The Blueprint for Student-Centered Learning Transforms Education

While most teachers believe they already implement student-centered practices, Eric Lech and Tracy Rains reveal that genuine student-centered learning requires a deeper philosophical shift beyond simple differentiation. This transformation creates systems where students set meaningful goals, monitor their progress, and develop lifelong learning skills—a crucial change given that Pennsylvania PACE data shows only 30% of students feel engaged or see relevance in their education. The Blueprint breaks down this approach into five essential components with continuums of practice, allowing educators to identify their current position and chart a path forward regardless of their school's size or context.

Most importantly, this approach acknowledges the reality of educational change by encouraging educators to start small, be vulnerable, and model the learning process themselves. Rather than pursuing wholesale transformation overnight, the Blueprint focuses on sustainable change that builds student agency over time. Through success stories, site visits, and community sharing, educators across Pennsylvania are demonstrating that student-centered learning thrives in diverse contexts, moving beyond settling for sparks to truly ignite student engagement and prepare learners for lifelong success.

Want to learn more about ChangED? Check out our website at: learn.mciu.org/changed

Chapters

• 0:00 Podcast Introduction
• 2:30 Defining Student-Centered Learning
• 5:10 The Blueprint for Student-Centered Learning
• 9:10 Differentiation vs. Student-Centered Learning
• 14:30 Success Stories and Site Visits
• 18:45 Starting Small and Setting Goals
• 22:05 Risk, Vulnerability and Final Thoughts