As people continue to question the ROI of higher ed, it’s critical to ensure learners are getting the best value. That means shifting models that will put learners at the center to meet their needs. In this interview, Tonya Perry discusses student-centricity in higher ed, the challenges this model presents and the impact it has on the community.
The EvoLLLution (Evo): What is student-centricity in the context of higher education, and how have you seen it evolve in recent years?
Tonya Perry (TP): Student-centricity has evolved significantly over the years. Historically, education relied heavily on lectures and structured, teacher-centered instruction. While lectures are important, we’ve learned the value of incorporating more student-centered lessons. Andragogy, the method and practice of teaching adult learners, is an interesting concept that focuses on the adult students’ needs.
At Miles College, we value what students bring to the classroom, and being student-centered means understanding their needs. This approach requires a different perspective than simply assuming traditional methods will always be effective. We need hands-on and experiential learning. Another key element is understanding students’ goals and helping them achieve them. We must integrate these components into our curriculum.
Evo: Why is it important for higher education to prioritize a more student-centric approach?
TP: Learners today want to know how to apply what they learn to their lives immediately. Education must be practical, not something they use only four years later. Providing small, relevant experiences along the way and showing how to apply them is a much more student-centered approach.
You need to take what people know—their implicit understanding—and transform it into academic knowledge. Then, take it a step further and turn it into something that impacts their lives and the lives of others—transformative learning.
Evo: What are some challenges to delivering a student-centric model?
TP: A good curriculum takes the implicit understanding of learners from academic to transformative. However, there are challenges. Time is always a challenge. Sometimes a lecture can be easier and faster than incorporating additional questions, discussions and applications. How can you add important experiences that help learners within the class timeframe?
Another barrier is professional development. How do you transition a professor from a lecture style to a more open-ended, experiential, transformative model? Professional development can facilitate this transition, but it must be consistent and ongoing. It can’t be a one-time event. We also know that it takes at least 48 active and intense professional development hours to incorporate a new skill into classroom practice. So, that’s a barrier, along with issues like funding and human resources for coaching.
Evo: What are some characteristics of a strong student-centric model, and how can higher education leaders start to shift toward this type of model?
TP: One of the best models is a backward-design experiential, transformative model. It involves thinking about coursework in reverse. By the time a student completes your class, what do you want them to be able to do, and what does that look like? That’s a key question to ask yourself to build a curriculum that truly meets the needs of 21st-century adult learners.
For example, an English student typically writes an essay. In a transformative model, we might incorporate the skills involved in writing an essay into a project such as creating a community newspaper online. This approach allows students to develop their skill set further. It’s about taking the content knowledge we’ve provided in academics and making it more actionable, while increasing their skills and relatability.
Evo: What impact does student-centricity have, not only on the institution but also on its learners?
TP: I see great benefits for both parties. Imagine going to school and, by the time you finish, knowing how to use the knowledge you’ve gained. We shouldn’t wait until an internship or apprenticeship program. What if every other class included a project or interactive experiential model that allowed students to use knowledge from that class and build on it throughout their program?
Education has traditionally been designed for the traditional learner, the book learner, but many individuals need a more hands-on approach. The more we can broaden the student-centric approach to include more students, the more successful we’ll be. Employers will also see the benefits.
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