Definitions
In a _________-__________ __________, the focus of instruction is shifted from the teacher to the student, with the end goal of developing students who are autonomous and independent.
Student-Centered Classroom
Provide Choice
Which method of asking questions of the whole class do the Himmeles describe as allowing students time to skim their notes, star and rank the three they think are most important, and then discuss those with a partner or with the class?
Pause, Star, Rank
In creating an inquiry-driven class, Nayfeld states that the teacher must "Stop Being the _______" and let the students find the answer.
Expert
Define and describe what "Appointment Agendas" are, according to the Himmele article "3 Ways to Ask Questions that Engage the Whole Class."
Given a paper with appointment timeslots, students find a peer to fill each appointment timeslot. Both students must write the name of the other student in the match timeslots. When the teacher asks a question and gives an appointment time, the students find their peer and discuss the question.
What are the noted benefits of a student-centered classroom? (Name 3)
Helps students become independent problem-solvers, life-long learners, and students feel a sense of community & value
What is Lee's first step in teaching students how to ask productive questions?
What does Loveless mean by integrating technology into your student-centered class?
Both the teacher and students use free web tools and learning apps to present, organize, and share information with each other and with family.
Summarize in your own words what Loveless means by "turning your classroom into a 'community.'"
Students have a voice (and the teacher listens) and feel valued; students take responsibility for learning by interacting and learning with each other while the teacher acts more as a facilitator and guide in learning.
Explain how allowing students to explore and play helps to create an inquiry-driven classroom, according to Nayfeld.
Once students have had a chance to examine things, touch them, move them, make sense of them, they are more prepared to ask meaningful questions.
Compare and contrast the traditional teacher-centered classroom to a student-centered classroom.
Teacher-centered = students sit quietly while teacher lectures. Teacher takes the "active" role in learning. Student centered = teacher gives students more choice and voice. Teacher is a facilitator and students do the "active" learning.
According to Loveless, how does a student-centered classroom help a teacher with classroom management?
Explain why real-world and thematic connections help develop critical thinking in students, according to Kelly.
Real-world connections make learning relevant to the students' lives outside of school.
Thematic connections help students see that learning does not occur in isolation--but can be connected to other subjects and other learning.
How would "develop[ing] ongoing projects...[promote] mastery of subject matter"?
Students must be able to apply the knowledge they are learning over time to the project. Since students typically have more choice in on-going projects, they have more interest in learning.
Every student has respond to the question with a well-thought-out response.
Why does a student-centered classroom need "trust and open communication"?
That allows students to feel like they are being treated fairly, are respected, have a voice, and can share or ask questions without fear of being ridiculed or being brushed off. In that environment, students are more invested in learning.
Describe some leadership roles you could give students in the elementary, middle school, and high school classrooms (1 - 2 examples for elementary and middle/high).
Line leaders & lunch count (elementary); attendance clerk & collecting homework for absent students (middle/high school)
What does Loveless mean by allowing students to be "involved in their performance evaluation"? Why would this benefit students?
Feedback and revision is a huge part of performance evaluation, so this give-and-take communication helps students continue learning until they demonstrate mastery. Self-evaluation promotes critical thinking and metacognitive thinking in students.
Self-evaluations of projects and papers using rubrics helps the students recognize quality in their own work. Students setting goals and evaluating whether they reached those goals helps them become independent learners.
Explain Loveless' argument that teachers could replace homework with project-based learning. Evaluate how effective it would be (and how successful students would be) if teachers incorporated more project-based learning and assigned less homework in the classroom?
Loveless questions the positive correlation between homework and improved grades. He notes that students are typically more eager to learn and productivity is higher in a student-centered classroom.