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Is learner-centred education appropriate for all societies and classrooms? Learner-centred education (LCE) is a travelling policy, widely promoted by international agencies and national governments. Arguments in favour of this pedagogical tradition refer to theories and evidence from cognitive psychology, claiming that all learners can benefit equally from its judicious use. Beyond the benefits to the individual however, lie a set of assumptions about learner-centred education as a foundation for the building of democratic citizens and societies, suitable for economies of the future. These promises have been questioned by critics who doubt that it is appropriate in all cultural and resource contexts, and there is considerable evidence in the global South of perennial problems of implementation. In the light of these debates, is LCE still a good development 'bet'? This book provides an authoritative and balanced investigation of these issues, exploring the contextual factors from global movements to local resourcing realities which have fuelled it as a discourse and affected its practice. In the light of the theoretical underpinnings and research evidence, the book addresses pressing questions: to what extent is learner-centred education a sound choice for policy and practice in developing countries? And if it is a sound choice, under which conditions is it a viable one? The book is divided into three key parts: Learner-centred Education as a Global Phenomenon Learner-centred Education in Lower and Middle-income Countries Lessons and Resolutions This book provides a much-needed fresh analysis of the concept and practice of LCE. It will be valuable reading for academics and post-graduates with a focus on comparative and international education, along with policy-makers in developing countries and development agencies.

The social and financial leadership training program started to be implemented in Turkey in 2015 with the training of trainers, and a wide-ranging application covering the whole of Turkey was carried out in the 2020–2021 academic year. The project is aimed to provide students with knowledge and attitudes within the scope of social and financial leadership, and teachers with the ability to apply student-centered teaching methods as well as knowledge and attitude in the subject area within the scope of professional development. For the project, an open announcement is made for all teachers in Turkey working in the 3rd and 4th grades of the primary school and the 6th and 7th grades of the secondary school. 320 teachers and 3786 students from 81 provinces who applied for the announcement were included in the project. In the project, teacher training is carried out through active learning methods and in line with professional development principles, in 12 sessions of 2 h, in groups of 30, by 21 mentors. On the other hand, student training, lasted for five months, with a theme each month, between November and March by teachers under the guidance of mentors. All stages of the project were carried out through online training. Pre-test and post-test data were collected through knowledge, attitude, and skill scales developed for teachers and students within the scope of the research. The findings obtained in the research reveal that the social and financial leadership training program is effective in gaining knowledge and attitudes in the subject area in students and teachers.

In recent years, the government of Kenya has implemented programs with the hope of moving the country to middle-income status. The government has implemented the Digital Literacy Programme, distributing tablets to schools across the country, and also a new curriculum, promoting innovative teaching that includes digital literacy, learner-centered teaching, and relevance to students’ lives. Our purpose in this research was to explore culturally sustaining teaching methods in line with the Kenyan government’s push for innovative teaching and digital literacy attainment for all students. We used case study methods to describe Kenyan teachers’ perceptions of innovative teaching and digital literacy while participating in the Inquiry Initiative, a three-day professional development series. Participants included preschool, primary, and secondary teachers from Trans Nzoia County. Data sources were pre-and post-surveys, participant-generated artifacts, and interviews. Our participants perceived the following needs: new literacies for learners, creativity for learners, collaboration and group work, and creativity to overcome technological challenges. Overall, participants embraced learner-centered teaching theoretically but found that the lack of technological resources created barriers to teaching digital literacy in a learner-centered fashion. We found that teachers reported mostly using technology for teaching preparation and record keeping rather than engaging students in digital literacy practices. To solve technological challenges, teachers described having students work in groups and using smartphones. Future research could share more creative solutions to technical challenges in low-income countries.

