Student-Centered Learning: Putting the Student at the Center of the Learning

This is a three-hour workshop on student-centered learning: what it is and how to implement it in the adult education classroom. The workshop defines student-centered learning, explores the characteristics and benefits of student-centered learning, and compares it with traditional teaching. It also explores strategies for implementing student-centered learning.

Several other CALPRO workshops reflect, incorporate, and extend the concepts of student-centered learning; these include Learner Goal Setting, Enhancing Learner Persistence, Project-Based Learning, Differentiating Instruction, and Understanding the Adult Learner.

Goal

The goal of this workshop is to provide participants with a general understanding of the concepts of student-centered learning and implications for practice so that they can design and deliver instruction that is responsive to the interests and needs of adult learners.

Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to

• Identify the characteristics of student-centered learning;
• Compare and contrast student-centered learning and teacher-centered instruction;
• Discuss the benefits of student-centered instruction and implications for the teacher’s role;
• Describe strategies for implementing student-centered learning;
• Identify changes they can make to ensure that their classrooms are learner-centered.