Free University Teaching in Focus: a Learning- Centred Approach Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FREE UNIVERSITY TEACHING IN FOCUS: A LEARNING- CENTRED APPROACH PDF Lynne Hunt,Denise Chalmers | 352 pages | 08 Jan 2013 | Taylor & Francis Ltd | 9780415644068 | English | London, United Kingdom University Teaching in Focus: A Learning-Centred Approach - Google книги Viewing learning as something accomplished by learners, rather than caused by teachers is often referred to as learner-centered University Teaching in Focus: A Learning-Centred Approach. Maryellen Weimer, who has written several books and articles about this topic, defines learner-centered teaching as teaching that makes learners responsible for learning Learner-centered education makes sense from our new understandings based on neuroscience of how learners learn NEA, As this approach is a paradigm shift from traditional teacher-centered instruction, this article overviews some of the mental shifts necessary for thinking from a learner-centered perspective. Becoming learner-centered leads us to focus our teaching directly on learning. It University Teaching in Focus: A Learning-Centred Approach not mean placing the students in charge! We need to avoid the mistaken viewpoint that teachers are here to serve our customers, the students, and to deliver education to them. Weimer states that learner-centered teaching involves students in:. Blumberg and Weimer describe dimensions of learner-centered teaching and contrast them with dimensions of instructor-centered teaching. We have outlined these dimensions in the following sections. In a learner-centered environment, learners are aware of the reasons for learning the content, develop ways to learn about the content that are appropriate for the discipline, and practice solving real world problems based upon the content. In an instructor-centered approach, instructors often focus on delivering content through lectures and demonstration. In a learner-centered approach, the instructor assists the students with accessing and working with content. There is a shift from instructors allocating time for lecture preparation to time planning ways to University Teaching in Focus: A Learning-Centred Approach learners achieve learning goals and outcomes for the course. The instructor is planning what the learners are going to do University Teaching in Focus: A Learning-Centred Approach the class rather than preparing slides to deliver content Blumberg, On the other hand, in a learner-centered approach, the instructor assists the learners to develop and practice learning skills that they can carry into their future as lifelong learners. Learners develop the skills to assess their own learning and apply the learning to their lives and interests. In an instructor-centered course, one might see course requirements such as readings, four tests, and a final. Assessment is generally summative, providing end of course grades. In a learner-centered course, along with summative assessments, one might also see multiple projects with self-assessment and reflection, self-tests, clickers for feedback about student understanding of concepts, etc. Assessment University Teaching in Focus: A Learning-Centred Approach provides feedback to learners. Learner-centered teaching does not remove the power or authority of the teacher. Rather, learners share some of the power in the classroom. Unlike an instructor-driven course, learners have the option to explore content outside the boundaries of what instructors have provided. They have opportunities to express alternative opinions and choose different ways to apply content. Learners even have some power to assist in making policies for the course. Learner-centered teaching can reframe how we think about teaching, but it does not erase the significance of the teacher to impact learning, nor does it entirely eradicate traditional methods of teaching. For example, sometimes lecturing is the best method of transferring content to learner. As novice learners, students often need help to access content and determine what is important. From a review of the literature and our experiences, there are multiple strategies that instructors can employ to cultivate a more learner-centered environment. You can:. Blumberg, P. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Center for Learning Experimentation, Application, and Research. Teaching Resources for Engaged Educators [online training modules]. Seven Principles of Learning. UNT Teaching Commons. National Education Association. Weimer, M. Skip to main content. Search form Search. Focusing on Learning Instead of Teaching. Weimer states that learner-centered teaching involves students in: Practicing, working with difficult problems, and developing learning skills. Teachers teach students how to learn while they are teaching content. Reflecting and assessing their own learning and taking responsibility for modifying approaches to strengthen their skills. Having control over some of their learning processes such as making choices about assignments and helping to develop course policies. Learning collaboratively from one another and from their teachers. Dimensions of University Teaching in Focus: A Learning-Centred Approach Teaching Blumberg and Weimer describe dimensions of learner- centered teaching and contrast them with dimensions of University Teaching in Focus: A Learning-Centred Approach teaching. Instructor Responsibility In an instructor-centered approach, instructors often focus on delivering content through lectures and demonstration. Assessment In an instructor-centered course, one might see course requirements such as readings, four tests, and a final. Power Learner-centered teaching does not remove the power or authority of the teacher. Incorporating Learner-Centered Teaching into Your Teaching From a review of the literature and our experiences, there are multiple strategies that instructors can employ to cultivate a more learner-centered environment. You can: Prompt learners to reflect and describe what they learned from or after a given activity. Give learners the opportunity to practice different learning skills. Help novice learners understand concepts by engaging in concept linking activities such as concept mapping. Develop learning outcomes tied to assessments and make learning outcomes clear to learners. Offer learners options such as selecting project topics. References Blumberg, P. Tags: Active Learning. Student-centered learning - Wikipedia Student-centered learningalso known as learner-centered educationbroadly encompasses methods of teaching that shift the focus of instruction from the teacher to the student. In original usage, student-centered learning aims to develop learner autonomy and independence [1] by putting responsibility for the learning path in the hands of students by imparting to them skills, and the basis on how to learn a specific subject and schemata required to measure up to the specific performance requirement. Student-centered learning puts students' interests first, acknowledging student voice as central to the learning experience. In a student-centered learning spacestudents choose what they will learn, how they will pace their learning [6]and how they will assess their own learning. In a University Teaching in Focus: A Learning-Centred Approach classroom, teachers choose what the students will learn, how the students will University Teaching in Focus: A Learning-Centred Approach, and how the students will be assessed on their learning. In contrast, student- centered learning requires students to be active, responsible participants in their own learning and with their own pace of learning. Usage of the term "student-centered learning" may also simply refer to educational mindsets or instructional methods that recognize individual differences in learners. Theorists like John DeweyJean Piaget and Lev Vygotskywhose collective work focused on how students learn, have informed the move to student-centered learning. John Dewey was an advocate for progressive education, and he believed that learning is a social and experiential process. He believed that a classroom environment in which students could learn to think critically and solve real world problems was the best way to prepare learners for the future [9] Carl Rogers ' ideas about the formation of the individual also contributed to student-centered learning. Rogers wrote that "the only learning which significantly influences behavior [and education] is self discovered". When students are given the opportunity to gauge their learning, learning becomes an incentive. Student-centered learning means inverting the traditional teacher-centered understanding of the learning process and putting students at the centre of the learning process. In the teacher-centered classroom, teachers are the primary source for knowledge. On the other hand, in student-centered classrooms, active learning is strongly encouraged. Armstrong claimed that "traditional education ignores or suppresses learner responsibility". A further distinction from a teacher-centered classroom to that of a student-centered classroom is when the teacher acts as a facilitatoras opposed to instructor. Through peer-to-peer interaction, collaborative thinking can University Teaching in Focus: A Learning-Centred Approach to an abundance of knowledge. In placing a teacher closer to a peer level, knowledge and learning is enhanced, benefitting the student and classroom overall. According to Lev Vygotsky 's theory of the zone of proximal development ZPDstudents typically learn vicariously through one another. Scaffolding is important when