Let's get LEARNER CENTERED

WELCOME BACK!!!

During my hiatus from posting articles, I have observed a proliferation of opportunities in the area of Teaching and Learning. I applied for several, maybe even more than several. As a successful national and international educator, many former learners are connected to me here on Linked-in, I am always curious as well as open to learning about new developments in the field of Teaching and Learning. Throughout my career, each session of my T/L courses has provided me with insight and opportunities to understand how people learn. When confronted with a learning challenge, I listened first and engaged the learner in dialog, which was individualized and reliant on where learners were and not where I wanted them to be. In short, there was no script to follow. True facilitation competency is not how much one knows and the gimmickry employed to create illusions and false security.

However, what I seemed to have discovered was rather intriguing. These enticing descriptors for career opportunities and recruiting for Teaching and Learning professionals are merely mass marketing techniques for finding sales personnel to hawk learning systems. Current publishing trends indicate more emphasis on kind, empathic, individualized caring approaches in delivering Leadership and Teaching-Learning Material. I found repeated opportunities, where scripted learning and the adherence to it were mandatory and upon which one’s job security relied.

Learner-centered in my understanding is a process whereby facilitators do not employ a single teaching method. In my understanding, Learner-centered emphasizes a variety of methods and teaching models and modes which shift the role of the facilitator from giver of information to coordinator/collaborator in student learning. Lastly, I understand a Learner-centered approach as one which includes the practice of engaging closely with what a speaker is saying and indicating understanding by asking relevant questions, summarizing and asking open-ended questions. Of course, a learner-centered approach is rife with occasions for feedback. It is through this open and honest feedback where deep learning can take place. Leadership, Teaching and Learning demand mutual authenticity and personalization. It is through deep learning how workplace cultures thrive and develop trust. Authentic teaching and learning develop through moments of truth and courage. Learner-centered facilitators resist imposing their own solution and engage in conversations about the other person’s learning — not about their opinion or expertise. There is NO script to follow. Effective Teaching and Learning balances challenge and support. It is time and labor intensive. I find it difficult to understand how a prescribed learning program can deliver this level of challenge and support, when each learner has idiosyncrasies and not all learners start with the same level of understanding. We are living in and witnessing what the inadequacies of the McDonaldization of education is producing. PLEASE, if you are truly marketing a learner-centered approach, I ask that you know what it is. I am ready to help to change this predisposition and become part of the solution for a successful outcome.

.