WHAT IS A LEARNING CENTER?

LEARNING CENTERS, ALSO CALLED "LEARNING STATIONS", ARE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE

LEARNING ACTIVITIES SET UP AROUND THE CLASSROOM THAT CAN BE UPDATED AS NEEDED TO
MATCH CURRENT OBJECTIVES. STUDENTS WORK IN EITHER GROUPS OF TWO TO THREE
STUDENTS OR INDIVIDUALLY. EACH OF THESE CENTERS HAS MATERIALS NEEDED TO COMPLETE
THE ACTIVITY OR MINI PROJECT. USING THE LEARNING CENTER METHOD, THE TEACHER ACTS AS A
FACILITATOR THAT PROVIDES DIFFERENTIATED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS ASSIST
STUDENTS WITH MONITORING THEIR PROGRESS (HODGES & MCTIGUE, 2014, P. 155).

-Tiesha Lamb
HOW ARE LEARNING CENTERS USED?
• GROUPING STUDENTS: STUDENTS CAN BE PLACED INTO GROUPS WITHIN 3-4 MEMBERS. EACH GROUP
CAN BE GIVEN A NAME AND COLOR AS IT ALLOWS FOR EASY PLANNING AND MONITORING.

• DIRECTIONS: EACH CENTER MUST HAVE CLEAR DIRECTIONS TO BE FOLLOWED. THESE INSTRUCTIONS
CAN BE SHOWN FOR STUDENTS CAN EASILY VIEW.

• SCHEDULING : EACH CENTER HAS TO HAVE SPECIFIC TIME LIMITS.

• DURATION: IT SHOULD BE CERTAIN THAT HOW LONG EACH CENTER WILL BE FUNCTIONAL.
• ROTATE: FOR SPECIFIC GROUP CENTER TIMES CREATE A ROTATING SCHEDULE, A ROAD MAP OR A GRAPHIC
ORGANIZER THAT GIVES AN ORDER TO THE STUDENT GROUPS AND THEIR USE OF THE CENTERS. EACH
CENTER CAN HAVE TIMER OR BUZZER TO SIGNAL TO STUDENTS TO MOVE TO THE NEXT CENTER. STUDENTS
CAN ALSO BE GIVEN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP CHECK-SHEETS THAT LET THEM KNOW WHICH CENTER TO
PRECEDE TO NEXT AND WHAT ALL ACTIVITIES NEED TO BE COMPLETED.

• ACTIVITIES: EACH CENTER CAN HAVE A SEVERAL ALTERNATE LEARNING ACTIVITY RESOURCES TO
SUPPLYING WITH EVERY LEARNING STYLE AND NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS.

• RESPONSIBILITY: STUDENTS MUST BE GIVEN SOME RESPONSIBILITIES SUCH AS CLEANING UP AND

STORING EQUIPMENT AFTER USE TO INCREASE TIDINESS AND STUDENT OWNERSHIP OF THE CENTERS.

MERVE SEVER
 LEARNING CENTER ADVANTAGES...
1 2 3 4 5 6

"AS INDUSTRY MOVES Learning Stations provide Learning Stations help The verbal interaction They allow children the Tomlinson (1999) has
TOWARD GLOBALIZATION, children the opportunity children develop that takes place within opportunity to take the suggested that learning
STUDENT COLLABORATION for success, thus helping problem-solving skills. the small group initiative to complete centers are ideal to focus
IS BECOMING children gain confidence environment can serve to tasks and help children in on important learning
INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT. and build self-esteem. help the teacher better develop time goals that may not be
LITERACY CENTERS OFFER A assess vocabulary skills. management skills. possible when teaching
VEHICLE FOR INTEGRATING using whole group
COLLABORATION SKILLS approaches.
WITH ANALYTIC- AND
CRITICAL-THINKING
SKILLS"(HODGES
& MCTIGUE, 2014, p. 155).

