What’s the Difference? A Comparison of Student-Centered Teaching Methods

Abstract

Many approaches to teaching and learning are classified as student-centered. The current literature evaluates these methods in-depth either individually or by comparing two or three at a time. This article provides a comparison of multiple student-centered teaching methods, with examples, employed in contemporary education. The aim is to assess the key characteristics associated with different approaches by investigating five popular student-centered teaching methodologies: activity-based learning, inquiry-based learning, cooperative learning, problem-based learning, and project-based learning. The results enable educators to make informed decisions about instructional strategies and provide a stepping stone for further research.

Keywords

• student-centered teaching
• pedagogy
• problem-based learning
• project-based learning
• cooperative learning
• situated learning