The Vice-President for the European Students' Union talks the student perspective at the 7th EDEN Research Workshop

1. Student-Centered
Learning:
Fact, Challenge or Myth?

2. The European Students’ Union
• Umbrella organization of 45 national unions of students from 38
countries, represents more than 11 million students
• Formed in 1982, previously named WESIB and later ESIB
• Promote the educational, social, economic and cultural interests of
students at a European level
• Work towards relevant organizations and processes, for example the
European Union, the Bologna-Process, Council of Europe, UNESCO
and OECD.

3. Another brick in the Wall?
We don't need no education
We don't need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! teachers! leave the kids alone!
All in all you're just another brick in the wall.
All in all you're just another brick in the wall .
Pink Floyd: Another brick in the Wall (1979)

4. Beside that, there were some changes in
the past 30 years
• Internet revolution - endless information
sources, available in an instant of a second
• Massification of Higher Education – increased
accessibility to education?
• New communication tools

6. What is the answer?
Student-centered learning
You cannot teach a man anything. You can only
help him discover it within himself.
(Galileo Galilei)

7. What is SCL?
• Active rather than passive learning
• An emphasis on deep learning and understanding
• Increased responsibility and accountability on the part
of the student
• An increased sense of autonomy
• An interdependence between teacher and learner
• Mutual respect within the learner-teacher relationship
• A reflexive approach to the teaching and learning
process on the part of both the teacher and the learner

8. Source: Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2006). Teaching and
learning at a distance (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall., p. 202

9. 9 underlying principles of SCL (1)
1. SCL requires an Ongoing Reflexive Process.
2. SCL doesn’t have a “One-Size-Fits-All”
Solution
3. Students have different learning styles
4. Students have different needs and interests
5. Choice is central to effective learning

10. 9 underlying principles of SCL (2)
6. Students have different experiences and
background knowledge
7. Students should have control over their
learning
8. SCL is about “Enabling”, not “Telling”.
9. Learning needs cooperation between students
and staff

11. Benefits for students
• Making students an integral part of the academic
community
• Increased motivation to learn
• Independence and responsibility in learning
• Due consideration of students needs

12. Benefits for teachers
• More interesting role for the teacher
• Solutions to tackle massification and diversity
• Positive impact on working conditions
• Continuous self-improvement
• Increased learner motivation and engagement
• Professional development for academia

13. The wider benefits of SCL
• Quality enhancement
• The status of the teaching profession
• Better retention in higher education
• Attracting students
• Fostering a Lifelong Learning Culture

14. Implementation by teachers
Teacher-Centered Learning Student-Centered Learning
Low student choice High student choice
Passivity of students Activity of students
Teachers as holders of powers Student empowerment

15. What does that mean in practice?
• Increasing student motivation and teachers’
knowledge of students
• Choice of teaching and learning methods
• Choice of students assessment methods
• Using course evaluation
• Using ICT to enhance SCL

16. Can Institutions help?
• Curriculum design and learning outcomes
• Ongoing professional development of the staff
• The central role of libraries in SCL

17. Common misconceptions:
• SCL doesn’t mean anything in practice.
• SCL requires a higher amount of resources
• SCL is not appropriate to teach a large and
diverse student body
• SCL undermines the teaching profession
• SCL is not appropriate to all academic fields

19. The long and winding road
Changing the mindset
•Cooperation among stakeholders
•Decision on a policy level
Sustaining the culture of SCL

20. More information
• Student-centered learning: Toolkit for
students, staff and higher education
institutions (ESU and EI, 2011), can be found
on: http://www.esu-
online.org/resources/6068/Student-Centred-
Learning-Toolkit/
• Changing Educational Paradigms (TED talk by
Sir Ken Robinson)

21. Instead of conclusions?
• What can be done to change the mindset?
• How to involve students in the teaching and
learning process?
• Who should make the first step?
• Is SCL a fact or a myth?

22. Instead of conclusion?
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
John Lennon: Imagine (1971)

23. Thank you!
rok@esu-online.org
http://www.esu-online.org
Twitter: @ESUtwt