Student-Centered Instructional Design

In an increasingly data-driven world, educators are looking for ways to build their organization’s efficiency and effectiveness. They’re also looking for ways to support their students’ learning for various reasons. One of the easiest ways is implementing a student-centered instructional design (SCID) strategy.

A student-centered instructional design is a type of instructional design that focuses on developing a sense of personal ownership in the education of students. It allows the teacher as the primary contact point with students while also fostering a trusting relationship with them.

In this blog post, we’ll take you through the basics of a student-centered instructional design and explore how it is created, received, and more. So, without any further ado, let's get started.

What is Student-Centered Instructional Design?

A student-centered instructional design is an instruction that emphasizes the students’ unique experience rather than the school. It considers each student's unique needs and abilities within a specific context. The purpose of student-centered instruction is to help each student feel like they have a say in how their education unfolds.

The term has been used in the arts and education to describe a way of teaching that emphasizes the student’s unique experience. A typical example of a student-centered instructional design would be using a personal diary to record the experiences of each student.

This design model can also be described as a framework for creating learning experiences focused on learners' needs and abilities. This approach to instruction emphasizes the importance of the learner's involvement in the learning process. Besides that, it tailors the content and delivery of the material to meet the individual needs of each learner.

This instructional design model is based on the premise that all learners are different and that each brings a unique set of experiences, knowledge, and skills to the learning situation. This means that the instructional designer must consider the individual differences of each learner when designing the learning experience.

The student-centered instructional design model is often contrasted with the traditional instructional design model, referred to as the teacher-centered one. In the traditional model, the teacher is the primary focus of the learning experience, and the learner is passive. This model has based on the premise that the teacher is the expert and that the learner must learn what the teacher wants them to learn.

What are the different student-centered methods?

Some of the most common student-centered methods include:

• Project-based learning
• Inquiry-based learning
• Problem-based learning
• Case-based instruction
• Discovery learning

Why is SCID important?

There are several reasons why a student-centered instructional design is important.

First, this approach to instruction recognizes the unique needs of each learner. It is important because all learners are different and have different learning needs. If the instructional designer does not consider the individual needs of each learner, the learning experience will not be effective.

Second, the student-centered instructional design model emphasizes the importance of the learner's involvement in the learning process. This is important because the learner must be actively involved in the learning experience to learn effectively. If the learner is not involved in the learning process, they will not be able to learn effectively.

Third, this instructional design model tailors the content and delivery of the material to meet the individual needs of each learner. Each learner learns differently and requires different content and delivery methods. If the instructional designer does not consider the individual learning needs of each learner, the learning experience will not be effective.

One of the most important things you can do for your students is to make sure they feel included in your decision-making process. It includes connecting them to you as a person and building stable, trusting relationships with them. A healthy sense of self-ownership enables students to feel as though they have a voice in the decision-making processes of their school and town.

How to create Student-Centered Instructional Design?

Here is how you can create student-centered Instructional design:

1- Get to know your students

The first step in creating a student-centered instructional design is to get to know your students. It means that you need to take the time to learn about their individual needs, abilities, and interests. You can do this by talking to them, observing them, and asking them questions.

2- Involve your students in the instructional design process

The second step is to involve your students in the instructional design process. This means that you need to involve them in planning, developing, and evaluating the learning experience. You can do this by asking for their input, involving them in decision-making, and giving them opportunities to provide feedback.

3- Tailor the content and delivery of the material to meet the leaner individual needs

The third step is to tailor the content and delivery of the material to meet the individual needs of each learner. This means that you need to consider each learner's learning needs when designing the learning experience. You can do this by differentiating the content and delivery methods to meet the needs of each learner.

4- Create a safe and supportive learning environment

The fourth step is to create a safe and supportive learning environment. This means that you need to create an environment where students feel comfortable and supported. You can do this by being respectful, responsive, and accommodating.

