Hi Susan:
For me, student learning outcomes are something specific. They are the "WHAT" of a course. That is, what is it that the student will have learned at completion.
Along those lines, I think of course objectives as the "HOW", or how the SLO's will be achieved.
Regards, Barry
The outcome is a more prepared student. The student is better equip to make good decisions toward thier careers and perform better because of the student focued learning that they have received from thier instructors. The students generally take more responsibility for thier learning when its student centered.
Hi Christopher:
Good! The course curriculum is kind of a static, sterile product until life is instilled by tailoring it to individual students. No class will be exactly the same. Customizing to meet individual needs will achieve better learning outcomes.
Regards, Barry
Student centerered learning helps me as an instructor focus more on each student's individual needs instead of just teaching a curriculum without knowing who my students are and what their expectations are
Hi Robin:
In one philosophical sense, if we could determine a student learned the material, I believe we wouldn't even need to test.
More to this post, student centered really is a simple idea that suggests that, as teachers, we approach how best to teach the student the needed material in creative ways, even if that differs somewhat from the established curriculum.
It's been said that "We haven't taught if the student hasn't learned". So, we may access to a wonderful curriculum, but if it misses the point of our students learning, what good is that? I'll just say there is alway another way to approach a topic. The question is, is the teacher always willing to do what's needed to achieve successfulness for all their students?
Regards, Barry
Student-centered learning means that we assist our class members to reach their own epiphanies. I disagree that student-centered learning is proven by a score on a test though. Some students do not do well on tests, and they have the learning.
Proving that you have learned something on the page is one thing; however, proving it in a real-life context is another. I want my students to be comfortable with learning to the point of being able to describe their knowledge with others and use their skills in real situations.
Hi Linda:
Good analogy...would we want to be students in this class if we were students? It's all about learning. Yes, we teach to transfer knowledge, but if students don't learn, then the quest, "have we taught?". Teaching and learning. They're supposed to go together hand in hand, but unless we make it so, it will not happen automatically, even if we have the best laid out and organized curriculum in the world.
Regards, Barry
I think the outcomes of student-centered learning are: the ability of the student to use his/her best learning method to take in the information presented, to permit the student to "chew" on the instructional materials in his/her unique way, and them have them be able to apply these ideas to his/her career skills. When we, as instructors, employ student-centered learning rather than just disseminate information and leave students to their own devices to pick up that information and turn it into learning, we become the kind of instructors we would like to have for ourselves.
Hi Julie:
I think relevancy really nails it on the head. Well wriiren student learning outcomes define the "what" a student will learn in a class. So if we are successful, and the SLO's are on target, great achievement is bound to occur more frequently.
Regards, Barry
With adult learners, a teacher's goal is to be able to present lessons that are relevant and that can be applied in the workplace. It is a great accomplishment to hear from a student or read in a paper that the student has achieved success - lessons learned were valuable and examples given on how the student applied these lessons to her/his workplace.
Hi Jennifer:
Great point. I think teachers get "locked in" to doing things repeatedly and as a result, some students may not learn as much as others because there is little individualized planning - it's the same illustrations, handouts, lectures, discussions, etc. as times past. This may worked great for the teacher, but the question, your question, is did the student learn? That's the point that's being emphasized.
Regards, Barry
I find this idea a bit strange. For me, all education must be student centered ... or else, what is the point? I want my students to grasp the concepts and be able to think critically about their new knowledge. I can't do that if it isn't about them.
Hi Nicole:
This is certainly true for Student Learning Outcomes's (SLO's).
A good way of looking at SLO's is they are the "what" of a course; that is, what will the student come away from this course with.
Where as course objectives are like the how; that is, how will I get the student to the "what" part. How will I teach this course so that the student meet the defined SLO's by the time the course ends.
Simplified, but hope this helps define the use of SLO's.
Regards, Barry
The student will be able to use information learned in the classroom and apply it in different ways when out in the field.
Hi John:
In it's most basic definition, student learning outcomes (SLO's) define what the student is expected to know at the completion of a unit or course. The course objectives define how they will obtain that knowledge.
The great thing about SLO's for me is that when correctly written, students almost have to learn the material if the class follows the objectives and the SLO's are met. This idea is an emerging topic that teachers will begin hearing more about in the time ahead, as accrediting agencies are beginning to require SLO's included in coure work outlines.
Regards, Barry
This gives the student a greater sense of accomplishment. No longer do they feel that they're 'dumb' in a topic or subject. This postive outcome only makes them more hungry to continue and achive their educational goals.
Hi Penelope:
I like to simply by stating SLO's are the "what" of a class, course objectives are the "how", and the daily lessons are the "when and where". Not exactly accurate, but I think it conveys the point.
Regards, Barry
Hi Bobbi:
Great. You hit it squarely on target, in my opinion. Good!
Regards, Barry
A learning outcome is proof of transfer of knowledge.
Hi Detra:
Good post. Options is one way to let students learn in a manner they are most comfortable with. Generally, student centered puts the emphasis on student focus, and removes it from teacher-driven lessons that may or may not be beneficial to the students. Variety, lots of media choices, discussions and group work are some examples that lend themselves to the student centered classroom.
Regards, Barry
