As instructors, have you ever considered whether your students are as concerned about their learning as much as you might be? Most learning-focused instructors like to collaboratively share the learning experience with their students, whereas students just may, want to sit passively and be instructed.
Here are some ways instructors might motivate students to become more learning-centered:
- Inspire students to see themselves from the standpoint of abilities, improvement, and advancement.
- Teach students achievement by acknowledging and rewarding diligent work.
- Give students plenty of active learning events.
- Teach students how to learn and show them ways to avoid learning pitfalls.
- Allow students sufficient opportunities to explore the cycle of learning; that is, have them assess task demand, evaluate own knowledge and skills, plan approach, monitor progress and adjust approaches as needed.
These methods are just a few ways to help students become more learning-centered. When learning-centered techniques are expanded, students can begin to view themselves more as learners and also teach them constructive ways to approach tasks. Imbuing students with these skills also gives them techniques that can use to engage in lifelong learning.
Adapted from: Carl S. Moore, PhD, “Five Ways to Teach Students to be Learning Centered, Too”