Student-Centered Learning
Over the last year, I have read quite a bit about “student-centered learning”. I have heard the many different names it is given; inquiry-based learning, self-directed learning, learner-centered instruction, student-driven learning, etc. There are also many different forms to can take and used such as; problem-based learning, project-based learning, case-based learning, inquiry based learning, etc. However they all have one thing in common, teachers becoming more of a facilitator than a lecturer and giving the responsibility of learning over to their students.
One of the main things I have seen is that student-centered learning is about the process maybe even more than the final product. There are many great articles and videos that I have either come across or been asked to read and watch. Once while searching the topic of student-centered, inquiry-based learning I came across a teacher who is very passionate about it. It is this story of Diana Laufenberg that still stands out to me most. In this story by Mindshift.org on Laufenberg, “Creating Classrooms We Need: 8 Ways Into Inquiry Learning“, and Laufenberg’s own TED talk video “How to Learn from Mistakes“, the idea of what student-centered learning really means. Laufenberg champions the thought we must consider is the fight of great process vs. great product. She explains that she now considers the process of the student learning to be much more important than the final product. Now that is not to say that students will just be let off the hook for not having great products. But if they are putting in quality process time then they will eventually have a great product. Laufenberg says that there are three things that our educational system should move towards, 1) It is about experiential learning, 2) Students must have a voice, 3) We must embrace failure.
I don’t think as teachers we have much of a problem with #1 and #2, but when it comes to #3 we kind of take a step back. We are fixers by nature and want to make sure the students get it right. But get it right where? In the TED talk, Laufenberg states that we need to get past the standardized tests and the culture of “one right answer” because these really only exist inside our school walls. There isn’t always a “one right answer” in real life. Most problems we face in life are ill-defined problems. An ill-defined problem is those that do not have clear goals, solution paths, or an expected solution. There isn’t always a set algorithm to solve every problem. There is a story that Thomas Edison, when trying to invent the lightbulb after numerous unsatisfactory attempts said that he had not failed, but he had learned 1,000 ways not to make a lightbulb. This is the same mindset we need to have and convey to students. Students should know that it isn’t a failure but a learning experience to grow with. With this perspective, we can teach students that they should try and this will help them become real-world problem solvers.
In this world of student-centered learning, the definition is in the very word itself and should convey it is learning that involves the student’s voice supplying the answers. The teacher should be as much a student and researcher as the actual student. This type of learning is about the process. It is about creating and mashing up the information surplus to get to the questions at hand. This learning is about collaboration. Collaboration with peers yes, but also collaborating with the experts as well. Student-centered learning is all this, but also realizing that we might fail on our first 100 attempts, but those are just stepping stones to deeper understanding if we will continue to reach.
I began to look for ways to implement this into my own class. We can all create lesson plans, but I felt that I wanted to try and find expert advice on how to really make this look and feel authentic. Luckily, we live in a world where experts in almost every field are at our finger tips. I came across Buck Institute for Education (BIE). BIE helps teachers prepare students for successful lives. They do this by showing teachers how to use project-based learning in all grade levels and subject areas. BIE, as a mission-driven nonprofit organization, is able to gather, create and share creates, gathers, and shares high-quality PBL instructional practices and products and provides these to teachers. These searches and lessons are provided free to anyone interested in using an authentic student-centered, product-based approach.
Within the BIE search query, I was able to find an intense (but very exciting) unit lesson that will cover at least 5 of the standards I have for my 5th grade math classes. I have already discussed this with my 5th grade teaching partner across the hall and he is excited to join me in running this student-centered lesson over the span of about 3 weeks. We have already began to gather what is required of us and will implement this lesson right after the students return from winter break. The unit lesson we will be implementing called "Biz World", is found below.
One of the main things I have seen is that student-centered learning is about the process maybe even more than the final product. There are many great articles and videos that I have either come across or been asked to read and watch. Once while searching the topic of student-centered, inquiry-based learning I came across a teacher who is very passionate about it. It is this story of Diana Laufenberg that still stands out to me most. In this story by Mindshift.org on Laufenberg, “Creating Classrooms We Need: 8 Ways Into Inquiry Learning“, and Laufenberg’s own TED talk video “How to Learn from Mistakes“, the idea of what student-centered learning really means. Laufenberg champions the thought we must consider is the fight of great process vs. great product. She explains that she now considers the process of the student learning to be much more important than the final product. Now that is not to say that students will just be let off the hook for not having great products. But if they are putting in quality process time then they will eventually have a great product. Laufenberg says that there are three things that our educational system should move towards, 1) It is about experiential learning, 2) Students must have a voice, 3) We must embrace failure.
I don’t think as teachers we have much of a problem with #1 and #2, but when it comes to #3 we kind of take a step back. We are fixers by nature and want to make sure the students get it right. But get it right where? In the TED talk, Laufenberg states that we need to get past the standardized tests and the culture of “one right answer” because these really only exist inside our school walls. There isn’t always a “one right answer” in real life. Most problems we face in life are ill-defined problems. An ill-defined problem is those that do not have clear goals, solution paths, or an expected solution. There isn’t always a set algorithm to solve every problem. There is a story that Thomas Edison, when trying to invent the lightbulb after numerous unsatisfactory attempts said that he had not failed, but he had learned 1,000 ways not to make a lightbulb. This is the same mindset we need to have and convey to students. Students should know that it isn’t a failure but a learning experience to grow with. With this perspective, we can teach students that they should try and this will help them become real-world problem solvers.
In this world of student-centered learning, the definition is in the very word itself and should convey it is learning that involves the student’s voice supplying the answers. The teacher should be as much a student and researcher as the actual student. This type of learning is about the process. It is about creating and mashing up the information surplus to get to the questions at hand. This learning is about collaboration. Collaboration with peers yes, but also collaborating with the experts as well. Student-centered learning is all this, but also realizing that we might fail on our first 100 attempts, but those are just stepping stones to deeper understanding if we will continue to reach.
I began to look for ways to implement this into my own class. We can all create lesson plans, but I felt that I wanted to try and find expert advice on how to really make this look and feel authentic. Luckily, we live in a world where experts in almost every field are at our finger tips. I came across Buck Institute for Education (BIE). BIE helps teachers prepare students for successful lives. They do this by showing teachers how to use project-based learning in all grade levels and subject areas. BIE, as a mission-driven nonprofit organization, is able to gather, create and share creates, gathers, and shares high-quality PBL instructional practices and products and provides these to teachers. These searches and lessons are provided free to anyone interested in using an authentic student-centered, product-based approach.
Within the BIE search query, I was able to find an intense (but very exciting) unit lesson that will cover at least 5 of the standards I have for my 5th grade math classes. I have already discussed this with my 5th grade teaching partner across the hall and he is excited to join me in running this student-centered lesson over the span of about 3 weeks. We have already began to gather what is required of us and will implement this lesson right after the students return from winter break. The unit lesson we will be implementing called "Biz World", is found below.
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