning and increase engagement and understanding. They also promote a personalized path to mastery.
1. Student Voice
Student voice is a key element of any modern approach to student-centered learning methods as it placing students at the center of learning. It involves students taking an active role in classroom and school decision making and is a powerful way to foster educational environments that are responsive to student needs. It is also a vital part of improving access and equity for historically marginalized students.
Educators need to understand what student voice is, how it looks in practice, and how they can support students as they engage in this process. In addition, educators need to know how student voice can be measured and monitored so that they can evaluate the impact of their efforts.
While there is a growing consensus that student voice is an important practice in schools, there are still many questions about what it actually means and how it works in practice. In short, student voice is a process that allows students to share their perspectives, experiences, and thoughts on issues that affect them or their education. This can include input on instructional topics, how they learn, or even how schools are designed.
Ultimately, student voice is about giving students the opportunity to influence their own educational outcomes and ensuring that they are heard by adults who care about them. Students have the most to gain from their education but are often left without a say in how they’re taught. Increasing student voice is essential to improve educational experiences and prepare them for the world that awaits them beyond the classroom.
When used effectively, student voice can have a profound impact on student learning and the overall culture of a school or district. It can help to close the gap between what students need and what educators are providing, while fostering a sense of empowerment that can lead to greater student engagement, achievement, and retention.
For example, when Westerville City Schools in Ohio used ThoughtExchange to capture student voice on racial equity and social justice, they learned that students felt their concerns about racism were going unaddressed by school leaders. This information was then used to inform a new initiative that aims to empower students as a whole and improve school climate.
2. Practical Applications
A student centered learning approach places students at the center of their education, promoting their active participation, engagement, and autonomy in learning activities that are tailored to their needs and interests. As a result, this type of education fosters intrinsic motivation and encourages the development of essential skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. It also provides the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of concepts and topics, helping students retain information more effectively than traditional teacher-centered teaching methods (Rayens & Ellis, 2018).
In a student-centered classroom, educators prioritize students’ individual needs, interests, and education goals in an effort to promote engagement and lifelong learning. This approach helps students develop important skills and a love of learning that they will carry throughout their lives and career.
To support students in their pursuit of meaningful learning experiences, teachers can use interactive activities, hands-on learning, and project-based lessons that incorporate real-world applications. In turn, this helps students see the relevance of their educational experience and makes it more relevant to their personal or professional goals.
This approach is especially effective in online learning. As noted in a recent systematic literature review of student-centered approaches to distance learning, using modern technologies and a student-centered approach can help students overcome obstacles to online learning and achieve higher educational achievement. These include:
One way to facilitate student-centered learning in a distance learning setting is through frequent, short formative assessments. These assessments give students opportunities to show what they’ve learned and identify areas where additional work is needed. They can also help instructors spot potential problems or misconceptions early on in the unit, so they can take steps to address them before they affect student performance. For example, instructors can ask students to write a journal entry every day or use weekly quizzes on major concepts before a final exam to gauge student progress. They can also provide feedback on assignments and projects. This feedback can help students improve their work and develop a deeper understanding of their subject matter.
3. Student Agency
A key aspect of student centered learning is student agency. Student agency is a concept that includes both an internal perception of the capacity to achieve a desired outcome, as well as actions and interactions that stem from this belief. Student agency is a powerful factor that can lead to greater engagement, more successful outcomes, and an increased sense of ownership of learning.
Students with a strong sense of agency act intentionally to shape their own environments and life trajectories. They communicate their interests, preferences, and goals to teachers and peers, seek ways to make lessons personally relevant to their lives, identify their strengths and weaknesses, find and use resources to help them succeed, and ask questions that push their thinking. Students with a high level of agency are also more likely to engage in social issues that are important to them, volunteer and serve their communities, and advocate for the adjustments they feel most comfortable with.
The underlying principle of student agency is that students should be empowered to take the lead in their own learning. This can be done in a variety of ways, from providing choice and freedom in classroom activities to encouraging learners to take responsibility for their own learning. Student centered assessment can be particularly effective in developing student agency, as it provides meaningful feedback on what has been learned and how, while at the same time allowing students to self-evaluate.
Educators should consider introducing some form of student-centered assessment into their classrooms. This type of assessment differs from traditional, summative assessments, which are typically compared against an established standard and used for grading purposes. Instead, student centered assessments are often designed to reflect the specific capabilities of a student and allow them to practice skills while reflecting on their progress, so they can continue to improve. This type of assessment is more effective at promoting student agency than traditional, summative assessments, which may only offer limited feedback or not take into account the needs of individual learners. Educators should work with their students to determine which type of student-centered assessment would be best for them, taking into consideration the strengths and needs of each.
4. Assessment
When students are engaged in learning that connects to their interests and goals, it makes education more meaningful and increases student success. However, many educators find that moving to a student-centered approach can be difficult at first, especially in schools with more traditional structures. But, there are many ways that teachers can integrate student centered learning into their classrooms.
Project-based learning and inquiry-based learning are both great examples of student centered teaching methods. These instructional strategies focus on engaging students through real-world projects and challenges that are relevant to the student’s career goals and interests. These types of lessons are also often paired with authentic assessments, which can be even more engaging for students. Authentic assessments can include things like presentations, performances, case studies, and portfolios.
Another way that students can become more involved in their own learning is by interacting with their peers and having discussions. This is a great opportunity for students to practice essential skills in a supportive environment. Additionally, student-centered classrooms are a great place to incorporate interactive tools like wikis and blog platforms for students to share ideas with one another.
Student centered learning also includes ongoing assessment to help students monitor their own progress and make adjustments. This can be in the form of low-stakes quizzes, self-reflection exercises, peer assessments, and classroom discussions. It is important to have these kinds of assessment tools in place so that students can feel confident about their understanding of the material.
Finally, a crucial component of student-centered learning is that it requires collaboration with the teacher. This can be done through a variety of ways, but it is essential that the student has a clear idea of what they are expected to accomplish, and how their progress will be assessed.
Overall, student centered learning is an effective method for fostering engagement and increasing student achievement. The key principles are student voice, choice, continuous monitoring of needs, and a competency-based progression. These principles can be applied in a variety of settings, including school-wide initiatives, professional development for teachers, and individual classes and curriculum.
