Use of Learner-Centered Instructional Strategies in Higher Education: Doctoral Student Assessments

Abstract

Based on multiple sources, this article concludes that, when learner-centered instructional strategies are used with doctoral students, these adult learners take charge of their individual and collective learning, become accountable for both, and enhance their ability to transfer learning to practice. The students studied skills of developed teams in advance of their group-conducted dissertation research first by engaging in team-development activities, then by conducting group-constructed pilot studies, and finally by collaboratively authoring related conference papers. These student-centered activities sought to ensure that the doctoral students could work together to conduct and complete their degree ending, team-conducted dissertation research.

Keywords

• Doctoral education
• Learner-centered instructional strategies
• Adult learners
• Cohorts
• Doctoral dissertation
• Companion dissertation
• Collaborative research