Book Review In this book Terry Doyle addresses the issue of improving undergraduate education by creating a learner-centered environment. The primary focus of the book is to reach the college and university faculty. The book is intended to give them guidance in how to get students to learn more and to learn it better. Part of the process to reach the faculty involves persuading the students that this learner-centered environment that gives them responsibility for their own learning is the best approach for success. The book provides the tools needed to understand the learner-centered classroom, and how to implement it with the students. In order to achieve success in the student centered classroom, the student must first understand their …show more content…
Students learn best when there is a direct connection between how they are learning to what they are learning. Teaching students to learn on their own is valuable to the success of the learner-centered environment. Having a prepared teacher that understands not only how to teach the information but how to teach the student is the key. Doyle offers many examples in his book to guide the instructor to present the material and transform the student. There are skills that the student will need to master to be successful. These skills include: becoming an independent learner; communicating with peers; taking charge of their learning; teaching each other; presentations and performance assessments; becoming lifelong learners; recognizing knowledge, misconceptions, and misunderstandings; learning to evaluate themselves, others, and …show more content…
They aren’t familiar with taking the risks necessary to take on this learning. Their experience in high school has been completely teacher-centered instruction and it is hard to let go of this old habit. Without proper encouragement and instruction the student is likely to fail and fall back into the familiar style of learning that has led to their current success. Without clearly understanding their role it is likely they will not succeed. This is a complete shift in both the teaching and the learning process and will take time to take root for both the student and the
students do not learn the same way as their peers. We have to modify and try to explain things to
This principle suggests that students learn by doing. The formal lecture represents an archaic model defined by instructor as deliverer and student as receiver. This model exemplifies one-way communication and perpetuates an incomplete model of education. Accordingly, teachers must create a dynamic, educational environment that affords students the opportunity to practice every concept that they are learning. More effective teachers utilize instructional strategies that engage students repeatedly throughout the entire lesson. This engagement should begin early in the lesson and continue throughout the lesson introduction, body, and closure. As a general rule, a teacher should limit a lecture to no more than thirty minutes before employing a learning activity that actively engages all students (Walls & Cather, 1987) [8]. Furthermore, these engagement activities are intended to facilitate the development of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enable the student to accomplish the previously identified lesson outcomes. This type of curricular alignment is a critical component of an effective, student-centered learning environment.
For their entire lives, these students have been motivated by an outside source to complete their work. Whether it was a teacher, parent, or tutor, students were constantly reminded of the importance of completing their assignments. As college students, however, there is a need for a greater sense of self-motivation. These students have not yet developed the maturity necessary to thrive in an independent learning environment. Many students go into college without the discipline and determination needed in order to succeed. These students struggle throughout their college beginnings and become discouraged at their poor performance compared to their previous high school successes. Other times, students are caught up in the “college experience,” and begin to lose motivation. College’s social aspect is a lifelong memory. Many students, however, prioritize socializing and partying over their studies. It is a slippery slope for these students as coursework and other assignments pile up and eventually overwhelm the naive
In today’s world students and adults who can use the power of public speaking are a rare find. Lucas states in chapter one that “the American Management Association asked 2,000 managers and executives to rank the skills most essential in today’s workplace. The top idea, was communication skills” (Lucas, 2012 pg. 5). This statement showes us that college students who have taking public speaking truly have an advantage over those who have
Many people do not like to fail but did you know, failing is one of the most important things that make you better at things you struggle with. For example, Thomas Edison tried over 9,000 times to create a storage battery and failed 9,000 times to make the battery. But, by learning from his mistakes he was able to create the storage battery. Thomas Edison's quoted while trying to make the storage battery,” Results? What, man, I have gotten a lot of results! I know several thousand things that won’t work!” has inspired many schools throughout the US and the world to help students grasp a topic better by doing hands on activities and learn by mistakes. Students have also been able to learn better from one another by using each other to assist
Teachers continually learn about ways people learn – the processes of learning and how individuals learn best. They learn about their students and individuals, and learn with as well as from their students when they seek knowledge together. (Principles of effective learning and teaching, 1994). Through continually discovering new and exciting ways to help mould a constructivist classroom, the students will be able to achieve their outcomes with great ease and learn to enjoy education.
During my Professional Seminar II and Field Experience I observed in Mary Doe’s 4th grade classroom. During this observation I witnessed the effects of a learning environment that was designed by the students for the students.
In developing relationships with learners, Freire suggested spending time talking and listening to students in order to get to know them and to gain their participation in class. That admonition has been incorporated into practice by numerous other educators. While many of the strategies in Tom Daly’s book were simple classroom management tips (2013)...
Communication is the key to partnership and humanity as a whole. As I work in a kindergarten through eigth grade school I come into contact with a lot pf people. I find communicating faily easy. As I had conversations with all personnel listed in the assignment I have realized that I enjoy talking with others.
...emotional response. Once an emotional response is stirred up students should want to take matter into their own hands, demanding change. Skills should be taught through assessments and projects; such as communication skills, and developing their own voice. Once students take matter into their own hands change will come about.
By the time a student reaches college, they would have studied for tens of thousands of hours, both inside and outside of the classroom. They would have studied and memorized countless facts and formulas, from history to science to grammatical rules and languages. However, while most of a student’s time is devoted to digesting this information, they are missing the point of all of this studying. I assert that the ultimate purpose of learning is not to absorb what is being taught, but to master how to learn and how to think for oneself.
Another concern that some students might have is communication. Some students might not need to have a teacher in front of them and teach the course material to them, to whereas some students might need the te...
In many cases, it has become very complex to keep students interested in their education. So the teacher must be creative and find ways to keep pushing the student onward as well as upward. In order to devise the ultimate plan for educating students, a teacher must acknowledge that the “students” are what teaching is all about. The most important factor in the equation is unequivocally the STUDENT! All humans are different in some sort or fashion. But the fact still exists that we all have only this place to function in. So help by putting forth an effort to make it a better place for us all.
Education is an ever-changing part of society. A classroom teacher is faced with new challenges and obstacles that have never been dealt with before. Students come to the classroom with different life stories. Every student has strengths and weaknesses that surface in the classroom environment. Teachers must understand and focus on utilizing each student's strengths and work to improve weaknesses. Students learn in a variety of ways. The classroom must be a safe zone that appreciates student's viewpoints and allows room for mistakes. When topics in the classroom are related to "real-life" experiences, the information is more likely to be retained. Students learn from one another. The ideas and perspectives that each student brings to the classroom can bring insight into what is being learned. Students have to be allowed to explore new ideas, try them to see if they work, and sometimes fail. When students are encouraged to explore, they begin the process of becoming lifelong learners.
Brandes, D and Ginnis, P (1996) A Guide to Student- Centred Learning. Cheltenham: Stanley Thomas Publishers Limited.