The document discusses learner-centered teaching and active learning strategies, emphasizing the importance of students taking responsibility for their own learning rather than being passive recipients of information. It details specific active learning techniques such as think-pair-share and K-W-L charts, and highlights the role of technology in facilitating engagement. Additionally, it stresses the need for ongoing assessment and feedback to ensure all learners are equally invested in their education.

1. Written by: H.O.D. Noura Al-Bedaiwi
AL-ADAILEYA PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS - Ministry of Education
Learner-Centered Teaching and Active
Learning Strategies

2. Learner-centered teaching focuses on learners’ acquisition of knowledge
and practices. It emphasizes the processes learners practice to analyze data
and facts within themselves and within social contexts, which is sometimes
controlled by the teacher in class.
Active learning indulges learners to be responsible for their own learning.
They are no longer empty bowls to be filled with content; they are thinkers
and even instructors sometimes to their self and peers. Active learning as
James states “acknowledges that a course leader has certain knowledge and
that they give thought as to how to present that knowledge in a meaningful
manner that guides the learner without necessarily providing the actual
answers.”1
Metacognitive, cooperative, and collaborative learning approaches are
used in a learner centered teaching. Such approaches use active learning
strategies, such as:
Think-Pair-Share: learners sit in pairs and discuss a question/a problem
raised by the teacher, then share their answer with their class.
Carousel: learners make projects in groups about the topic discussed during
class, such as colours and numbers, providing clear instructions and
materials to use and guiding them through the process when needed. The
teacher can prompt questions while working on the projects or when
learners share their project with their class mates.
K-W-L Chart: the task can be assigned at the beginning of a lesson where
learners should write what they know about the current topic, what they
would like to know and at the end of it, they can write what they have
learned that day.
OneNote Microsoft Program: using OneNote to work individually, in pairs
or in groups to complete a task, such as discussing pictures to deliver
findings to class or answering a multiple-choice question where they match
letters or words to pictures.
Technology in class endorses active learning in a learner-centered teaching;
some teachers might use applications, like “I Can Write” to encourage
learners to participate in class. It is a vital tool to involve learners in their

3. own learning in class and can also be used to assess students’ development
and needs.
Even though using technology might help teachers to engage learners, it
might not be enough to encourage them to participate equally in class.
Center of Excellence in Teaching department in the university of California
states:
Learner-centered education requires a focus on student learning, but we
also know that not all learners are equally invested. Regardless of how we
teach and what technology we bring into the classroom or outside the
classroom, we need to be proactive in our quest to assess through various
forms of feedback the extent to which our investment is working and
meeting our goals.2
Active learning strategies is part of the learner-center teaching approach.
They conjoin in context to facilitate the learning process. Teachers can
design tasks using different approaches and strategies where learners be
the vital factor where discussions, experiments and finding solutions and
concrete results are the paved path to learning.

4. References
1. The Differences Between Active and Passive Learning. James Tweed
2014: http://www.mycoracle.com/news/opinions/differences-between-
active-and-passive-learning
2. Center for Excellence in Teaching. Learner-Centered Teaching. University
of Southern California Module 1.3. P.3.
3. http://timgauntley.blogspot.com/