• ELIF OZTURK
 LEARNING CENTER DISADVANTAGES...
•LEARNING CENTERS ARE TIME-CONSUMING
•LEARNING CENTERS ARE COSTLY
•LEARNING CENTERS REQUIRE SPACE
•LEARNING CENTERS ARE NOISY
•LEARNING CENTERS REQUIRE SPECIAL TRAINING

• ELIF OZTURK
 LEARNING CENTER DISADVANTAGES...
• WHILE LEARNING CENTERS APPEAR TO WORK WELL WITH SMALL CLASSES, THEY ARE A NIGHTMARE
FOR TEACHERS WITH LARGER CLASSES. LEARNING CENTER GUIDELINES SUGGEST THAT NO MORE
THAN FIVE STUDENTS WORK AT ANY ONE STATION DURING A GIVEN PERIOD. THAT BEING THE CASE,
LARGE CLASSES REQUIRE SEVEN OR MORE CENTERS, WHICH WILL LIKELY ENCOMPASS MUCH OF THE
CLASSROOM AND LEAVE LITTLE ROOM FOR DESKS OR TABLES.
• THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP VARIOUS LEARNING CENTERS WITHIN A CLASSROOM TAKES TIME. NOT
ONLY DOES IT CONSUME THE TEACHER'S TIME TO SET UP THE INITIAL CENTERS, BUT THE VERY
NATURE OF LEARNING CENTERS REQUIRES THAT THEY BE CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR.
• WITH MANY SCHOOLS FACING YEARLY BUDGET CUTS, SETTING UP LEARNING CENTERS HAS BECOME
MORE DIFFICULT, OFTEN RESULTING IN THE TEACHER SPENDING HER OWN MONEY TO CREATE
QUALITY CENTERS FOR THE CLASSROOM.

Gulnaz Aslanova
 OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIFFERENTIATION
• PROVIDING CHOICE-
• OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIFFERENTIATION WITHIN EACH LEARNING CENTER
• STUDENT WILL BE GIVEN A CHOICE OF A TASK WITHIN EACH CENTER. (FOR EXAMPLE, TASK LEVEL MAY BE VARIED AND
STUDENTS CHOOSE WHICH “LEVEL” THEY WANT TO COMPLETE.)

• IMPLEMENTING A FULL SPECTRUM OF CHALLENGING MATERIAL-

• THE CHALLENGE RANGE WILL DIFFER DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF READINESS IN THE STUDENT
• EXAMPLES INCLUDE: PARTIALLY COMPLETED CROSSWORD PUZZLES, STUDENT CREATES QUIZ OVER TOPIC UTILIZING
BLOOM’S TAXONOMY VOCABULARY, CREATING A SLOGAN/BROCHURE FOR TOPIC, DEFINING VOCABULARY WORDS, ETC.

KRISTY CHAPUSEAUX
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
IMPLEMENTATION
• TEACHER SHOULD TEACH EXPECTED STUDENT BEHAVIOR AT THE CENTERS, AND DEMONSTRATES TO STUDENTS
HOW TO CLEAN UP THE CENTER AFTERWARDS.
• HAVING CENTER DIRECTION CHARTS THAT STUDENTS CAN FIND THEIR WAY WITHOUT HELP.
• INCLUDE A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES TO ENGAGE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEARNERS AND TASKS IN DIFFERENT LEVEL.
• CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF SECOND-LANGUAGE LEARNERS, STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY.

• THROUGH FINDINGS OF THE CHAOS IN THE CLASSROOM: CENTER LEARNING IN A 1ST GRADE SETTING
STUDY SUCCESS IN CENTER LEARNING CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO TEACHER’S ORGANIZATION, PROACTIVE PLANNING,
AND HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS AT CENTERS, WHICH ARE ESTABLISHED AND MANDATED FROM THE START
OF THE YEAR WITH EACH CLASS (LANAUX C.F., 2014, P.2).

