Preparing for Learning Centers – Student and Workspace Readiness

Preparing for Learning Centers – Student and Workspace Readiness

When planning to use learning centers, what type of preparations would a teacher need to address for the students and the work area?

Learning centers are student-oriented, engaging activities that involve self-selecting and self-checking to teach learners specific skills on a topic (Burden, Paul, and David 165). As a tutor, while planning to use learning centers, there are different types of preparation for learners and work areas that a teacher must address. Some of these preparations are first to think of the skills you want the learner to learn. Then, gather student materials. This can be done by pulling materials from the curriculum or executing a little innovation if you think they will be more meaningful or engaging.

Other types of preparation are writing out clear directions on using learning centers using visuals. Learners do not have to raise their hands and ask the teacher how to complete a task because the answers should be readily available. This means the teacher should spend more time making task cards and charts that give step-by-step guidelines so there is clarity and no need for teachers to repeat themselves (Burden, Paul, and David 166). Finally, the teacher should set behavioral expectations and goals. This is vital for learners who have never practiced or used learning centers. The teachers should educate students that they will cooperate or work with one another in order to learn.

 What are some advantages and disadvantages of using learning centers?

Learning centers are both beneficial and disadvantageous. First, they are helpful because the activities used in learning centers focus on a specific set of skills, which deepens the learner’s knowledge and skill in a particular area. Secondly, students can work independently, in small groups, and in pairs, which helps nurture their collaboration skills. In addition, learning centers encourage student engagement (Morningstar et al. 193). Since kids, especially those in pre-school, have shorter attention spans, thus learning stations will allow them to be engaged with activities as they move to new activities after 10 to 15 minutes.

Notably, learning centers are also disadvantageous because they consume too much time. The process of setting up these centers is too much. It not only consumes the tutors’ time but also the nature of learning. Secondly, learning centers affect some learners’ self-esteem. Most learners feel that learning centers are set up depending on specific academic levels, which can be degrading to other learners and result in a lack of self-esteem (Morningstar et al. 194). Finally, they cause a lot of noise. Since learning stations encourage learners to learn through varied methods, such as communicating with peers at the station, this results in too much noise, which also distracts other learners in other stations, making it non-beneficial.

Works Cited

Burden, Paul R., and David M. Byrd. Methods for effective teaching: Meeting the needs of all students. Allyn & Bacon, 2010.

Morningstar, Mary E., et al. “Preliminary lessons about supporting participation and learning in inclusive classrooms.” Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities 40.3 (2015): 192-210.

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Preparing for Learning Centers – Student and Workspace Readiness

This week, you have been reading about learning centers/ stations.  Answer the following questions.

(1) When planning to use learning centers, what type of preparations for the students and the work area would a teacher need to address?

(2) What are some advantages and disadvantages of using learning centers?