It creates a more active learning environment for the students. It may also motivate the student to work harder at achieving their potential, thereby increasing their understanding and knowledge of the material presented in class.
Paul,
Right. When we personalize, we centralize our focus on the students individulized study needs.
Barry Westling
It shows the students that your focus is on them and their learning and success.
Robert,
Right! Passion and enthusiasm are a hard act to follow, and most students prefer that environment over less dymamic settings. If instructors really want to, these are easy traits to adopt and produce better customer service to our students.
Barry Westling
Education is all about the students. They are the instructor's clients, and we provide a (hopefully) high-quality service to them. They have to feel and know that the instructor is sincere, and not simply doing a job. Live the instructor's roll with passion and enthusiasm, and the students will respond positively.
Sandy,
Great sentiment! I think whenever we personalize instruction, we are practicing student centered instruction.
Barry Westling
I'm not sure how, as an instructor, you can have one without the other! Students are our best critics, our true success is thier success!
Gleb,
This situation can certainly interfere with desired student learning outcomes. I think whenever we place individual student needs first, we'll see the best results.
Barry Westling
Placing priority on student success will limit distractions. Some teachers carry their burden (from personal or proffesional lives) with them into the classroom.
Gisele,
Good. Many instructors are reluctant to modify their planned curriculum in order to meet specific student learning needs. But when personalized attention can be given to a student, then we are practicing this prefered approach to instruction.
Barry Westling
Allen,
Great. This sounds like a good example of the principle of student-centered instruction. Whenever we can personalize and/or individulize student instruction, that's a good thing towards improved student learning.
Barry Westling
You are making your students the priority and focusing on them, their needs and how to instruct learning values they can comprehend. They present themselves with varying learning styles and it is our duty to figure how how to present materials to them for their benefit.
By understanding and identifying my students progress,I am able to modify my presntations,as well as hands on activitys to fit the needs of my class.
Jane,
Great!. Obtaining information of interest to students, then incorporating that intop the lessons or daily activities is a great way to keep students interest. When we ipersonalize our interaction, we are being student centered.
Barry Westling
I arrive about twenty minutes before the class is to start. I set up my materials and begin to observe the students as they enter the classroom. I listen to their conversations and assess what I have heard and determine how I will incorporate this information into the day's lecture. I have found this A C T method Assess. Create,Teach method to be extremely effective in engaging the students by helping them realize what is in the lesson for them professionally and personally.
Barbie,
Helping students prepare adequately for their career is admirable. Instructors are often constrained by the process of instruction, institutional policies, prepared and restrictive curriculum, and instructors who lack creativity or are unwilling to be flexible in their willingness to help students. Sometimes it's as if the students learning takes second seat to following all the rules correctly. Student centered instructors try to avoid these pitfalls and hurdles and have the will to work with each student on an individual basis to make sure they get the needed learning required.
Barry Westling
When I became an instructor, I did so because I enjoy my chosen profession, and I wanted to pass on that enjoyment to others who are thinking of entering that field.
My biggest frustration with my career was those who were entering the field were not adeuquately prepared. I wanted to make a difference and help prepare the students better so that they could hit the ground running, not struggling.
I believe that being a student centered instructor will help me to achieve this goal. If you are not in the profession for the students, and to help the students succeed, you should not be in the profession.
Chad,
Sounds like a great approach. Students are keen to instructors who they feel are genuinely interested in their success and who demonstrate that perspective in their deeds. Being willing to do things a bit differently in order to accomodate a student is an exemplary act that demonstrates the spirit of student centered learning.
Barry Westling
Students always appreciate individual attention and concern on the part of the instructor. It is the instructor's job to evaluate student performance frequently and give them the opportunity to learn. Lecturing, giving a test, having a student fail, and then moving on is not acceptable. I frequently give students the chance to prove their competency, even if they fail a test. I give them the chance to correct their mistakes, show they are willing to make the extra effort, and have learned something in the process.
Nannette,
Students do have opinions. As instructors, our job is to make sure and do all we can to teach them the required material. We often have a game plan to do that, but sometimes we have to be willing to modify or adjust our plans in order to meet the needs of the student. This may due to learning styles, lack of understanding, or interest. Yet, it is still our job. We are student cenetered when approach each student's learning in an individualized fashion.
Barry Westling
