- Grade Levels K - 2
- Grade Levels 3 - 5
- Grade Levels 6 - 8
- Grade Levels 9 - 12
- Kinesthetic Learner
- Visual Learner
- Auditory Learner
- Technology Integration
Creating Learner-Centered Middle School Classrooms
Learner-centered activities often include student-produced products that demonstrate the results of their learning.
Examples of Learner-Centered Instructional Strategies
Teachers can encourage students to become purposeful, life-long learners using a variety of instructional activities and approaches. Many of the teaching techniques listed below contain similar features and overlap one another in function and design.
Problem-Based Learning.
Students are challenged to learn by working cooperatively to find solutions to real-life problems. Curiosity and interest in the process occurs naturally as students work in teams to solve authentic dilemmas.
Sample Problem Based-Learning questions include:
- What challenges did Native Americans face that remain today?
- Who should control the rain forest?
- What was Thomas Jefferson's greatest achievement and how does it influence contemporary society or politics today?
- What issues should be considered before food is genetically altered?
- How can buildings be wired to maximize efficiency?
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Inquiry/Discovery Methods. Asking puzzling questions sparks students' mental stimulation and quickly gets them thinking critically. Once a situation has been presented, students gather information by formulating their own questions. They then research answers in cooperative groups, pairs, or individually.
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A less complicated form of inquiry involves a questioning format whereby students ask the teacher questions they have formulated and make educated guesses. Similar to the popular children's game, "20 Questions," the teacher may say: "I'm thinking about a form of government." The students may then ask yes or no questions to discover the correct response.
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Inductive Methods. Like inquiry strategies, inductive models of teaching begin with a question or series of unknown facts or concepts and move toward known information. Learners search for answers to these "unknowns" in an active fashion. Instead of lecturing, teachers take on the role of facilitator or coach when using inductive methods.
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Role-Play. Role-play situations require students to step out of the confines of traditional roles and take on the characteristics of someone else. Role-play encourages creativity and high levels of thought on the part of the student. This strategy is most successful when students are given time to research the character they must portray.
- Simulation. Similar to role-play, simulations involve approximating real-life scenarios in the classroom. Students are involved in the reproduction of possible situations. Simulations often include scripted representations that enable learners to closely experience world events.
- Cooperative Learning. Working together in pairs or small groups to collaborate on a specific task benefits students socially as well as cognitively. Learners depend on each other to reach their goals and practice social interaction skills. Activities such as K-W-L charts; Think Pair Share partners; and the formation of "expert groups" of students, created to teach fragments of materials to other students, are examples of learners working together toward a common goal.
The creation of products that reflect the knowledge and information constructed by students is one of the focal points of learner-centered instruction. Students are encouraged to show the outcome of their insights by generating an original product.
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Ideas for products
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Rubrics, or other established guides to assessments are helpful tools for teachers and students alike. Assessment guides help teachers take the guesswork out of grading and let students know what is expected.
Social Studies Professional Development Series includes five DVDs, each focusing on a different category of educational teaching strategy. Each DVD includes classroom footage, guest educator commentaries, and a downloadable PDF guide for using the program. The lessons are designed to be used at school sites by mentors, coaches, or leadership personnel and focus on teaching techniques and strategies appropriate in the secondary social studies classroom.
Differentiated Instruction Strategies Learn about Implementing flexible grouping patterns, selecting appropriate instruction and materials, varying assessments to meet student abilities, managing diverse groups, and organizing learning centers.
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