The Learner Directed Classroom

Educators at all levels want their students to develop habits of self-directed learning and critical problem-solving skills that encourage ownership and growth. In The Learner-Directed Classroom, practicing art educators (PreK–16) offer both a comprehensive framework for understanding student-directed learning and concrete pedagogical strategies to implement student-direct learning activities in school. In addition, research-based assessment strategies provide educators with evidence of student mastery and achievement. Teachers who structure self-directed learning activities can facilitate effective differentiation as students engage in the curriculum at their level. This book provides evidence-based, practical examples of how to transform the classroom into a creative and highly focused learning environment. Book Features: Guidance for implementing a learner-directed program, including advocacy, management, differentiated instruction, and resources.Attention to the needs of specific groups of students, including preadolescents, gifted and talented learners, boys, and those with learning differences.Insights into reflective practice and strategies for assessment of learning. Contributors: Catherine Adelman, Marvin Bartel, Katherine Douglas, Ellyn Gaspardi, Clyde Gaw, Lois Hetland, Pauline Joseph, Tannis Longmore, Linda Papanicolaou, Cameron Sesto, George Szekely, Ilona Szekely, Dale Zalmstra “In the present standards-based learning environment, this book is a welcome addition because it presents an alternative pedagogy that puts learners’ needs and interests at the core. Experienced and novice art teachers at all levels who read this book will be motivated to teach in open-ended environments where their choices can make a difference in their students’ lives.” —Enid Zimmerman, Professor Emerita of Art Education and High Ability Programs, Indiana University “From the comfortable couch of the foreword to the exhortative poem at the book’s conclusion, the reader journeys through remarkable classrooms with insightful educators. Practical AND inspirational, the educational principles and points so deftly illustrated herein apply across the disciplines and age spans. An important read for all teachers. A timeless and necessary pedagogy for all classrooms.” —Jacqueline Grennon Brooks, Professor, School of Education, Hofstra University “It is easy to proclaim creativity important and criticize current practices and then offer no actual solutions. This volume is filled with practical tips and hands-on advice aimed at improving self-directed student learning. Any classroom teacher interested in helping students learn, discover, and create will want to read and reread this book.” —James C. Kaufman, Professor of Psychology, California State University, San Bernardino, and Editor, International Journal of Creativity and Problem Solving “Here at last is a meaningful, practical, and hands-on textbook giving guidance to the classroom teacher about beginning or enriching a choice-based program for students, rather than the traditional regimented art curricula meant to please adults. I highly recommend this book to all who are involved in pedagogy, including parents” —Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Artist Diane B. Jaquith is a K–5 art teacher in Newton, MA and a co-founder of Teaching for Artistic Behavior, Inc., a choice-based art education advocacy organization. She is the co-author of Engaging Learners Through Artmaking: Choice-Based Art Education in the Classroom. Nan E. Hathaway is a middle school art teacher in Duxbury, Vermont. She is a gifted education specialist and is on the board of directors for Teaching for Artistic Behavior, Inc.

Publisher description

The authors who introduced the concepts of Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) and choice-based art education have completely revised and updated their original, groundbreaking bestseller that was designed to facilitate independent learning and support student choices in subject matter and media. More than ever before, teachers are held accountable for student growth and this new edition offers updated recommendations for assessments at multiple levels, the latest strategies and structures for effective instruction, and new resources and helpful tips that provide multiple perspectives and entry points for readers. The Second Edition of Engaging Learners Through Artmaking will support those who are new to choice-based authentic art education, as well as experienced teachers looking to go deeper with this curriculum. This dynamic, user-friendly resource includes sample lesson plans and demonstrations, assessment criteria, curricular mapping, room planning, photos of classroom set-ups, media exploration, and many other concrete and open-ended strategies for implementing TAB in kindergarten–grade 8. Book Features: Introduces artistic behaviors that sustain engagement, such as problem finding, innovation, play, representation, collaboration, and more. Provides instructional modes for differentiation, including whole-group, small-group, individual, and peer coaching. Offers management strategies for choice-based learning environments, structuring time, design of studio centers, and exhibition. Illustrates shifts in control from teacher-directed to learner-directed, examining the concept of quality in children’s artwork. Highlights artist statements by children identifying personal relevancy, discovery learning, and reflection.

Learner-centered instruction helps build dynamic classrooms in which the student takes ownership of the content and determines ways that it may be useful to him. Such instruction also encourages the student to build the relationships that will allow learning to endure beyond the training event. Here are a few of the questions author Jeannette Campos suggests asking yourself to effectively create a learner-centered classroom: • As an instructor, am I encouraging interaction among my learners whenever possible? • Is my content formatted in the most engaging way? • Have I created opportunities for the learner to reflect on the learning process? • Only in a learner-centered classroom can you foster the four types of learning relationships: learner-to-instructor, learner-to-content, learner-to-learner, and learner-to-self. This TD at Work will explain: • the four relationships within a classroom, whether online or face-to-face • the qualities of healthy, high-performing classroom relationships • how different teaching methods (for example, podcasts, peer review, and asking questions) can strengthen learner-centered relationships • the four-part learning objectives to design learner-centered instruction.

This volume focuses on assessing students' abilities as self-directed learners. The authors use 'triangulation' to ensure that the assessment system is balanced and complete.

