Student-Centered Learning:

Fact, Challenge or Myth?

The European Students’ Union• Umbrella organization of 45 national unions of

students from 38 countries, represents more than 11

million students

• Formed in 1982, previously named WESIB and later

ESIB

• Promote the educational, social, economic and

cultural interests of students at a European level

• Work towards relevant organizations and processes,

for example the European Union, the Bologna-Process,

Council of Europe, UNESCO and OECD.

Another brick in the Wall?

We don't need no educationWe don't need no thought controlNo dark sarcasm in the classroomTeachers leave them kids alone

Hey! teachers! leave the kids alone! All in all you're just another brick in the wall.

All in all you're just another brick in the wall.

Pink Floyd: Another brick in the Wall (1979)

Beside that, there were some changes in the past 30 years

•Internet revolution - endless information sources, available in an instant of a second

•Massification of Higher Education – increased accessibility to education?

•New communication tools

What is the answer?

Student-centered learning

You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within

himself.(Galileo Galilei)

What is SCL?

• Active rather than passive learning

• An emphasis on deep learning and understanding

• Increased responsibility and accountability on the

part of the student

• An increased sense of autonomy

• An interdependence between teacher and learner

• Mutual respect within the learner-teacher relationship

• A reflexive approach to the teaching and learning

process on the part of both the teacher and the

learner

Source: Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2006). Teaching and learning at a distance (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall., p. 202

9 underlying principles of SCL (1)

1. SCL requires an Ongoing Reflexive Process. 

2. SCL doesn’t have a “One-Size-Fits-All”

Solution

3. Students have different learning styles

4. Students have different needs and interests

5. Choice is central to effective learning

9 underlying principles of SCL (2)

6. Students have different experiences and

background knowledge

7. Students should have control over their

learning

8. SCL is about “Enabling”, not “Telling”. 

9. Learning needs cooperation between

students and staff

Benefits for students

•Making students an integral part of

the academic community

•Increased motivation to learn

•Independence and responsibility in

learning

•Due consideration of students needs

Benefits for teachers

•More interesting role for the teacher

•Solutions to tackle massification and

diversity

•Positive impact on working conditions

•Continuous self-improvement

•Increased learner motivation and engagement

•Professional development for academia

The wider benefits of SCL

•Quality enhancement

•The status of the teaching profession

•Better retention in higher education

•Attracting students

•Fostering a Lifelong Learning Culture

Implementation by teachers

Teacher-Centered Learning Student-Centered Learning

Low student choice High student choice

Passivity of students Activity of students

Teachers as holders of powers

Student empowerment

What does that mean in practice?

•Increasing student motivation and

teachers’ knowledge of students

•Choice of teaching and learning

methods

•Choice of students assessment methods

•Using course evaluation

•Using ICT to enhance SCL

Can Institutions help?

•Curriculum design and learning

outcomes

•Ongoing professional development of

the staff

•The central role of libraries in SCL

Common misconceptions:

•SCL doesn’t mean anything in practice.

•SCL requires a higher amount of

resources

•SCL is not appropriate to teach a large

and diverse student body

•SCL undermines the teaching profession

•SCL is not appropriate to all academic

fields

The long and winding road

Changing the mindset•Cooperation among stakeholders•Decision on a policy level

Sustaining the culture of SCL

More information

•Student-centered learning: Toolkit for students, staff and higher education institutions (ESU and EI, 2011), can be found on: http://www.esu-online.org/resources/6068/Student-Centred-Learning-Toolkit/

•Changing Educational Paradigms (TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson)

Instead of conclusions?

•What can be done to change the mindset?

•How to involve students in the teaching and learning process?

•Who should make the first step?

•Is SCL a fact or a myth?

Instead of conclusion?

You, you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only

oneI hope some day you'll join usAnd the world will be as one

 

John Lennon: Imagine (1971)

Thank you! rok@esu-online.orghttp://www.esu-online.org

Twitter: @ESUtwt