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LEARNING CENTERS.
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Use in elementary classrooms; types of centers; elements; management. Teacher's instructional style.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Use in elementary classrooms; types of centers; elements; management. Teacher's instructional style.
Paper Introduction:
USING LEARNING CENTERS IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM
The purpose of this paper is to examine research on creating and managing learning centers in primary school classrooms. In general, the learning center can be defined as an area in a classroom, such as a corner in the room, that defines a specific focus or affords a unique learning opportunity (Pattillo & Vaughan, 1992). In her discussion of learning centers for the primary grades, Cosgrove (1992) states that learning centers are places for students to develop and improve upon skills in social contexts, giving students opportunities to participate in thought-provoking activities by stimulating curiosity within a cooperative setting. It is noted that a good deal of learning in primary grade learning centers utilizes a hands-on approach in which children get to touch and manipulate various learning
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Fox (199 ) classifies primary grade learning centers somewhatdifferently than Cosgrove (1992). Accordingto Cosgrove (1992), the first step is to decide on the nature of thelearning center. (ERIC DocumentReproduction Service No. Ed 249 188). Creating and managing learning centers: Athematic approach. Theimportance of the latter assessment is that it allows teachers to tailortheir instructional activities to the individual needs of learners. However,she notes that regardless of the nature of the center, its organizationmust be based on the development of a center that is most appropriate forthe learning styles and needs of the students; thus, one of the importantorganizational steps should be to in some way assess students' learningstyles and needs. ED 12 128). In terms ofplanning, Isbell encourages teachers to develop detailed plans for centers,including plans for: (1) learning objectives; (2) time frame; (3) lettersto parents; (4) illustrated layout; (5) vocabulary enrichment; (6)teacher-collected and child-created props; (7) literacy connections; (8)center activities; and (9) evaluation of the center. Fox, C. In other words, the cultural and ethnicmores of the group must be taken into account in both the development andmanagement of the center. These are: (1) the development of specific objectives forthe center; (2) thoroughly delineated, step-by-step directions for centeractivities; (3) the use of a pre-test to determine the learner's generallevel of knowledge prior to entry into the learning center; (4) theactivity or presentation of materials; and (5) a post-test used todetermine the degree of learning following exposure to the learning center. She recommends that the teachershould begin use of the learning center slowly, making it highly flexibleso as to incorporate new resources and methods as dictated by observationof its development and progress. Peterborough, NH: Cystal Springs Books. A second type of learning center is game-like in nature and focuses on luck rather than ability; in other words, inthese centers students learn by playing games that are designed to developand build the skills being taught. Ingraham, P.B. She also providessome ideas for learning center activities such as housekeeping, art, sandand water, library, music and sound, writing, science and nature, grocerystore, doctor's office, farm, beach, space, environmental awareness,fitness, nighttime, and long ago. (1992). Managementconcerns are said to be: arranging the room, scheduling the day, previewingand reviewing activities, limiting the number of children working in thecenters, and monitoring their choices. The complete learning center book: An illustratedguide for 32 different early childhood learning centers. The first and most popular is said to be the "thematic learningcenter" in which learning activities are organized by skills, novelinterests, or integrated themes. Similarly, if a center decides to utilizecomputer technology, part of organizing and managing the center requiresthe teacher to make sure that the hardware and software selected aredevelopmentally appropriate and tailored to students' learning styles,needs, and interests (Isbell, 1995). Fox (199 ) also recommends an evaluation and consideration of theteacher's own style of the instruction. In terms of organizing the center, Cosgrove (1992) points out thatteachers should develop center objectives followed by a set of directionsfor managing the center and a means of evaluating both student performancein the center and the general effectiveness of the center itself. Ingraham (1997) reports that one of the biggest managerial concernsshould be to implement strategies that teach students to work in learningcenters in an active yet productive way. & Vaughan, E. (1997). In her discussion of learningcenters for the primary grades, Cosgrove (1992) states that learningcenters are places for students to develop and improve upon skills insocial contexts, giving students opportunities to participate in thought-provoking activities by stimulating curiosity within a cooperative setting.It is noted that a good deal of learning in primary grade learning centersutilizes a hands-on approach in which children get to touch and manipulatevarious learning resources. (199 ). Beltsville, MD:Gryphon House. (ERIC DocumentReproduction Service No. Ed 356 875). Thus, the centermust provide ample opportunities for hands-on learning. Inside learning centers. She also notes that teachersmust take special efforts to make sure that literacy is an ongoing elementof any learning center. Ed 4 99). Pattillo, J. Kasambira, K.P. (1995). (ERIC DocumentReproduction Service No. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. Ways and means to learning centers. For example, Isbell (1995) reports that the nature of theselected type of learning center can differ depending upon the studentgroup's culture and ethnicity. ED 4 4 24). Isbell (1995) reports that in both the organization and the operationof the learning center, teachers must realize that young children areactive learners who touch, feel, experiment, and create. Kasambira (1984) stresses the need for assessment of learning centersand notes that the pretest-posttest design allows not only for a generalassessment of the center's effects on classroom learning but also allowsfor an assessment of each individual's students' learning progress. (1984). References Cosgrove, M.S. (1992). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. The general literature on organizing and managing the effectiveprimary classroom learning center offers several other suggestions for theorganization and management of learning centers. Isbell, R. In general, thelearning center can be defined as an area in a classroom, such as a cornerin the room, that defines a specific focus or affords a unique learningopportunity (Pattillo & Vaughan, 1992). Washington, D.C.: NationalEducation Association. She also states that teachersmust, daily, take student interests into consideration and integrate thecurriculum to ensure meaningful connections. Learning centers for child-centered classrooms: NEA early education series. ED 344 675).----------------------- 6 Specifically, Fox reports that learningcenters can be used to either enrich, reinforce, or teach skills and/orconcepts (a skill-based learning center) or they can be used to providestudents with information (an information-based learning center). How does a teacher create and manage the learning center? She states that there are essentially two types ofcenters. It isfurther noted that teachers must consider the various ways in which spaceavailability, time constraints and student movement will affect centeractivities and organize appropriately. Individualized instruction through learningcenters. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. Two additional considerations in the development of learning centersare said to be the nature of the student group and the selection of anyhardware and/or software if the center is going to be using computertechnology. USING LEARNING CENTERS IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM The purpose of this paper is to examine research on creating andmanaging learning centers in primary school classrooms. Kasambira (1984) provides a step-by-step plan for the organizationand management of a learning center. For example, Pattillo andVaughan (1992) report that a center must be managed in such a way thatchildren learn without the teacher's constant direction. He notes that there are five majoringredients required for the development and management of an effectivelearning center.
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