ESRA IBIN
 ARE THE LEARNING CENTERS USEFUL?
• THE LEARNING CENTERS NOT ONLY HELP STUDENTS WITH THEIR LECTURES, BUT THEY ALSO TEACH
COURSE TECHNIQUES AND QUESTION TECHNIQUES TO TAKE IN EXAMS.
• LEARNING CENTERS ARE NOT SUITABLE PLACES FOR EACH TYPE OF STUDENT. SOME STUDENTS USE THE
LEARNING CENTERS.THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS TOO WHO NEED SPECIAL TRAINING IN
• IF A STUDENT IS NOT SCHOOL-BASED, HE OR SHE WILL NEED SPECIAL TEACHING IF THE TEACHER HAS
CHANGED MANY TIMES IN HIS / HER SCHOOL.THE LEARNING CENTER IS THE INSTITUTION THAT SHOULD BE
PREFERRED IN THIS CASE.
• THE LEARNING CENTER MAKES THE STUDENT'S TEST-SOLVING SKILLS A HABIT.
• STUDENTS GAIN COMPETITIVE FEELING.
• GIVES INFORMATION ABOUT THE STUDENT EXAMINATION SYSTEM.
• ADDS INNOVATIONS TO THE EXISTING KNOWLEDGE OF THE LEARNERS.
• STUDENT MOTIVATES IN POSITIVE DIRECTION

CEMIL DUMAN
 HOW TO USE A LEARNING CENTER?
• Problems of student shifting to extracurricular areas are reduced because
groups are limited to a number that functions reasonably in each area.
• Classroom management and lesson work are easier, children are happier and
more open to learning because they prefer and enter their interests.
• Children are involved in experimental and applied activities in technology
centers and areas established in centers.
• teachers and parents can support the children by supplying materials for the
students to do something on their own.
• Teachers can determine the progress of children by observing.students will
understand class rules more easily when they are applied to specific areas in
learning centers.
• Each area only allows children to control and create.
• This can be used to improve the weak points of children.
CEMIL DUMAN
 LEARNING CENTER IDEAS
MATH READING

5th Grade
7th Grade
6th Grade

Any Grade

8th Grade

8th Grade
KRISTY CHAPUSEAUX
 LEARNING CENTER IDEAS
WRITING SPELLING

ALL IDEAS SUITABLE FOR

GRADES 1-5

TIESHA LAMB
 REFERENCES
• HODGES, T. S., & MCTIGUE, E. M. (2014). RENOVATING LITERACY CENTERS FOR MIDDLE GRADES:
DIFFERENTIATING, RETEACHING, AND MOTIVATING. CLEARING HOUSE, 87(4), 155-160. DOI:10.1080/00098655.2014.886550

• LANAUX, COURTNEY F.; VICE, KRISTEN E.; FASCHING-VARNER, KENNETH J.. NETWORKS: AN ONLINE JOURNAL FOR TEACHER RESEARCH, SPRING2014, VOL. 16

ISSUE 1, P1-10,10P.

• PROFESIONAL LEARNING BOARD LLC (2018) HOW TO SET UP LEARNING CENTERS?, STRUCTURING THE LEARNING CENTER

RETRIEVED FROM HTTPS://K12TEACHERSTAFFDEVELOPMENT.COM/TLB/HOW-TO-SET-UP-LEARNING-CENTERS/

• SUMNER, CAROL (2012). DIFFERENTIATION BY TASK. TEACHING BUSINESS & ECONOMICS, 16(3), 5-6.

• RONALD V. MCGUCKIN AND ASSOCIATES 215-785-3400 215-785 WWW.CHILDPROVIDERLAW.COM/.../UPLOADS/2012/10/LEARNINGSTATIONS.PDF

• TOMLINSON, C.A. (1999). THE DIFFERENTIATED CLASSROOM: RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF ALL LEARNERS. ALEXANDRIA, VA: ASSOCIATION FOR

SUPERVISION AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT.