Changes in Higher Education
What do you feel about the student-centered learning approach?
Hello Sloan,
You made a valid point! I too enjoy teaching online and find it to be very engaging and fun. I do miss traditional teaching from time to time because of struggling students. However, I have found different ways to assist and help their success.
Marie Osuna
Online Faculty
Hello Tomi,
I completely agree with you that instructor must be engaged and motivated in order to enhance students' learning. How can an instructor aspect his/her students' to be motivated if the instructor lacks motivation.
Great post!
Marie Osuna
Online Faculty
Hello Renee,
Times are changing at a rapid speed. Student Centered Teaching has definitely changed. Today’s, technology seems to be taking over, so incorporating activities in an online environment is very important for student focus. I believe when instructors incorporate these activates in his/her classroom, students’ are more engaged, learn how to solve problems, answer questions that can formulate their own learning style, the discussions participation and brainstorming ideas. Importantly, Student Centered Learning helps student with critical thinking methods; considering the age group of online learners.
Marie Osuna
Online Faculty
I consider that student-centered learning is a great orientation. If we as instructors (facilitators for learning the course content) are fostering critical thinking then encouraging students to take responsibility for their own learning is a great step toward preparing them to work in the real world.
Suzanne
Willie ,
I often find some students who are unfamiliar with group projects but those numbers are dwindling now.
Renee Shaffer
Willie ,
I think that you are certainly doing the right thing. Student success goes well beyond the classroom. Thanks for being in the class.
Renee Shaffer
I think a disadvantage of student-centered learning could be there are students who do not respond well to this kind of environment. That is, some students feel that their teacher should be the one who is fully responsible for their learning and that they should take the knowledge from him/her without paying any effort by themselves for searching for the knowledge. Another of the disadvantages that students are suffering from in student-centered learning is that they have to work in teams. In fact some students find it difficult to work in teams because they have not been taught team skills.
I think that in a learner-centered classroom, both the teacher and student reflect on the learning process. Teachers learn to shift the focus to the learners and encourage them to share responsibility for their learning. I want my classroom--whether online or f2f--to be places where students’ passions and interests were recognized, and their deficits and weaknesses addressed. When I teach, I am thinking not just about what happens within the classroom, but preparing I think about preparing students for success beyond the classroom.
Tom,
Yes and it is my hope that ultimately we are educators who really want our students to learn our subjects. Thanks for being in the course.
Renee Shaffer
I believe that student-centered approaches better guides the instructor's instruction. These approaches provides insight into students' learning styles and behaviors.
Even though it's not what was used in my education (let's don't talk about my age :)), it just seems to be common sense in terms of fostering a more effective learning environment. Lecture approaches are anything but student-centered, unless you focus on their handwriting skills. A student-centered learning approach puts added responsibility on the instructor to determine and assess all the variables of the learning environment. Might take some extra work up front, but the results, I believe, are far more enriching for the student and his/her learning.
Fonzette wrote, "The instructor engaged somewhat as if she/he was the CEO of the organization just to make sure that we were on track. I give this example because this experience was an advantage in that the students in my course interacted and learned important communicative and collaborate skills through the group setting. We were more focused on our learning activities and everyone initially participated."
Yes I,too, have seen some faculty running classes like - and it does not work out too well, yet there seem to be some schools drawn to this approach - not sure why, but I don't see it lasting in the long-run. Students (especially adult learners) do not want to treated as if they are part of a business-type situation; they are students wanting to learn. The instructor needs to remember that he, too, is a student learning from his/her students.
how might that help keep faculty focused on quality teaching methods?
jerry voltura
Doris wrote "In my opinion, for student centered learning the student needs to take full responsibility for his/her learning and experience that result from learning. With my current place of employment, student-centered approach is implemented in which it allows the student to develop their own learning goals."
Good ideas here; what do you see 1-2 main ways to facilitate the student's involvement in their own learning - and how might we (as faculty) help?
Jerry Voltura
It is an essential and useful approach to learning - especially online learning. It not only helps faculty keep their students focused, but also assists professors in maintaining emphasis on students and their outcomes - the main reason we do what we do.
Jerry Voltura
it my be challenging but with a little effort they can do very well if they apply there self.
Jenifer,
Oh I like your quote "standup routine"! Thanks for being in the class.
Renee Shaffer
It's difficult to cede classroom control, or rather to let it direct in this different way. It's difficult when time is tight to not just do the whole standup routine, instructors are so used to.
Karen,
It is my hope also that student would appreciate the activities once them become accustomed to them. No matter their age. Thanks for being in the class.
Renee Shaffer
I think it is important for instructors and institutions of higher learning to incorporate the Student-Centered learning approach. This approach will help the student retain the information. As a student actively performs a task or researches information on their own, they are more apt to retain that information verses, having someone lecture to them. I also feel the student centered approach engages the student more. I would also note that student centered learning may be difficult for students who have not been in a learning environment in several years, but I do think that once introduced to the concept these students would appreciate the activities associated with this type of approach.
