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What is Student-centered Learning?
Student-centered approaches to learning respond to each student’s needs and interests, making use of new tools for doing so.
Critical and distinct elements of student-centered approaches to learning challenge the current schooling and education paradigm:
- Embracing the adolescent’s experience and learning theory as the starting point of education;
- Harnessing the full range of learning experiences at all times of the day, week, and year;
- Expanding and reshaping the role of the educator; and
- Determining progression based upon mastery.
Why Student-centered Learning?
To prepare for our future as a nation in an increasingly global and fast-changing society, dramatic change in our educational system is needed to enable all students to learn, not just some.
Students at the Center explores the role that student-centered approaches can play to deepen learning and prepare young people to meet the demands and engage the opportunities of the 21st century. This synthesis of research renews attention to the importance of engaging each student in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and expertise needed for success in college and a career. Student-centered approaches to learning, while recognizing that learning is a social activity, pay particular attention to the importance of customizing education to respond to each student’s needs and interests.
The broad application of student-centered approaches to learning has much in common with other education reform movements including closing the achievement gaps and providing equitable access to a high-quality education, especially for underserved youth. Student-centered approaches also align with emerging work to attain the promise and meet the demands of the Common Core State Standards.
Papers by Subject Area
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Applying Student-Centered Approaches -
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Scaling Up Student-centered Approaches to Learning -
Scaling Up Student-centered Approaches to Learning -
Scaling Up Student-centered Approaches to Learning
Students at the Center synthesizes and adapts for practice current research on key components of student-centered approaches to learning. Our goal is to strengthen the ability of practitioners and policymakers to engage each student in acquiring the skills, knowledge, and expertise needed for success in college and a career. The edited volume Anytime, Anywhere: Student Centered Learning for Schools and Teachers (2013) is available from Harvard Education Press. This Jobs for the Future project is supported generously by funds from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation.
