student-centered
Prioritizing the learner
Student-centered describes an educational approach that prioritizes the learner's needs, interests, and pace over standardized instruction.
In student-centered classrooms, teachers act as guides rather than lecturers, and students take active roles in their learning: The school adopted a student-centered curriculum that lets kids pursue projects they're passionate about.
The term contrasts with teacher-centered or lecture-based methods.
Believer in built understanding
- inquiry-basedDriven by questioning
- differentiatedMade unlike others
- personalizedAdapted for an individual
- scaffoldedFitted with temporary framework
facilitated · Montessori · progressive · experiential · project-based · problem-based · self-directed · competency-based
Independent decision-making capacity
- voiceSound from throat
- choiceAct of selecting
- ownershipLegal right of possession
- self-pacedControlled by the learner
empowerment · goal-setting · self-assessment · reflection · metacognition · self-regulation · independence · initiative
Involving shared effort
- hands-onInvolving direct physical engagement
- manipulativesTangible educational objects
- centersMiddle locations or hubs
- circlesEquidistant curves from centers
studio · maker-space · interactive · participatory · inclusive · accessible · trauma-informed · restorative
Influencing development or growth
- rubricEvaluation criteria set
- self-evaluationAssessing your own performance
- authenticVerified as original
- performance-basedContingent on demonstrated results
standards-based · criterion-referenced · feedback · revision · mastery · competency · diagnostic · conferring
constructivist
Believer in built understanding
- inquiry-basedDriven by questioning
- differentiatedMade unlike others
- personalizedAdapted for an individual
scaffolded · facilitated · Montessori · progressive · experiential · project-based · problem-based · self-directed · competency-based · Socratic
autonomy
Independent decision-making capacity
self-paced · empowerment · goal-setting · self-assessment · reflection · metacognition · self-regulation · independence · initiative · decision-making
collaborative
Involving shared effort
- hands-onInvolving direct physical engagement
- manipulativesTangible educational objects
- centersMiddle locations or hubs
circles · studio · maker-space · interactive · participatory · inclusive · accessible · trauma-informed · restorative · community-building
formative
Influencing development or growth
- rubricEvaluation criteria set
- self-evaluationAssessing your own performance
- authenticVerified as original
performance-based · standards-based · criterion-referenced · feedback · revision · mastery · competency · diagnostic · conferring
- educationeducation, school, schools, teachers, students
- Education valuesliteracy, curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, excellence
- teaching methodspresentation, lecturing, discussion, modeling, hands-on learning
- pedagogyteaching methods, teaching, teaching strategies, teaching models, teaching techniques
- Eduspeakpedagogy, curriculum mapping, scaffolding, rubric, formative
- adaptive learningadaptive learning, personalized learning, individualized education, individualized, differentiation
student-centeredteacher-centered
Learning directed by educator
lecture-based · didactic · top-down · transmissive · test-driven
student-centeredauthoritarian
Favoring absolute control
top-down · directive · prescriptive · hierarchical · rigid