Purpose: This paper aims to supplement existing research on a joint approach to integrate sustainability into higher planning education (HPE) by facilitating an international transformative learning process. It looks at three different urban master's programs in Serbia (Belgrade) and Germany (Berlin and Stuttgart). Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, students' assessments of the pedagogical model, individual learning outcomes and the long-term value of the pedagogical model in respect of key competences for sustainability are presented and discussed. Basic assumptions of the study include that assessment from the students' perspective can provide feedback on the transformational learning experience with the aim of improving the experience and thus learning outcomes; help identify limitations and target specific areas for improvement in the pedagogical model; and improve the evaluation of effectiveness in developing knowledge and skills for sustainability in HPE. Findings: The paper provides evidence that a learner-centered and action-oriented approach, as well as a global dialogue among peers from different backgrounds and nationalities, is an effective way to educate future generations of urban planners to become \"change agents\" for societal transformation toward a more sustainable future within their respective contexts. Originality/value: The paper is a supplement to the existing research on educational initiatives that attempts to integrate sustainability into the curricula, especially of urban-related programs; showcases outcomes of the pedagogical model(s) for sustainable development applied, especially when addressing the competences of students working in developing, transitional and developed countries or different geographic contexts; and shows long-term learning outcomes after the students move into work practice.

The school strikes for climate action that began with Greta Thunberg in 2018 and spread worldwide in 2019, left many young people to ponder ‘what is the point of education if we have no future?’ In this investigation of a student-centred project on sustainability conducted with Year 4 students in Brisbane, the point of education was framed by Biesta’s three domains of purpose; Qualification, Socialisation and Subjectification. Sustainability education requires attention to each domain, that is, increasing children’s knowledge of sustainability (Qualification), facilitating their critical awareness of social practices related to sustainability (Socialisation), and expanding their capacity to act in response to the challenges of living sustainably (Subjectification). The project was designed using an action research model where children co-created the topic (reducing plastic usage) and then decided on how it would be investigated and reported. Interviews during and after the project, and episodes recorded in a research journal revealed changes in each of the three domains, with changes in the Subjectification domain being the focus of this study. The overall positive and multifaceted learning outcomes that occurred highlight what is possible when addressing issues of sustainability and the point of education in ways that matter to children.

Problem based learning (PBL) supports the development of transversal skills and could underpin the training of a workforce competent to withstand the constant generation of new information. However, the application of PBL is still facing challenges, as educators are usually unsure how to structure student-centred courses, how to monitor students’ progress and when to provide guidance. Recently, the analysis of educational data, namely learning analytics (LA), has brought forth new perspectives towards informative course monitoring and design. However, existing research shows that limited studies have combined PBL with LA to explore their potential in offering data-driven, student-centred courses. This paper presents a framework, termed PBL_LA, that aims to address this gap by combining PBL with LA. The framework is populated from the literature and discussions with PBL and LA experts. The paper also presents results from redesigning, delivering and assessing ten courses in different disciplines and countries using the proposed framework. Results showed positive feedback on all different testing settings, exhibiting reliability of the framework and potential across countries, disciplines and sectors.

What this research was about and why it is important Integrating content and language (ICL) has been a widely applied methodology of language learning and teaching in the last 20 years. However, ICL studies for first-year undergraduate students of science and engineering are scarce. This study examined perceptions of incoming students and professors who participated in ICL classes at a Korean science and engineering school. Most of the participants found the ICL classes helpful for students to develop a better understanding of content lectures and what to expect in regular content lectures. Also, many students found student-centered activities, consisting of group work, particularly motivating and effective. The study recommends a formula of ICL instruction for students entering a university with an EMI policy and concludes with suggestions for the successful implementation of ICL classes for content lectures in the areas of science and engineering. What the researchers did • This study investigated introductory ICL classes for incoming students at a science and engineering school in Korea. • Five introductory ICL classes in the areas of biology, physics, chemistry, programming and mathematics were implemented as part of a three-week intensive English camp for 121 incoming students. • Each ICL class consisted of pre-activities and post-activities in relation to a content lecture. • A 12-question survey was administered at the end of the post-activities for each respective subject in order to investigate students’ perceptions of the ICL classes. • Follow-up email interviews were conducted with students, professors, and teaching assistants. What the researchers found • The pre-activities involved tasks to activate students’prior knowledge on the respective content lecture subjects, vocabulary previews, and the teaching of note-taking strategies. • The purpose of the post-activities was to reinforce students’ learning and understanding of the knowledge they acquired from the pre-activities and the content lectures. • Students found vocabulary the most difficult part in understanding English lectures, although they were aware of the importance of vocabulary to their studies. • Most students preferred the more integrated aspect of ICL classes than they did language-focused classes. • Mostly easier content materials should be dealt with in class with some advanced materials mixed in to boost students’ participation. • Providing a scaffolded language environment during ICL pre-activities has the potential to elevate students’content knowledge and encourage them to improve language ability. Things to consider • There is a need for continued research and development of effective ICL methods for science and engineering students and particularly for those entering EMI-implementing tertiary schools. This study investigated the case of a Korean science and engineering university; thus, its implications may be limited to other similar settings. • In their first year, L2 students need most help in adjusting to college life set in an EMI environment. It is our hope that this study will stimulate interest in many language educators and serve as a start for further research and development of similar programs in the future.

