The learner-centered approach isn't a matter of asking your learners, "What do you need so we can give it to you?" It is a balance of meeting the learners needs and also providing important information in a format that is focused on them, energized by them and made personal by them. The teacher of a learner-centered approach says, "This is what they need to do to learn this concept."
The teacher of a teacher centered approach asks, "What do I need to do to teach this information?"
In a learner-centered approach you begin your course design by conducting a learning needs resources assessment. Find out the pulse of you class. What energizes them, what their concerns, are what they believe will help them and what they will be bringing to the group.
The author quotes Dr. Jane Vella, for additional guidance on this process. In Learning to Listen Learning to Teach, Dr. Vella says, "ask, study and observe."
Ask
1. What previous experience have you had with the subject?
2. What do you believe you are good at?
3. What would be most helpful for you to learn to improve you skills in the subject
Study
-Who or what could you study to assess your learners' needs and resources?
- Examples might be, Research related to the field, recent evaluations
Observe
-Who or what can you observe so you know who they are?
Why make all this effort you may ask? According to Dr. Joyce Norris, It is your job to connect with you learners in a way that will engage them in learning. The learning design you offer should reflect what you asked, studied and observed so that it is relevant to your learners.
Very interesting and I myself would like to be in a class like that! It makes a difference the way a teacher approaches his or her class at the beginning of the sememster. I feel more open if I feel more comfortable in a classroom setting. Sometimes an instructor is not welcoming and inturn I close myself and just am there. I am not saying I am not learning, but not engaging like I should!
ReplyDeleteI agree. It is amazing how much influence we have over the atmosphere in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI have been using many of the techniques I have talked about in my post this quarter, which started July 9th, and I have been pleased with the responses I have received from the students. I really do love this book.
Deb