Student learning under the microscope

Key points:

It goes without saying that improving student learning and helping them achieve their learning goals has always been a priority for teachers and educators.

Today, pandemic-related learning loss remains a very real concern for educators, and student learning is one of education's top priorities as the nation strives to move further away from impact of the pandemic on education.

Let's take a look at some important resources to help classroom strategies support student learning goals:

Why is it important to engage students in learning?

Student-centered education collaborates with students to design learning experiences and paths tailored to their interests and needs. Student-centered education and its teaching methods can play a critical role in reshaping education systems, offering a more holistic approach to meeting the needs of students and helping them find satisfaction in their academic achievements. K-12 Value Networks: The Hidden Forces That Help or Hinder Student-Centered EducationA report from the Clayton Christensen Institute, offers insights into understanding why schools struggle to change their instructional models, along with five models that prioritize student-centered education.

What is the most effective teaching method?

Can learning centers that put student motivation at the center of learning reliably guide children toward successful careers and life opportunities regardless of their family background and home circumstances? Probably not. But these centers are not intended to be unique educational models. Its goal is to provide learning experiences that can and do work exceptionally well for many children, but are not available in most schools. Instead of viewing models like these with skepticism until they prove they can ensure postsecondary success for all students, perhaps it is time to broaden our concept of education. Education does not have to mean that students do all their important learning in classrooms. Education could be a ecosystem of intertwined teaching practices and experiences that occur in diverse settings and contexts. It is worth exploring how student motivation can reframe education.

How do you ensure student learning in your classroom?

Student engagement is critical to ensuring and driving student achievement. At its core, student engagement is about harnessing students' innate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills. A lesson focused on student engagement can create the best learning experience as a student. Every teacher hopes to motivate, empower, and engage the students who walk through their classroom doors. Broad Research has shown that student engagement is crucial to overall learning and long-term success. Still, implementing this is easier said than done. To best spark student curiosity and interest, teachers should consider trying one of these five strategies that help make student engagement second nature.

What is student learning like?

In education, a big challenge is how to teach students what to do when they don't know what to do. What systems are needed for productive struggle to take place in classrooms and schools? How do students do it? learn Fight so that they can eventually solve the problems themselves? Neuroscience research tells us that our brains develop new neurological pathways when we are on the brink of a challenge. It is often called “The Goldilocks Principle”of learning: it cannot be too easy nor too difficult, the learning activities and strategies must be correct. The term “productive struggle” is used a lot in education, but what does that really mean for teaching? and learning? Educators can explore key ways to help build positive relationships while supporting productive struggle in classrooms and across schools.

What are positive learning experiences?

Learning should be positive for students, and students often equate a positive experience with having fun. This is where purposeful play comes into play. Many teachers feel like they can't easily incorporate purposeful play into the classroom, but doing so is surprisingly easy. TO new survey of LEGO Education K-8 teachers and students found that nearly all (98 percent) of students say purposeful play helps them learn and the majority (96 percent) of teachers believe it is more effective than traditional methods such as lectures or textbooks. Fun activities for students in the classroom are important. On top of that, nearly 80 percent of students want more playful learning experiences in the classroom. Learn more about the place of purposeful play in the classroom and how to incorporate it into your own teaching.

Laura Ascione is the editorial director of eSchool Media. She graduated from the prestigious Philip Merrill School of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

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