Learner-Centered Teaching: Putting the Research on Learning into Practice

"This book is essential reading for everyone in higher education. Doyle has marshaled the evidence that proves the effectiveness of learner-centered pedagogy, and he has presented that research in a very accessible and engaging style."―Michael Harris, Chancellor and Professor of Public and Environmental Affairs, Education and Business, Indiana University

This book presents the research-based case that Learner Centered Teaching (LCT) offers the best means to optimize student learning in college, and offers examples and ideas for putting it into practice, as well the underlying rationale. It starts from the premise that many faculty are much closer to being learner centered teachers than they think, but don’t have the full conceptual understanding of the process to achieve its full impact. There is sometimes a gap between what they would like to achieve in their teaching and the knowledge and strategies needed to make it happen.

To enable faculty to navigate this shift, Terry Doyle presents an LCT-based approach to course design that draws on current brain research on cognition and learning; addresses the affective concerns of students; uses proven approaches to improve student’s comprehension and recall; and that calls for the design of authentic assessment strategies – such as engaging students in learning experiences that model the real world work they will be asked to do when they graduate.

The presentation is informed by the questions and concerns raised by faculty from over sixty colleges with whom Terry Doyle has worked.

Terry Doyle is an author, nationally recognized educational consultant and Professor Emeritus of Ferris State University where he taught for 38 years. From 1998 to 2009 he served as the Senior Instructor for Faculty Development.

Terry has shared his work on ways to use neuroscience, biology, and cognitive science research to develop a learner centered approach to teaching and training with the U.S. military, police agencies, medical and veterinary colleges and some 400 universities and colleges around the world for the past 25 years. He also has given hundreds of keynote addresses at regional, national and international conferences around the world.

He is the author or co-author of seven books dealing with the application of neuroscience findings about how the brain learns and how to teach and train in harmony with the brain.

Terry is the CEO of Learner Centered Teaching Consultants and D&M Consultants―The New Science of Business.

Todd D. Zakrajsek, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at UNC - Chapel Hill and President of the International Teaching Learning Cooperative (ITLC).

Todd was a tenured associate professor of psychology and built faculty development efforts at three universities before joining UNC. At UNC he is an Associate Director of the Faculty Development Fellowship within the School of Medicine. Through his work with the ITLC, Todd directs five Lilly Conferences on Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning and also consults with a wide variety of campuses on topics related to teaching/learning, leadership, and scholarly activity.

Todd has served on many educationally related boards and work groups, including The Journal of Excellence in College Teaching, International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, College Teaching, and Education in the Health Professions.

He has consulted with organizations such as The American Council on Education (ACE), Lenovo Computer, Microsoft, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; and delivered keynote addresses and campus workshops at over 300 conferences and university campuses in 49 states and 12 countries.

Todd publishes on topics pertaining to student learning, effective teaching, leadership, scholarly activity, and assessment. Todd’s recently co-authored books include Teaching for Learning (2nd Ed)(2021); Advancing Online Teaching (2021); The New Science of Learning (2nd Ed) (2019); and Dynamic Lecturing (2017). Check out Todd’s two TEDx talks here. You can follow and connect with him on Twitter @toddzakrajsek and LinkedIn.