Learner Centered Instruction Wikia

By Liliana del Cisne Ordóñez Avila

'What is learner centered instruction (LCI)? '

Hello everyone,

For me LCI is an instructional and/or educational approach in which teachers are called to teach but focusing on both the learner and learning. Being a learner-centered teacher means focusing attention on the learning process thus placing the learner in the center where the learning emerges. Learner-centered teachers should focus on what and how the student is learning, the conditions under the learning process is happening and the current learning positions for the student future learning. At this point it is important to clarify that learner - centered instruction  focuses on what the students are doing not what the teacher is doing. The instructor provides students with opportunities to learn independently and from one another and coaches them in the skills they need to do so effectively. The LCI approach includes such techniques as substituting active learning experiences for lectures, assigning open-ended problems and problems requiring critical or creative thinking that cannot be solved by following text examples, involving students in simulations and role plays, and using self-paced and/or cooperative (team-based) learning. Properly implemented SCI can lead to increased motivation to learn, greater retention of knowledge, deeper understanding, and more positive attitudes towards the subject being taught (Collins & O'Brien, 2003). In most common simple words the idea of learner - centered instruction implies taking into account the learner’s experiences, talents, personalities, social backgrounds, and needs. It also refers to using current knowledge about learning as a way to help learners become lifelong learners able to cope with the rapid changing world. 

  Explain the 4 key principles of student centered leraning.

1 Personalized Learning. Student centered learning situates the teacher as facilitator and contributor rather than authoritarian and director of knowledge. Teacher  knows learner’s experiences, talents, personalities, social backgrounds, and needs

2 Learning is competency based. Because students manage a lot of information, student centered learning enables critical thinking. It means to develop knowledge rather than a collection of facts.  

3 Learning happens anytime, anywhere. Student centered learning employs effective assessment to promote learning anywhere at anytime even can inform future aspects.

4. Students take ownership. Student centered learning returns the responsibility for learning to the students, so students are able to discover their strengths and weaknesses and take part in directing their own knowledge gain.

Here is presented a chart with some functional aspects that have changed from the traditional method to the one which is our goal to reach, the Learner-centered.

Teacher vs. Learner-Centered Instruction

Teacher-Centered	Learner-Centered
Focus is on instructor	Focus is on both students and instructor
Focus is on language forms and structures (what the instructor knows about the language)	Focus is on language use in typical situations (how students will use the language)
Instructor talks; students listen	Instructor models; students interact with instructor and one another
Students work alone	Students work in pairs, in groups, or alone depending on the purpose of the activity
Instructor monitors and corrects every student utterance	Students talk without constant instructor monitoring; instructor provides feedback/correction when questions arise
Instructor answers students’ questions about language	Students answer each other’s questions, using instructor as an information resource
Instructor chooses topics	Students have some choice of topics
Instructor evaluates student learning	Students evaluate their own learning; instructor also evaluates
Classroom is quiet	Classroom is often noisy and busy

http://www.nclrc.org/essentials/goalsmethods/learncentpop.html