What Are The Core Principles Of Student-Centered Learning?

by TeachThought Staff

Like any phrase, ‘student-centered learning’ is subjective and only useful insofar as it ultimately supports the design of learning experiences for students.

For example, arguing for a ‘student-centered approach’ to creating curriculum frameworks that center the authentic knowledge needs of each student makes sense, while creating a ‘student-centered’ classroom that gives students little choice in content, voice in product, or a human necessity for creative expression does not. Student-centeredness uses an actual person as an audience, and designs learning experiences backwards from that point.

With that in mind, here are four (of countless) principles of student-centered learning to consider as you design curriculum and instruction.

4 Principles Of Student-Centered Learning

A Definition of Student-Centered Learning

In our view, student-centered learning is a process of learning that puts the needs of the students over the conveniences of planning, policy, and procedure. We can consider how to center students according to four categories: space (where and how students are learning); place (not necessarily a physical location, but a moment in time and culture and reinforced by context and history); voice (emerging through individual reflection and collaborative discussion); and choice (agency in how they learn, at what rate, and what depth).

Space

Creative

Dynamic

Mobile

Emotionally safe

Cognitively agitating

Place

That honors their history

That stirs their enthusiasm and curiosity (using strategies that cause curiosity)

That they connect with in fundamentally “non-academic” ways

That reflects their needs

That they believe they can impact

Voice

In assessment & curriculum forms (e.g., PBL)

That grows as their understanding does

That reflects who they really are

In classroom conversations

In local, national, and global events

Choice

In content & priority

In media forms and content distribution

In audiences for their work

In learning strategies, literacy strategies, etc.

In pace & sequence

4 Principles Of Student Centered Learning