NATIONAL AND STATE TRENDS IN STUDENT-CENTERED
LEARNING AND COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION
A Deep Dive into Student-centered Learning and Competency-based Education
Remarks prepared for Education Writer’s Association 67th Annual Conference
May 20, 2014
There have been certain rather well-defined trends in
the last quarter- century…. First, the curriculum was
subject-matter-centered; then it became teachercentered; and now it is student-centered.
- WJ Haggerty, The School Review
1938
A wide variety of discussion methods is described by
the adjectives "student-centered," "nondirective,"
"group-centered," or “democratic.”
In the late 1940s-50s these methods became almost
a fad.
- WJ McKeachie, American Psychologist
1968
Much has been reported about the durability of
teacher-centered instruction, sometimes called
"chalk-and-talk" or "frontal teaching," even in the
face of determined efforts to move classroom
practices toward student-centered approaches.
- L Cuban, Educational Researcher
1990
Improved research on learning & motivation
New technologies
New economic realities
Political will & momentum
What’s new
Much more clarity as to what’s meant by
“student-centered”
today?
TOWARDS STUDENT-CENTERED APPROACHES FOR THE 21ST
CENTURY
STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING: 4 TENETS
1. Personalized Learning
• (Next Gen. Learning, Customized
learning, tech-enhanced learning)
2.
Competencybased
Learning
4. Student
owned
learning
•(Proficiencybased Learning,
Mastery-based
Learning)
3.Anytime, Anywhere
Learning
•(Blended learning, Project-based
Learning)
Deeper Learning
•(21st C Skills & Dispositions,
Common Core PLUS,
Metacognitive Learning
Skills)
• Master core academic content
• Think critically and solve
complex problems
• Work collaboratively
• Communicate effectively
• Learn how to learn
• Develop academic mindsets
Skills,
dispositions,
and
knowledge to
succeed in
college,
career, and
civic life
6
WHAT’S IN A NAME
And what about…
Internships
Universal design for learning
Customized
technology
Portfolios
(process or final)
Dual-enrollment
(or early college)
1. Personalized Learning
• (Next Gen. Learning, Customized
learning, tech-enhanced learning)
STEM/STEAM/CTE courses &
pathways
2.
Competencybased
Learning
4. Student
owned
learning
•(Proficiencybased Learning,
Mastery-based
Learning)
Individualized (or
personal) education
plans
3.Anytime, Anywhere
Learning
•(Blended learning, Project-based
Learning)
Exhibitions
Performance-based assessment
Advisory/Primary person/Learning coach
Capstone projects
7
WHAT’S IN A NAME
And what about…
Internships
1. Personalized Learning
Universal design for learning
(Next Gen. Learning, Customized
• Portfolios (process or capstone)•learning,
tech-enhanced learning)
• Exhibitions
• Internships
• STEM/STEAM/CTE courses & pathways
4. Student
Customized
owned
• Advisory/Primary person/Learning
coach
technology
learning
• Individualized (or personal) learning plans
• Universal design for learning
Dual-enrollment
(or early college)
“TOOLS IN
STEM/STEAM/CTE courses &
SERVICE
pathways
OF…”
2.
Competencybased
Learning
•(Proficiencybased Learning,
Mastery-based
Learning)
• Customized-technology
3.Anytime, Anywhere
• Portfolios
Dual-enrollment (or early college)
Learning
or final)
• (process
Performance-based
assessment•(Blended learning, Project-based
Individualized (or
personal) education
plans
Exhibitions
Learning)
Performance-based assessment
Advisory/Primary person/Learning coach
Capstone projects
8
REBECCA E. WOLFE
rwolfe@jff.org
TEL 617.728.4446 FAX 617.728.4857 info@jff.org
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