There is a recurring theme of lack of participation in classrooms everywhere. This issue can be addressed, however, through the use of student-centered learning.
Unfortunately, many students consider their education to be boring. These children feel like learning is a task that must be completed instead of something fun and engaging. Despite the efforts of teachers, students often struggle to feel involved in their education. We, as educators, must take a deeper look at the issue and implement a student-centered learning approach.
So why aren’t more students engaged in the classroom?
Despite the efforts of caring teachers, the problem persists. Although it may not be fully apparent every moment, it’s widely believed that students would much rather be out at home or anywhere but the classroom. This observation can provide valuable insight into the learning environment students need.
Teachers are typically expected to provide a variety of instructions to students. These instructions often include turning pages, preparing for tests, and completing assignments. This role often sees teachers as lecturers, putting them at the center of the classroom and often in the only active role in that class. That means that the students are put in a receptive, passive position.
Could those differing positions be a reason for the increasing levels of inactivity in schools?
Students may feel as though they don’t have an adequate voice in their education. Furthermore, that passive role can lead them to believe their teacher is invalidating the students’ interests and needs. This is where student-centered learning comes into play.
Here are the best strategies to incorporate a student-centered approach in the classroom.
- Teaching students to feel empowered by creating leadership opportunities.
- Allow students to consider their unique learning, testing, and thinking style.
- Encouraging collaboration among peers.
- Inclusion of vocational interests as well as the arts.
- Making the teaching objectives clear to everyone.
- Moving away from task-based thinking and working into learning-based.
- Promoting interactive exercises such as role-play.
- Using response systems such as discussion boards.
When implementing this approach, teachers can use various mediums, such as live courses, games, and interactive activities, to keep students engaged.
The concept of education continues to evolve. Its goal is to provide the students with the necessary tools and resources to succeed in the real world. Unfortunately, traditional methods often don’t take into account the participation of all students. The good news is that the concept of student-centered learning was first introduced to address the issue of low participation. As education continues to shift, this approach should be implemented nationwide.