Today’s students seek flexible options for when, where, and how their learning takes
place. Contemporary learning modalities support student-centered teaching approaches,
increase opportunities for active learning, and expand accessibility through flexible
modalities. Contemporary instruction offers options for learning to occur anywhere,
anytime by providing students choice with multiple delivery options.
Student-centered learning refers to a teaching approach where “what students learn,
how they learn it, and how their learning is assessed are all driven by each individual
student’s needs and abilities” (ISTE). Student-centered approaches provide personalized,
competency-based learning experiences that provide students with choice, voice, and
real-world connections.
Student-Centered Learning is…
Active
Students are engaged in doing things and thinking about what they are doing. (Bonwell
& Eison, 1991).
Ways to develop a student-centered learning environment (Adapted from Weimer, 2013)
Focus on higher-order thinking rather than memorization, allowing learners to actively
explore and reflect on their learning.
Serve as a facilitator that promotes learning rather than a content expert or authoritarian
classroom manager.
Promote independent, active, and autonomous learning, as learners become more responsible
for their own learning.
Utilize assessments as tools to promote learning and not tools to generate grades.
Incorporate authentic assessments with meaningful, ongoing feedback.
MSU Values Excellent Teaching
Excellent teachers (Adapted From Hattie, 2003)…
Are passionate about teaching and learning; and engage students in the learning process.
Have a high respect for students.
Create an optimal climate for learning; and have a positive influence on learners'
achievement.
Develop students' self-regulation, self-efficacy, and self-esteem as learners.
Assess levels of understanding and progress; and provide relevant, useful feedback.
Provide appropriate challenging tasks and goals for students.
Adopt a problem-solving stance to their work to anticipate, plan, and improvise to
meet learner needs.
Continuous improvement is a "professional commitment to an ongoing process of learning,
self-reflection, adaptation, and growth" (Glossary of Educational Reform). In teaching,
it involves many of the same processes involved in scholarly teaching. Scholarly teachers
engage in reflective inquiries into the effectiveness of their instruction through
the intentional and systematic use of critical reflection and evidence-based teaching
practices.
Hattie, J. (2003). Teachers make a difference, what is the research evidence?. Paper
presented at the Building Teacher Qualityh: What does the research tell us ACER Research
Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
