What’s the most chaotic, carefree classroom you’ve ever seen? Maybe it had kids screaming, someone eating the paste, glitter all over the floor? It was probably a little much, but maybe the kids were at least having fun…right?
What’s the strictest classroom you’ve ever seen? I’m thinking Miss Trunchbull from Matilda strict–classrooms so quiet you could hear a pin drop, perfectly straight lines that would rival the military, and a level of orderliness that made you wonder if spontaneity had been outlawed.
Where’s the balance between the chaos and the bootcamp? How can students learn, but still have fun?
The answer might surprise you: give them some of the control.
Student-led learning is an opportunity for students to be empowered and take greater charge of their own learning. Compared to traditional teacher-led instruction, this approach gives students greater autonomy in how and what they learn. Student-led learning places the student at the center of the learning experience, as opposed to their teacher. Likewise, students have the opportunity to lead in the classroom and teach one another.
When the student voice is the guide for the classroom, it frees teachers to provide more personalized instruction to students in need. Additionally, students take greater ownership and responsibility for their learning, all leading to greater intrinsic motivation.
Student-led learning shifts the process from passively completing assignments to actively participating in the learning process.
When students take the lead in their learning, they feel empowered and capable. Their more active role in the process leads to deeper understanding and more meaningful learning experiences. Additionally, student-led learning supports secondary education and beyond by mimicking real-world problem solving.
One of the best ways for students to feel in control of their learning is when their voices can be heard. Student-led discussions do just that. Facilitate student-driven conversations around a recent text they read, a topic they want to learn about, or current events.
In these discussions, encourage students to ask questions, challenge ideas, and explore diverse perspectives. These discussions can help students develop communication and reasoning skills, both of which are essential no matter a student’s future profession.
One of the most valuable parts of an education is understanding how it applies to the real world. Project-Based Learning (PBL) helps students do just that by letting them engage with a real-world problem or question through a long-term project. Give students an opportunity to lead out PBL and collect suggestions of problems students want to research. These problems could be in the scope of the school, community, or state as a whole. Based on students’ interests, pair or group students together into research teams.
Throughout the course of these projects, educators should emphasize inquiry, research, and presenting solutions. Concepts like backwards mapping can help students identify their overall goal and then plan out the steps required to get there. PBL is a great hands-on approach that lets students take the lead while also practicing collaboration, responsibility, and critical thinking.
Goal-setting is a key skill that will help students achieve higher levels of success and become more resourceful. Early on, educators should teach students how to set and achieve effective academic and personal goals. SMART goals are an easy outline that helps students clearly define their goals and have a plan to achieve it.
For example, a student who wants to improve their writing skills may set this SMART goal: “I will improve my essay writing by using more textual evidence, with at least three examples in a paragraph on my next three assignments.”
A student who wants to be a faster runner might set a SMART goal like this: “I will cut 15 seconds off my mile time by running four days every week and tracking my mile time once a week for six weeks.”
Either way, provide the framework and the guidance, but allow students to take more ownership in creating and adjusting their goals. As students work towards their goals, they will develop critical metacognitive skills and self-directed learning habits.
More important than setting the goal itself is the progress students make along the way. Set aside dedicated time each week for students to reflect and evaluate their progress.
Learning-by-teaching has proven to be more effective for students than simply re-visiting the material over and over. When students teach one another, they reinforce their understanding and discover any gaps in their knowledge. When students teach one another, they build confidence, communication, and presentation skills.
Try this out in the classroom during a social studies lesson: in small groups, assign students to “become” key figures from a period of history. Each student will study that figure, their achievements, life, contributions, etc. Next, have students teach the rest of their group about the life and achievements of their historical figure.
[Pro-tip: Use formative assessments to guide support for student mini-lessons. What are the key assessment points and skills? Those are the key points a student should aim to teach.]
A classroom environment that is for the students and by the students will help them be more excited to take on the challenges of each day.
Look for small ways to get students involved and help them lead. For example, don’t just tell your students what the classroom rules are, but start the year by coming together as a group and creating rules that are relevant to the class culture and dynamic. Teach students how to develop rules centered on respect, responsibility, and collaboration. Students will also feel empowered when they can have a say in things like a seating chart or student jobs—whether they want to be the classroom DJ, tech helper, or plant waterer. As a class comes together to make rules and establish expectations, students will feel a greater sense of community.
In some situations and with some classes, it’s crucial to set clear, direct, teacher-led expectations for the sake of consistency. For instance, if students are struggling to focus, be productive, or adhere to a certain seating arrangement, a teacher may need to intervene with adjustments for the sake of an effective learning environment. Students can still have a role in creating the classroom standards and culture, but it is best done when the process is supported with structured guidance from the teacher.
The key here is letting students know that their voices matter. Their opinions, ideas, and questions are all important, whether big or small. For students who may be quieter or more shy, integrate opportunities for them to share their opinions through small group discussions and exit slips.
Technology is one of the fastest-growing tools for education, and its capabilities are widely underutilized. Digital tools in the classroom support autonomy, creativity, and accountability. By learning to be responsible digital citizens, students are solidifying these key skills that will only become more valuable. Digital tools also create space for students to lead their own learning by exploring topics of their choice at their own pace.
There are numerous helpful digital platforms that are great for the classroom—read about 8 of our favorites here. These tools don’t just automate the learning process, they enhance it. Digital platforms help students learn how to organize and manage projects, collaborate, and lead their learning. Plus, many websites have tools for students to express creativity without the hassle of paper scraps, lost glue caps, and Sharpie marks on the desks. A win-win situation!
Student-led learning shouldn’t be a 0-to-100 change. If it’s new for a teacher and new for the students, there will be trial and error. But hey—those errors are some of the most valuable experiences of the learning process. Keep these tips in mind while introducing student-led learning:
Student-led learning is more than a student teaching the material or choosing a topic. Effective student-led learning also requires students to actively participate in the assessment process. This involves students in the evaluation process, allowing them to take ownership of their learning and set goals for themselves.
When students can effectively evaluate themselves and others, they learn to recognize individual differences in learners. Performance-based assessments help them recognize learning and growth. It’s not just about the perfect score on a test; rather, students should focus on the process of learning itself, from their growth to their mistakes. As students perform assessments along the way, they’ll provide one another with feedback that is valuable and timely to their learning journey. This approach helps students develop self-assessment skills, taking responsibility for their own learning and progress.
Letting students lead out their learning won’t always be perfect. Sometimes it will be messy or clunky or loud, but it will always be beneficial. Through student-led discussions, goals, projects, and peer teaching, students can become everyday learners. Trust the process. Embrace the noise, the mess, the awkward pauses, and the areas for improvement, and your students will too.
Student-led learning empowers students to take charge of their own learning and succeed beyond the classroom. Young minds are capable of shaping their future, one decision, one goal, and one discovery at a time.