What is Learner-Centered Design? And how can you shift your perspective from teaching to learning?

1. TEACHING vs.
LEARNING

2. “Teach me and I remember.”
“Tell me and I forget.”
“Involve me and I learn.”
- Benjamin Franklin

3. What is
“Learner-Centered”
Design?

4. Putting ourselves in our
learners’ shoes, and making
decisions based on our
empathy with their needs.
What is “Learner-Centered”
Design?

5. Teaching = to show or explain how
to do something
Learning = to change one’s behavior
by putting new knowledge
into practice

6. Learning is about them.
Teaching is about us.

7. Let’s break it down further…

8. Learning-
Centered
Design
Teaching-
Focused
Design
Experts pass their
knowledge to
learners
Learners construct their
own understanding
Students are actively
involved
Students are
passively receiving
information

9. Learning-
Centered
Design
Teaching-
Focused
Design
Instructor is a coach
& facilitator
Instructor is a primary
information giver
Learner
chooses topics
Instructor
chooses topics
Approach is
interdisciplinary
Focus is on a single
topic

10. Learning-
Centered
Design
Teaching-
Focused
Design
Students evaluate
their own learning
Instructors assess
the student
Assessment is used
to measure the
quality of the learning
experience
Assessment is used to
measure the quality of
the student

11. Learning-
Centered
Design
Teaching-
Focused
Design
Emphasis is on
learning from errors
Emphasis is on
getting the right
answers
Emphasis is on using
knowledge in the real
world
Emphasis is on
acquisition of
knowledge

12. How to shift your perspective

13. “What new things do learners
want to be able to do?”
“We need to cover topics
X, Y and Z.”

14. “How many new skills does
the learner need to gain?”
“We need X number of
courses/lessons/chapters.”

15. “What kind of information would
support the learner in her attempt
to do skill X better?”
“XYZ SME is really smart/experienced
and needs to teach this topic.”

16. “How can we connect this new
information to something learners
already know?”
“Let’s use this great video clip
with of a renowned SME.”

17. “How can we setup a problem for someone to
solve?”
“Let’s throw in a knowledge check to make
sure people paid attention.”

18. Realistically…
Things aren’t always this black
and white.

19. We live in the gray.

20. So it’s important to continually
challenge ourselves to be as
learner-centered
as we can.

21. How people are learning is changing.
Modern learning is a continuous,
interactive cycle that is increasingly
occurring online.

22. For more information on how GovLoop
is
Transforming Learning
For Government
visit
GovLoop Academy

23. Sources:
(Learner-Centered Assessment on College Campuses by Huba and Freed 2000)
Questions?
Contact:
Andrew Krzmarzick
GovLoop VP of Learning & Development
andrew@govloop.com