Learner-Centered? It's Just a Click Away…

Abstract

There are two revolutions sweeping through higher education today: the first one is the move from teacher- to learner-centered education. The second one is the move from the traditional to the virtual classroom. This article examines the most recent literature on Web-based instruction by looking at authors who, based on their own personal experiences, take a positive approach to Web-based education, and who feel that Web-based instruction is learner-centered. Characteristics of learner-centeredness as related to Web-based education are: access anywhere and any time, and student engagement. Student engagement is accomplished through the creation of active learning modules, collaboration among students, and close teacher-student interaction. Virtual classes are effective since they address different learning styles. The article concludes that assessment of learning outcomes is a topic that needs to be addressed in future research.