Instructional/Teaching Strategies using centers/stations method

1. INSTRUCTIONAL/TEACHING
STRATEGIES:
CENTERS/STATIONS
A N N E L E I D I G H , B S R V T S E P T 2 0 1 6

2. CENTERS/STATIONS
• Typically a designated area within the classroom that provides students with exciting
and interesting experiences to practice, enrich, reteach, and enhance their learning
• Students visit the centers to complete an assignment or learn through different
activities

3. EXAMPLES OF CENTERS/STATIONS
LEARNING CENTERS FOR HIGH
SCHOOL CL ASSROOMS ORGANIZING LEARNING CENTERS

4. CENTERS/STATIONS
• Since students can work at their own pace there is no pressure to finish quickly
• Students can spend more time working on something they don’t understand or move
on quickly past things they do understand
• Hands on learning is easily applied and students can watch other students to gain
knowledge also
• Can be used in a classroom to teach multiple lessons at once

5. CENTERS/STATIONS APPLIED
• In a veterinary science class it is easy to make stations that would be
found in a hospital situation
• Students can partner up or work individually moving about the stations
• Five stations will be set up around the room for students to visit
– No time limit, students can stay at a station until they are comfortable with
the procedure
• Students will spend time at each station practicing different activities
involved in surgical prep for a routine spay or neuter
– Students will help one another with procedures
– Students will turn in a work sheet at the end of class
• Gives a way to monitor progress

6. CENTERS/STATIONS APPLIED
• Stations will Consist of the following
1. Proper hand washing technique
Station located next to sink
2. Setting up the surgery table with the necessary supplies
Station located in surgery suite
3. Surgical Scrub technique
Station located at prep sink
4. Record keeping/ comprehension of patient’s chart
Station located by group of desks
5. Surgical transport and restraint
Station located in treatment area

7. CENTERS/STATIONS APPLIED
• Students will find at each station
– Written step by step directions for procedure on a large note card
– Explanation of techniques for each step by you tube video or hand out
– All materials necessary to complete the task
– Questions involving the procedure to help the students think about the task and remember
proper technique
• Students will practice the procedure until they are comfortable with it
• Students will be instructed to help one another if needed as I make my way around to
the different stations

8. CENTERS/STATIONS
WHAT THEY DO WELL
• Focus on standards and skills
• Teaches accountability and independence
• Address multiple ranges of reading levels, interests and skill levels
• Monitors students for learning and growth
• Provides clear instruction and explanation
• Allows teacher to work with students in smaller groups or one on
one
• Allows students to work together and independently
• Students are more relaxed
• Allows students to have extra practice where they need it
• Provide downtime for over stimulated students

9. CENTERS/STATIONS
THE DRAW BACKS
• Time consuming to set up
• Large amount of space required
• Can be costly
• Noisy
• Can effect student self esteem
• May require special training
• Hard to keep students on track
• Hard to apply in grades beyond elementary school
• Can be harder to evaluate student success than a test or quiz

10. CENTERS/STATIONS
• This style of learning is applicable in real life situations
• Many jobs in the vet science career field utilize stations to keep the work day
productive and on track
• Students learn to work in a group setting, but on an individual basis

11. REFERENCES
• http://www.fortheteachers.org/instructional_strategies/
• http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/new-approach-learning-centers
• http://oureverydaylife.com/disadvantages-learning-centers-17974.html