5- Use assessment to inform instruction

The fifth step is to use assessment to inform instruction. This means that you need to use assessment data to guide instructional decisions. You can use formative and summative assessments to inform your instructional decisions.

6- Rethinking the learning objectives

The final step is to rethink the learning objectives. This means that you need to rethink the goals of the learning experience. You can do this by focusing on the process rather than the product, making the objectives relevant to the students, and achieving the objectives.

7- Shifting the balance of power 

The final step is to shift the balance of power. This means that you need to give students more control over their learning. You can do this by giving them a choice, autonomy, and responsibility. Several technologies, including blogs, discussion boards, and online quizzes, support learner-centered instructional practices.

When you use the student-centered instructional design model, you commit your students. This commitment means that you are willing to put their needs first, involve them in the decision-making process, and tailor the learning experience to meet their individual needs. When you make this commitment, you message your students that they are valued and that their success is important to them. This commitment will result in a more positive and productive learning environment.

How is Student-Centered Instructional Design received?

Teachers think that students have no responsibilities or duties in SCID. A student-centered approach can help students be more responsible, active, and participative in the learning process. You have to give them a learning environment that supports their active participation. Sometimes that is all students need to become responsible learners. 

Student-centered instructional design is often received positively by students. This is because they feel that their needs are being considered and that they are being given a voice in the learning process. They also feel that they are more likely to be successful when they are allowed to be actively involved in their learning.

However, not all students will respond positively to SCID. Some students may feel that they are being asked to do too much work or not given enough guidance. If you find that your students are not responding positively to SCID, it may be necessary to adjust your approach.

Impact of Student-Centered Instructional Design

Here are a few of the noticeable impacts of student-centered instructional design:

1- Improved student engagement

Teachers can create an environment where students are more actively involved in learning. By differentiating the content and delivery of the material, teachers can meet the individual learner's needs. This means that students have greater ownership over their learning. It helps them to feel more engaged in the learning process.

2- Increased student ownership of learning

When students are allowed to be more involved in their learning, they take more ownership of it. It means that they are more likely to be successful in achieving their learning goals.

3- Students can learn at their own pace

Students can move through the material at their own pace. Because teachers differentiate content and delivery methods based on the individual learning needs of each student.

4- Students gain more knowledge

Students can learn more by providing feedback. They can also learn more by giving their own opinion of the material they are learning.

5- Students become more critical thinkers

When students are allowed to be more involved in their learning, they tend to develop higher-order thinking skills. This is because they are constantly required to reflect on their learning and make connections to the material.

6- Encourages higher expectations

The student-centered instructional design model encourages students to be responsible and take ownership of their learning. This increases the level of student expectations. It also helps students to understand why they are being taught a certain thing and how that thing can be applied in their lives.

7- Students gain competency

Students gain communication skills, decision-making skills, collaboration skills, teamwork skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. These competencies make them able to participate in a better learning environment. These competencies allow them to be not only active participants in their learning but also independent learners later on in life.

Student-centered instructional design vs. student-centered learning 

There have been disagreements about whether student-centered instructional design (SCID) is similar to student-centered learning (SCL). While they are similar, they are different concepts.

The first way in which SCID and SCL differ is in their focus. While both of these terms refer to the use of students' needs as the central concern, SCID focuses on all students, while SCL only includes learners with special needs.

Another important difference between these two practices is how they are implemented. While all teachers must use both, SCID does not require that all students be given access to a student-centered design model. 

However, project-based learning can include SCID. It means that when students are allowed to make decisions about their learning, they can use the student-centered design model. However, this does not mean that all students are given the same opportunities to make choices throughout their projects.

Summing Up

Student-centered instructional design is a new way of thinking about how students learn, how teachers teach, and how learning environments can be designed to meet the needs of students. It is a new way of thinking that focuses on the central importance of students' voice, choice, and responsibility in the learning process. 

Not only that, it has the potential to improve student engagement, increase student ownership of learning, and promote higher-order thinking skills.  It is a model that encourages students to be active participants and take responsibility for their learning.