21st Century Strands & Strategies
Chapter: Strands & Strategies: At-A-Glance
8
Student Centered Instruction
Student-centered Instruction is the
intentional integration of innovative
pedagogy which promotes inquiry-
based learning through the effective
use of differentiation strategies and
technology to engage and empower
learners. Inquiry-based learning is
inherent in all of the student centered
strategies. In real inquiry, students
follow a trail with their own questions
that leads to a search for resources
and the discovery of answers which
ultimately leads to generating new
questions, testing ideas, and drawing their own conclusions. Real innovation is the drive
for answers, new products, and solutions to problems.
1.
Inquiry-Based Instruction: Inquiry-Based Instruction is an approach to learning
that involves a process of exploring the natural, empirical, and material world,
which leads to asking many questions, making discoveries, and rigorously testing
them in the search for new understanding (Chambers, C. 2002).
2.
Project-Based Learning (PBL): Project-Based Learning is "a systematic teaching
method that engages students in learning knowledge and skills through an
extended inquiry process structured around complex, authentic question and
carefully designed products and tasks" (Buck Institute for Education).
3.
Problem-Based Learning: “Problem-Based Learning is an instructional (and
curricular) learner-centered approach that empowers learners to conduct
research, integrate theory and practice, and apply knowledge and skills to
develop a viable solution to a defined problem” (Savery, J. R. 2006).
4.
Cooperative Learning: Cooperative Learning is the instructional use of small
groups so that students work together to maximize their own and each other’s
learning. (Johnson and Johnson, Holubeck, 1998).
5.
Flipped Instruction: Flipped Instruction is a model of instruction in which students
receive direct instruction outside of class; in order to create time for student
centered learning activities with teacher and peer support in order to
demonstrate mastery of learning objectives (Bergman, J. and Sams, A. 2012).
6.
Blended Learning: Blended Learning has face-to-face interaction, synchronous
conversations, asynchronous interactions, as well as constant feedback. Course
materials are delivered electronically while at the same time students can email
their teachers and participate in chat rooms and threaded discussion forums.
Electronic instruction and online learning activities are followed up by face-to-
face interaction (U.S. Department of Education. September 2010).
