12 Student-Centered Learning Examples

What is student-centered learning and what are the examples and benefits for students?

Student-centered learning is a unique learning strategy that shifts the focus of instruction to student-focused rather than being teacher-directed. It’s a learning strategy employed in the classroom and it relies on relationships and personalization.

Allowing students to engage in experimental leaning, experimental design, or inquiry-based learning is a clear example of student-centered learning.

Teachers that use this teaching strategy become guides and collaborators while the students take the responsible role in the learning process.

The aim is for students to become more active regarding how instruction is conducted in the classroom, instead of being passive recipients of the instruction’s plan.

What Is Student-Centered Learning?

Educators who often use this learning strategy become facilitators, guides, and collaborators.

According to Study.com, the primary goal of student-centered learning is to help students with intrinsic motivation become successful in their learning. This teaching methodology clearly indicates that students are motivated and also show an increase in their academic accomplishments.

This learning strategy creates a more comfortable learning atmosphere in the classroom. Teachers build a stronger relationship with their students and behavioural problems become less of an issue in the classroom.

Also Read: What Are the Sociological Concepts? (Tips for Students)

Examples of Student-Centered Learning

Students will become more active in the learning process when the educator uses the student-centered learning strategy.

A few examples of student-centered learning include;

Reggio Emilia Educational Philosophy

Reggio Emilia’s educational philosophy is generally implemented in pre-schools and elementary schools and the core element of this approach describes children’s innate curiosity and abilities.

Instead of making the students submit to the learning approach of the teacher, the students are more involved in their learning process.

By allowing children to explore things they find interesting, they grow more naturally as a human. Children are inquisitive in nature and will ask questions to know more questions to get results.

Because of their inquisitive nature, they can create hypotheses and conduct experiments to better understand certain concepts and the environment.

Performance-Based Learning Experience

Performance-based learning involves inculcating and developing practical skills. Allowing students to acquire first-hand experience in an experiment will enable them to demonstrate their skills to complete different tasks.

For example, a group of math teachers decides to create a performance-based project, where the mission is for students to role-play an emergency landing of a plane.

The solution to solving this problem is for the students to solve several mathematical problems about aeronautics. The students learned how to solve various mathematical problems on aeronautics and they were able to successfully guide the airplane to safety.

Science-Based Solutions to Environmental Problems

Student-centered learning as a learning strategy generally covers a wide range of instructional approaches.

For example, students at Indiana University and Purdue University enrolled in Introductory Environmental Science courses participate in a program that is beneficial to the environment of a neighbouring community.

The program is an initiative that can restore wetlands and native plant installation. The students participating in this program organize their groups, allocate tasks to fellow students based on their personal abilities, and take on various roles.

The programs also help students to improve their communication skills and understand the importance of teamwork as they interact with community members.

Also Read: 15 Classroom Teaching Strategies and Examples

Develops Practical Skills

Student-centered learning builds practical skills in students.

Memorizing definitions and important mathematical equations is quite different from applying a mathematical equation to solve real-world problems.

It’s very important for a student to apply the knowledge of solving mathematical equations to solve real-world problems.

Provoking Deep Learning

Generally, student-centered learning can be practised in school regardless of the grade level.

For example, teachers at an elementary school decide to have designed learning “provocations” that inspire the pupils to explore their interests in learning.

Learning tasks are written on different cards that are arranged on the board. The students are then allowed to choose the card that interests them the most.

All of the learning task cards have chosen positions where students can perform their tasks in the classroom. The designated spaces all have different materials each student needs to complete their task.

After completing the task, the students write about their learning experience and ruminate on what they have learned in a Learning Journal book.

The teacher and the students will use the Learning Journal book to engage in a discussion about the student’s experience.

Experiential Learning Activities

Experiential learning is one of the examples of student-centered learning and it specifically involves learning by doing. This learning strategy involves students being more active, rather than passively receiving information from the teacher on how to get things done.

Problem-Based Learning in Medical School

This student-centered learning strategy describes a student-centered learning approach in medical school where the instructor only plays a minimal role.

Medical students need to solve a clinical problem in front of them involving a real patient case. The patient’s diagnosis is not revealed to the students.

The students engage in discussion to identify the facts of the case and any other details that is required. Each of the students is presented with a learning task which can also be shared with the group during the next meeting.

During the meeting, the tutor will be present and can help with a piece of advice or suggestion.

Classroom Debate Competition

During a class brainstorming session, students come up with a list of topics they like to debate on.

The students will single-handedly select a preferred topic they want to debate on. They will also choose if they want to be on the pro or con side of the argument.

The basic rules of the competition are set by the students and they also decide how long to prepare for the debate.

Also Read: 12 Experimental Design Examples (Tips for Students)

Service-Oriented Learning Experience

Service-oriented learning describes the application of academic concepts to practical issues that attend to societal needs.

One of the examples to describe how college students can encourage the next generation of voters to be part of democracy is the Growing Voters framework by Tufts University.

The report provides meaningful suggestions on how educators alongside community leaders can close the voting gaps.

Encourage Teamwork and Collaboration

Student-centered learning generally is more of teamwork to achieve a common goal. In the classroom, students will work together in small groups to perform certain tasks presented by their teacher.

They can also work together to develop and complete a project.

Collaborating with others is one of the valuable skills any student can have. It’s a valuable skill that will be useful when after graduating from high school.

Also Read: 12 Fluid Intelligence Examples (Tips for Students)

Teacher Preparation

Teaching as a profession is quite demanding.

September to July is a period teachers are very engaged in their jobs. Many student-centered learning require a lot of preparation and it’s not relaxing on the teacher’s side.

The preparation requires lots of materials and identifying resources remains one of the weaknesses of student-centered learning.

Classroom Management

Managing a classroom where more than 20 students are engaged in discussions can be quite noisy. The students may want to move around the classroom to get materials or items in various positions.

Random movement in the classroom will lead to distractions and sometimes prevent students from working together.

Conclusion

Student-centered learning has its examples, strength and weakness. Whatever the weaknesses may be, the primary goal remains to improve student-centered learning by allowing students to assume more active roles.

Recommendations

References

Study.com: The Student-Centered Classroom Strategy
HelpfulProfessor: 25 Student-Centered Learning Examples (And Definition)
SplashLearn: 7 Best Tips for Creating a Healthy Student-Centered Learning Environment
IGIGlobal: What is Student-centered Learning?
V Robinson – 2011, Student-centered leadership
GL Connell, DA Donovan… – … —Life Sciences Education, 2016, Increasing the use of student-centered pedagogies from moderate to high improves student learning and attitudes about biology

12 Student-Centered Learning Examples

What Is Student-Centered Learning?