Student-centred learning: Understanding not just knowing

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Student-centred learning Understanding not just
knowing

• By Dr Robin MacDonald

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Student-Centred learning is

• Based on the principle that "learning is most
  meaningful when topics are relevant to the
  students lives, needs, and interests and when
  the students themselves are actively engaged in
  creating, understanding, and connecting to
  knowledge." (McCombs and Whistler 1997).

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Student-Centred learning is

• Where "the teacher shares control of the
  classroom and students are allowed to explore,
  experiment, and discover on their own. The
  students are not just memorizing information, but
  they are allowed to work with and use the
  information alone or with peers." (Papilia 1996)

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Student-Centred learning is

• Enabling the student to "understand" rather than
  just to "know" and be able to apply the theories
  they learn in practical, work-based environments.

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• E mc2

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Group activity

• What techniques could you use both inside the
  classroom and outside it to make your teaching
  more student focused?

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• Outside the lecture
• Independent projects Group discussion
• Peer mentoring of other students
• Debates
• Field-trips
• Practicals
• Reflective diaries, learning journals
• Computer assisted learning
• Choice in subjects for study/projects
• Writing newspaper article

• In the Lecture
• Buzz groups (short discussion in twos)
• Pyramids/snowballing (Buzz groups continuing the
  discussion into larger groups)
• Rounds (giving turns to individual students to
  talk)
• Quizzes
• Writing reflections on learning (3 to 4 minutes)
• Student class presentations
• Role play

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Student-Centred learning

• Has been recognised by internationally conducted
  surveys as being a very effective way of
  delivering knowledge
• 94 of the students would recommend it to others
  over the more conventional approach (Hall and
  Saunders 1997).

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Student-Centred learning

• Positives
• Provides motivation to students
• Teaches understanding not knowledge
• Effective in developing study skills
• Higher motivation and grades
• Interesting, exciting and boosts confidence

• Negatives
• Requires more resources
• Focuses on the individual not group
• Can be seen to ignore the social context of
  education.
• Seen as Western not necessarily useful in
  developing countries
• Difficult for large classes

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Student-Centred learning

• In the end it is up to each of us as teachers to
  determine how much SCL we will use.
• It helps to vary class structures for students
• It helps to strengthen outcomes for students
• It provides variety for us as teachers.
• But at the end of the day .

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Student-Centred learning

• it is up to us as teachers to lead the class
  and to see how to best utilise the benefits that
  SCL can provide us.
• It is up to us as teachers to use a variety of
  techniques to keep our students challenged in
  their ongoing quest for understanding

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• Thank you