“By
keeping students at the center of one’s classroom, a teacher can encourage and
inspire students to seek out knowledge and to strive for understanding at a
deeper level. Through this process, students see a greater relevance for and a
stronger connection to the subject at hand. Through student-centered
instruction, our students can achieve independent minds and the capacity to
make educational decisions and value judgments” (Brown, 2008, p. 5).
Materials
In a word: individualized. Not only is the
curriculum unique but the pacing is individualized. Most people may immediately
think computerized when the word individualized pops up. In my
student-centered educational utopia however, this would not be the case. I love
this quote from edutopia.com about the misconception about computer-based
learning for transformation:
To implement computer-based learning in
a way that transforms the classroom into a student-centric one, we must heed
the right lessons from understanding disruption. Cramming computers in the back
of classrooms or in computer labs as a tool for the existing classroom model or
as a subject in and of itself won't do the trick. Instead, we must find areas
of nonconsumption to deploy computer-based learning where it will be
unencumbered by existing education processes. Once planted in these areas, it
can take root, begin to improve, and, over time, transform the way students
learn.
Though technology such as computer programs
offering information taught to various learning styles would be available, I
would encourage teacher-training on adapting to learning styles. Peer teaching
cohorts would also be foundational to the system. What I mean by that is that
students are given the choice and opportunity to study and master what
interests them. The end result would often be teaching what one has learned or creating
materials for a future student to study.
Teachers
In the student-centric model of
education teachers step down from their role as “sage on the stage” and
transition into a less (let’s admit it) egotistical “guide on the side”. As
described on openeducation.net, “In the student centered classroom, the teacher
is a coach and mentor, a support person who troubleshoots and problem solves
when students need such help.” As much work would be individualized there would
be need for a great shift in teacher’s paradigms from seeing their role as a sole
distributor of knowledge to more of a
coach whose job is to encourage students to build their own knowledge.
Physical
layout/Environment
Rather
than rows of desks facing the teacher’s “stage” like this:
a
student-centered class may look more like this:
However
I would also encourage heavy peer-teaching. I firmly believe the adage that “The best way to learn is to teach.” We
could showcase our students’ strengths and build confidence and encourage
accountability by forming peer teaching groups where a student has the chance
to teach where they excel.
Assessment/Grades
In
student-centered learning curriculum and assessment are centered on meaningful
performances in real-world contexts. The attached pdf “Characteristics of
Effective Instruction: Student-Centered Learning” states that in
student-centered classes “Students are empowered to use prior knowledge to
construct new learning.” Since all students’ prior knowledge is unique, students
would be judged by improvement for their own unique starting points not by
where they fall into a class curve. In general, think projects rather than tests
as the main medium of gauging student learning.
Now
for the tough question…would I want to teach in a student-centric school?
I’ll admit that it takes a lot of getting used
to stepping out of the spotlight as a teacher. I often feel guilty in a class
where there is so much student interaction going on I feel like more of a fly
on the wall than focal point. But I always have to remind myself that when students
are actively engaged in the process of creating knowledge they are connecting
with the skill/material much more than when are passively consuming
regurgitated knowledge. It takes a great
guide to build that kind of autonomy. I imagine teaching in a student-centric
environment would be a little like watching your child roll away on a 2-wheel
bicycle for the first time. There is the bitter-sweet pull at your heart that
your hand is not needed any more, but the great joy in knowing you have helped
someone fly their own ship. What could feel more rewarding than that?
Some great
resources for building student-centric learning environments:
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