Grit. Determination. Mindset. Self-control. All these terms are attributes of self-regulated learning, which is the ability to manage impulses, stay focused on tasks through completion, and develop a sense of autonomy in learning to achieve academic success. In Self-Regulation in the Classroom, Richard M. Cash translates research and theory into easy-to-implement strategies and ideas you can use to help students—with special needs and without—become self-directed learners, including ways for them to: increase their engagement in learning boost their confidence avoid meaningless distraction develop effective study habits set and achieve goals use failure as a learning tool reflect and relax A foundation for promoting positive behavior and executive function skills, this book can help you meet the needs of all your learners and help them reach their potential in the classroom and in the real world. The teacher and student forms, charts, and lists in the book are downloadable for use in your classroom. Also available is a free study guide to be used in PLCs and book study groups. (more...)

Praise for Maryellen Weimer's Inspired College Teaching "The thoughtfulness, personalization, and consideration Maryellen Weimer demonstrates in discussing the experience of faculty members, her ability to identify issues that are shared and solvable, and her suggestions and solutions to commonly experienced stressors and difficulties in college teaching are major strengths of this volume. . . . In a way, it is a 'workshop between book covers'—or perhaps several workshops!" —Laura L. B. Border, director, Graduate Teacher Program and Collaborative Preparing Future Faculty Network, University of Colorado at Boulder "A book by Maryellen Weimer always displays her wonderful grasp of the literature on college teaching and learning, her ability to tell good stories, and her wit and wisdom. This one is no exception." —Nancy Van Note Chism, professor, Indiana University School of Education, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Praise for Enhancing Scholarly Work on Teaching and Learning "In her characteristically research-based, direct, and practical style, Maryellen Weimer provides a much-needed guide, critique, and road map of the scholarship of teaching and learning. Weimer's new book will be of use to teachers, researchers, and administrators alike and nicely complements her Learner-Centered Teaching and Classroom Research, by Cross and Steadman." —Thomas A. Angelo, director, University Teaching Development Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand "Yet again, Maryellen Weimer has made a perfectly timed contribution to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning. Enhancing Scholarly Work on Teaching and Learning does indeed shed clarifying light on the exciting new emphasis on scholarly approaches to teaching. In her distinctively conversational and clear style, Dr. Weimer maps out the nature of pedagogical literature—how to read it and how to contribute to it. . . . This book is the perfect next step in the journey to understand the benefits of scholarly teaching." —Gary Poole, director, Centre for Teaching and Academic Growth; founding director, Institute for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, University of British Columbia

The widely used STEM education book, updated Teaching and Learning STEM: A Practical Guide covers teaching and learning issues unique to teaching in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. Secondary and postsecondary instructors in STEM areas need to master specific skills, such as teaching problem-solving, which are not regularly addressed in other teaching and learning books. This book fills the gap, addressing, topics like learning objectives, course design, choosing a text, effective instruction, active learning, teaching with technology, and assessment—all from a STEM perspective. You’ll also gain the knowledge to implement learner-centered instruction, which has been shown to improve learning outcomes across disciplines. For this edition, chapters have been updated to reflect recent cognitive science and empirical educational research findings that inform STEM pedagogy. You’ll also find a new section on actively engaging students in synchronous and asynchronous online courses, and content has been substantially revised to reflect recent developments in instructional technology and online course development and delivery. Plan and deliver lessons that actively engage students—in person or online Assess students’ progress and help ensure retention of all concepts learned Help students develop skills in problem-solving, self-directed learning, critical thinking, teamwork, and communication Meet the learning needs of STEM students with diverse backgrounds and identities The strategies presented in Teaching and Learning STEM don’t require revolutionary time-intensive changes in your teaching, but rather a gradual integration of traditional and new methods. The result will be a marked improvement in your teaching and your students’ learning.

In this much needed resource, Maryellen Weimer-one of the nation's most highly regarded authorities on effective college teaching-offers a comprehensive work on the topic of learner-centered teaching in the college and university classroom. As the author explains, learner-centered teaching focuses attention on what the student is learning, how the student is learning, the conditions under which the student is learning, whether the student is retaining and applying the learning, and how current learning positions the student for future learning. To help educators accomplish the goals of learner-centered teaching, this important book presents the meaning, practice, and ramifications of the learner-centered approach, and how this approach transforms the college classroom environment. Learner-Centered Teaching shows how to tie teaching and curriculum to the process and objectives of learning rather than to the content delivery alone.

The Learner-Centered Music Classroom: Models and Possibilities is a resource for practicing music teachers, providing them with practical ideas and lesson plans for implementing learner-centered pedagogical concepts into their music classrooms. The purpose of this book is to propose a variety of learner-centered models for music teaching and learning through the use of a variety of autoethnographic viewpoints. Nine contributors provide working and concrete examples of learner-centered models from their classrooms. Offering lesson plan ideas in each of these areas, the contributors provide practical approaches for implementation of learner-centered approaches in music instruction across a variety of landscapes. Learner-centered teaching provides an approach to music education that encourages social, interactive, culturally responsive, creative, peer-based, open-formed, facilitated and democratic learning. Chapter 1 defines the what, why, and perceived benefits of learner-centered approaches in music teaching and learning contexts Chapters 2-10 will include example lesson plans, rubrics, etc. as models for teachers. The contributors to this book suggest that learner-centered approaches, when embedded into the culture and curricular framework of a music classroom, offer exciting approaches for teaching music in ways that are culturally and educationally appropriate in contemporary education.