The challenges faced by learner-centred education (LCE) reforms in developing countries may be partly explained by their failure to engage with the culturally shaped beliefs in which teachers’ practice is rooted. Drawing from a mixed methods study of 60 government primary teachers in India, this research points to cultural tensions faced by LCE reforms in India. Although India’s own Constitutional values and pedagogical reform movements support LCE’s ideals, many teachers’ beliefs are shaped by dominant ideologies that contradict LCE’s assumptions. Imposing a predetermined, ‘Western’model of LCE practice will inevitably face challenges if not supported by teachers’ underlying beliefs – and in fact contradicts LCE’s own ideals of empowering teacher agency. Instead, the paper argues for pedagogical reforms to focus less on a predesigned model of learner-centred practice and more on its underlying beliefs: by seeking to instil culturally relevant learning-centred beliefs, and involving teachers themselves in determining what learning-centred practice might look like within their context.

Background Community-based education (CBE) is strategically important to provide contextual learning for medical students. CBE is a priority for countries striving for better primary health care. However, the CBE literature provides little curriculum guidance to enhance undergraduate medical education with the primary health care context. We aim to develop a CBE framework for undergraduate medical education (from macro, meso, and micro curriculum levels) to engage students and teachers with better, more meaningful learning, within primary health care settings. Methods We used a grounded theory methodology by interviewing eight medical educationalists and ten CBE teachers, followed with the coding process by sensitizing the concepts of ‘medical education’ and ‘primary care’, to explore any new concepts. The primary data originated from a developing country where the paradigm of high-quality primary health care is mostly unfamiliar. Three senior researchers from international associations of general practices from different countries provided validation to the results. Results We identified a new framework for a community-based educational program. The micro-curriculum should offer opportunities for small group activities, ranging from simple to complex learning, emphasizing clinical skills, leadership, and teamwork to improve self-directed and collaborative practice. Sufficient role models and constructive feedback within primary care contexts are robust facilitators. For the meso-curriculum, comprehensive coordination on teacher-training and CBE program is needed. To ensure the sustainability of the program, faculty leaders and managers should include the macro-curriculum with a national postgraduate general practice curriculum and provide strong commitment. Conclusions We designed a ‘CBE-tree’ model for the undergraduate medical curriculum. By using the CBE framework developed in this study, students and teachers may better comprehend the essential of primary health care.

Teacher education in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) has been criticized for the lack of attention to learning to teach in real classrooms, which limits the opportunity for pre-service teachers to successfully introduce learner-centered pedagogy in African primary school classrooms. To address this problem, Ghana has implemented a teacher education reform since 2004 to incorporate practicum. However, the critical role of teacher educators has been overlooked by policymakers, and few studies have qualitatively investigated their practice and vision. The study draws on qualitative data from the Ghana component of the Teacher Preparation in Africa (TPA) research project to explore eight teacher educators' practice and vision of good teaching of primary mathematics. The study found that teacher educators' practice and vision of good teaching consist of the use of teaching and learning materials (TLMs) and small group activities following specific steps without understanding the principles of learner-centered pedagogy that could be applied in a variety of classroom contexts and mathematics topics. The study also identified the hierarchical relationship between teacher educators and school teachers as a major challenge for effective practicum, limiting the opportunity to transform teacher educators' vision and practice of primary mathematics teaching. Recommendations for enhancing professional learning opportunities for teacher educators are offered.