Student-Centered Learning
Definition/Synopsis:
Student-centered learning means many things to many different people… educators often hear student-centered classroom and student-centered teaching interchanged with student-centered learning. In its most basic form, student-centered learning revolves around a small number of principles. These principles revolve around giving students voice, choice, and a safe learning environment which facilitates 21st Century learning (though many educators refer to this as two separate principles -- a safe learning environment and an area which dynamically impacts their creativity and empowers them to become adventurers to solve problems and seek answers for those things about which they are curious -- I tend to think of these two principles as... one place). Though there are a number of ways to make a classroom designed more for student-centered learning, there are some basic things which will give you tremendous bang for your buck.
Research Articles:
General Information...
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-centered-learning-starts-with-teacher-john-mccarthy
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/changemakers-building-makerspace-students-dreams-john-townsend
Classroom design for learning areas….
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/visualizing-21st-century-classroom-design-mary-wade
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/transforming-unused-school-spaces-amazing-kathleen-decker
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/8-tips-and-tricks-redesign-your-classroom
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/film-festival-learning-spaces-classroom-makeovers
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/tips-to-transform-learning-space-beth-holland
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/transforming-unused-school-spaces-amazing-kathleen-decker
Setting up stations to meet the needs of each learner….
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/creating-writers-workshop-secondary-classroom-shelby-scoffield?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
Learning research skills….
http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2015/12/17/11-ways-to-teach-savvy-search-skills?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=BingintheClassroom&utm_content=Blog2
Projects for voice and choice….
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/12/six-styles-of-classroom-video-projects.html?m=1
Innovative ideas….
http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/11/29/27-ways-to-inspire-students-to-innovate/
Storytelling and voice (it’s not just for the English class)....
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/05/ten-great-tools-for-telling-stories.html?m=1
So I have an idea… the next step is….
http://www.edutopia.org/resource/unit-planning-checklist-download?utm_content=SRN&utm_campaign=unit-planning-checklist-SRN&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_term=link
Learning to blog….
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/11/a-guide-to-blogging-and-examples-of.html?m=1
Planning differentiation….
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-ways-to-plan-john-mccarthy?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_campaign=RSS&utm_content=FaceBook
Using assessment in the student-centered classroom….
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/assessment-create-student-centered-learning-andrew-miller?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_campaign=RSS&utm_content=FaceBook
Individual learning plans….
http://www.edutopia.org/resource/individual-learning-plan-download?utm_content=srn&utm_campaign=individual-learning-plan&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_term=link
Different ways of telling… storyboards in the classroom….
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/08/storyboards-in-classroom-webinar.html?m=1
Communities in practice….
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/turning-classes-into-communities-joshua-block?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
Student-created materials….
http://www.edutopia.org/practice/creating-travel-journals-assess-learning
Resources:
Two tools for designing redesigning classrooms --
http://classroom.4teachers.org/
http://teacher.scholastic.com/tools/calss_setup/
Video and a Prezi explaining how student-centered learning works --
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fMC-z7K0r4
https://prezi.com/ebpavhhm1uxc/professional-development-presentation/
Instruction on Creating a Tiered Lesson or Menu for Use in a Student-Centered Classroom --
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/differentiating-instruction-strategy (video)
http://curhttp://www.teachhub.com/differentiated-instruction-activity-menusry.virginia.edu/uploads/resourceLibrary/nagc_choice_menues.pdf
Texts:
Glass, Kathy Tuchman. Lesson Design for Differentiated Instruction, Grades 4-9.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2009. Print.
Jensen, Eric. Teaching with the Brain in Mind. Alexandria, VA: Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1998. Print.
Solarz, Paul. Learn like a Pirate: Empower Your Students to Collaborate, Lead, and
Succeed. San Diego: Dave Burgess Consulting, 2015. Print.
Winebrenner, Susan, Dina Brulles, and Susan Winebrenner. Teaching Gifted Kids in
Today's Classroom: Strategies and Techniques Every Teacher Can Use. Minneapolis,
MN: Free Spirit, 2012. Print.
Technology:
Disclaimer: The nature of technology is that products are regularly being updated and changed. As a result, terms and conditions may change. To ensure that you will be in compliance for the age and requirements of your student body, please always review the terms of use, privacy policy, and communicate with parents according to the terms and conditions prior to beginning use.
Foundational Tools
Collaboration & documentation apps:
Operational Mechanics
How to do (almost anything):
Research tools:
Alternate search tools:
Citations:
Presentation Tools
Student & teacher possibilities:
Branching Out
Rubric Tools
Creating Rubrics:
Definition/Synopsis:
Student-centered learning means many things to many different people… educators often hear student-centered classroom and student-centered teaching interchanged with student-centered learning. In its most basic form, student-centered learning revolves around a small number of principles. These principles revolve around giving students voice, choice, and a safe learning environment which facilitates 21st Century learning (though many educators refer to this as two separate principles -- a safe learning environment and an area which dynamically impacts their creativity and empowers them to become adventurers to solve problems and seek answers for those things about which they are curious -- I tend to think of these two principles as... one place). Though there are a number of ways to make a classroom designed more for student-centered learning, there are some basic things which will give you tremendous bang for your buck.
- Redesign your space and designate areas for mobility and learning which look interesting to draw the students in and provide areas for individual, paired, group, or whole class (community) space
- Add technology… add multiple forms of it… and make sure that the technology has the children working, designing, thinking and creating… not just the teacher
- Use strategies… project and problem-based learning and inquiry-based learning… projects, projects, projects… based on standards and curriculum but with a direct link to imagination and the real world
- Have fewer rules… make this a community work space (have four or five rules centered around respect and using time wisely to reach one’s potential)
- Facilitate… Allow the students to guide instruction and the teacher to give up some control (students can help design curriculum as well as lead seminars and help to create rubrics)
Research Articles:
General Information...
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-centered-learning-starts-with-teacher-john-mccarthy
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/changemakers-building-makerspace-students-dreams-john-townsend
Classroom design for learning areas….
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/visualizing-21st-century-classroom-design-mary-wade
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/transforming-unused-school-spaces-amazing-kathleen-decker
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/8-tips-and-tricks-redesign-your-classroom
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/film-festival-learning-spaces-classroom-makeovers
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/tips-to-transform-learning-space-beth-holland
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/transforming-unused-school-spaces-amazing-kathleen-decker
Setting up stations to meet the needs of each learner….
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/creating-writers-workshop-secondary-classroom-shelby-scoffield?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
Learning research skills….
http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2015/12/17/11-ways-to-teach-savvy-search-skills?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=BingintheClassroom&utm_content=Blog2
Projects for voice and choice….
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/12/six-styles-of-classroom-video-projects.html?m=1
Innovative ideas….
http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/11/29/27-ways-to-inspire-students-to-innovate/
Storytelling and voice (it’s not just for the English class)....
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/05/ten-great-tools-for-telling-stories.html?m=1
So I have an idea… the next step is….
http://www.edutopia.org/resource/unit-planning-checklist-download?utm_content=SRN&utm_campaign=unit-planning-checklist-SRN&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_term=link
Learning to blog….
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/11/a-guide-to-blogging-and-examples-of.html?m=1
Planning differentiation….
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-ways-to-plan-john-mccarthy?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_campaign=RSS&utm_content=FaceBook
Using assessment in the student-centered classroom….
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/assessment-create-student-centered-learning-andrew-miller?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_campaign=RSS&utm_content=FaceBook
Individual learning plans….
http://www.edutopia.org/resource/individual-learning-plan-download?utm_content=srn&utm_campaign=individual-learning-plan&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_term=link
Different ways of telling… storyboards in the classroom….
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/08/storyboards-in-classroom-webinar.html?m=1
Communities in practice….
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/turning-classes-into-communities-joshua-block?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
Student-created materials….
http://www.edutopia.org/practice/creating-travel-journals-assess-learning
Resources:
Two tools for designing redesigning classrooms --
http://classroom.4teachers.org/
http://teacher.scholastic.com/tools/calss_setup/
Video and a Prezi explaining how student-centered learning works --
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fMC-z7K0r4
https://prezi.com/ebpavhhm1uxc/professional-development-presentation/
Instruction on Creating a Tiered Lesson or Menu for Use in a Student-Centered Classroom --
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/differentiating-instruction-strategy (video)
http://curhttp://www.teachhub.com/differentiated-instruction-activity-menusry.virginia.edu/uploads/resourceLibrary/nagc_choice_menues.pdf
Texts:
Glass, Kathy Tuchman. Lesson Design for Differentiated Instruction, Grades 4-9.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2009. Print.
Jensen, Eric. Teaching with the Brain in Mind. Alexandria, VA: Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1998. Print.
Solarz, Paul. Learn like a Pirate: Empower Your Students to Collaborate, Lead, and
Succeed. San Diego: Dave Burgess Consulting, 2015. Print.
Winebrenner, Susan, Dina Brulles, and Susan Winebrenner. Teaching Gifted Kids in
Today's Classroom: Strategies and Techniques Every Teacher Can Use. Minneapolis,
MN: Free Spirit, 2012. Print.
Technology:
Disclaimer: The nature of technology is that products are regularly being updated and changed. As a result, terms and conditions may change. To ensure that you will be in compliance for the age and requirements of your student body, please always review the terms of use, privacy policy, and communicate with parents according to the terms and conditions prior to beginning use.
Foundational Tools
Collaboration & documentation apps:
- Google Docs
- This is similar to Microsoft Word; however, it is a living document that allows the owner to share it with others who can edit, comment, or view.
- Google Slides
- This is similar to Microsoft PowerPoint; however, it is a living document that allows the owner to share it with others who can edit, comment, or view.
- Google Sheets
- This is similar to Microsoft Excel; however, it is a living document that allows the owner to share it with others who can edit, comment, or view.
Operational Mechanics
How to do (almost anything):
Research tools:
Alternate search tools:
Citations:
Presentation Tools
Student & teacher possibilities:
- Sketchometry
- Prezi -Students under 13 years may not use; students 13-18 years old must have written parental permission
- Movie Maker
- PowToon
- Aurasma
- Easel.ly
- Weebly for Education
- ShowMe
- Educreations
- WeVideo
- Nearpod
- Edpuzzle
- Padlet
Branching Out
Rubric Tools
Creating Rubrics: