The Learner-Centered Classroom and School

Shows educators and administrators how they can fill their classrooms with students who are eager for success and motivated to learn. The learner-centered approach focuses on designing instruction that is sensitive to the individual students needs, abilities, and interests rather than rigidly tied to the subject matter. What is "Learner-Centered"?

Why Learner-Centered?

The Learner-Centered Classroom.

The Learner-Centered School System.

Making the Transition to Learner-Centered Classrooms and Schools.

An Action Plan for Ongoing Learning and Change.

"In an era when the idea of learner-centered teaching is widely advocated but seldom practiced, there is finally a book uncommonly faithful to this approach. Barbara McCombs and Jo Sue Whisler carefully blend years of research and practice to give teachers practical guidance and to spur the educational establishment to urgently needed reform." (Raymond J. Wlodkowski, Ph.D., Motivation Expert and author of Eager to Learn and Diversity and Motivation)

"McCombs and Whisler extract powerful, practical lessons from contemporary theories of learner-centered classrooms. As imminently readable and insightful contribution to the field of education." (Martin V. Covington, professor of psychology, University of California Berkeley and author of Making the Grade and Overcoming Student Failure)

"The Learner-Centered Classroom and School gives us a vision of a truly powerful form of school reform--focusing the instructional process on the learner. McCombs and Whisler not only provide a comprehensive review of the research and theory on learning and motivation, but they spell out in practical detail how teachers can utilize this information to implement a learner-centered approach. This book has the potential of drastically altering the promise and practice of education." (Robert J. Marzano, deputy executive director for training and development, Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratory, Aurora, Co and author of Dimensions of Learning and A Comprehensive Guide to Designing Standard' Based Districts, Schools and Classrooms)

"An especially useful tool to anyone attempting to establish a learner-centered environment by increasing student motivation and achievement." (Connie H. Yarema, assistant professor of mathematics, Northeast Louisiana University)

THE AUTHORS

Barbara L. McCombs is senior director for the human development and motivation group at the Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratory (McREL) located in Aurora, Colorado.

Jo Sue Whisler is a senior associate at McREL.

“What a learned-centered perspective and model helps educators understand is that individual learners, young and old, students and teachers—like all human beings—bring with them a complex array of unique viewpoints, needs, capacities, and strengths. At the same time, they share certain fundamental qualities. The inherent need to grow, live, and develop in a positive direction, for example, is common to all learners. What best supports these inherent capacities and distinctive characteristics? To find out, we asked students and educators what they thought produced the highest levels of learning in not only academic areas but also personal, social, and vocational realms.”—from the Preface

The Learner-Centered Classroom and School shows educators and administrators how they can create classrooms and schools that foster student motivation, learning, and achievement. The learner-centered approach provides a dual focus on both learner and learning. It focuses on learners by respecting them, trusting them to be responsible for their own learning, and designing practices that are sensitive to individual needs, abilities, and interests. It focuses on learning by designing practices that help students meet high academic standards in challenging, personally relevant, and important content areas. The book is filled with useful examples and practical suggestions for implementing learner-centered concepts in any school or classroom. It will help educators examine beliefs and assumptions related to learner-centered practices and make changes that enhance student motivation and achievement.