Learner-Centered Pedagogy in Practice: Insights From a Qualitative Study of Early Adopters

Authors

Keywords:

Instructional practice, active learning, learner-centered teaching, qualitative research

Abstract

A growing body of evidence supports active and learner-centered instructional practices. However, the specific practices of faculty and how those practices align with learner-centered teaching remain underexplored. This non-probabilistic study used semi-structured interviews to investigate the practices of six instructors known to adopt more alternative instructional practices. A theoretical framework, derived from established conceptions of active and learner-centered teaching, was applied to analyze the interview data deductively. Our findings revealed that participants’ practice was limited in scope. The gaps highlight opportunities for designing professional development initiatives to strengthen faculty engagement with learner-centered teaching principles.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

  • Aoife McCarthy, Munster Technological University

    Dr. Aoife McCarthy is a Senior Lecturer with the Dept. of Biological Sciences at Munster Technological University. At MTU she leads the NutRI Research Group and is Programme Director of BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Heath Science.  

  • Tom O'Mahony, Munster Technological University

    Tom O’Mahony B.Eng., M.Eng., PhD, is affiliated with the Teaching and Learning Unit (TLU) and the Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Munster Technological University. He is the Principal Investigator for the Teaching, Learning Assessment and Student Engagement (TLASE) Research Laboratory at MTU. His research interests include teaching, learning, assessment and feedback within higher education, active learning, especially flipped, project and problem-based learning and engineering education. Tom has over 50 peer-reviewed publications and peer-reviews for several educational research journals (E-mail: tom.omahony@mtu.ie; ORCID: https://orcid.org/
    0000-0002-0658-5797).

References

Ajjawi, R., Tai, J., Boud, D., & Jorre de St Jorre, T. (2022). Assessment for Inclusion in Higher Education: Promoting Equity and Social Justice in Assessment (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003293101

Blumberg, P. (2016). Assessing implementation of learner-centered teaching while providing faculty development. College Teaching, 64(4), 194–203. https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2016.1200528

Borda, E., Schumacher, E., Hanley, D., Geary, E., Warren, S., Ipsen, C., & Stredicke, L. (2020). Initial implementation of active learning strategies in large, lecture STEM courses: Lessons learned from a multi-institutional, interdisciplinary STEM faculty development program. International Journal of STEM Education, 7(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-020-0203-2

Boud, D., Ajjawi, R., Dawson, P., & Tai, J. (Eds.). (2018). Developing Evaluative Judgement in Higher Education: Assessment for Knowing and Producing Quality Work. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315109251

Bovill, C. (2020). Co-creation in learning and teaching: The case for a whole-class approach in higher education. Higher Education, 79(6), 1023–1037. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-019-00453-w

Carroll, L. J., Finelli, C. J., Prince, M. J., Graham, M. C., Husman, J., Andrews, M. E., & Borrego, M. (2022). An analysis of an instructional development workshop to promote the adoption of active learning in STEM: Potential implications for faculty developers. International Journal of Engineering Education, 38(4), 990–1009.

Chan, C. K. Y., & Chen, S. W. (2023). Student partnership in assessment in higher education: A systematic review. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 48(8), 1402–1414. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2023.2224948

Chen, J., Kolmos, A., & Du, X. (2021). Forms of implementation and challenges of PBL in engineering education: A review of literature. European Journal of Engineering Education, 46(1), 90–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2020.1718615

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2017). Research Methods in Education (8th ed.). Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Research-Methods-in-Education/Cohen-Manion-Morrison/p/book/9781138209886

Cousin, G. (2009). Researching Learning in Higher Education: An Introduction to Contemporary Methods and Approaches. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Researching-Learning-in-Higher-Education-An-Introduction-to-Contemporary-Methods-and-Approaches/Cousin/p/book/9780415991650

Creswell, J. (2020). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research, Global Edition (6th edition). Pearson.

Culver, C. (2023). Learning as a peer assessor: Evaluating peer-assessment strategies. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 48(5), 581–597. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2022.2107167

Ebert-May, D., Derting, T. L., Henkel, T. P., Middlemis Maher, J., Momsen, J. L., Arnold, B., & Passmore, H. A. (2015). Breaking the cycle: Future faculty begin teaching with learner-centered strategies after professional development. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 14(2), ar22. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.14-12-0222

Enberg, K., Steen, I. H., & Ellingsen, S. (2023). Me, myself and I - Teachers’ self-motivation and sense of responsibility determine the use of active learning methods. Nordic Journal of STEM Education, 7(1), 38–48.

Erlingsson, C., & Brysiewicz, P. (2017). A hands-on guide to doing content analysis. African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 7(3), 93–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afjem.2017.08.001

Freeman, S., Eddy, S. L., McDonough, M., Smith, M. K., Okoroafor, N., Jordt, H., & Wenderoth, M. P. (2014). Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(23), 8410–8415. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1319030111

Hoidn, S., Klemenčič, M., & Sabine Hoidn, M. K. (2020). The Routledge International Handbook of Student-Centered Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (1st ed.). Routledge.

Kaymakamoğlu, S. E. (2018). Teachers’ beliefs, perceived practice and actual classroom practice in relation to traditional (teacher-centered) and constructivist (learner-centered) teaching. Journal of Education and Learning, 7(1), 29–37. https://doi.org/10.5539/jel.v7n1p29

Keith, C. J. (2019). Faculty members’ use of learner-centered instruction at institutions in the United States. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 31(3), 378–389.

Kolmos, A. (2017). PBL curriculum strategies. In A. Guerra, R. Ulseth, & A. Kolmos (Eds.), PBL in Engineering Education: International Perspectives on Curriculum Change (pp. 1–12). SensePublishers. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6300-905-8_1

Kozanitis, A., & Nenciovici, L. (2023). Effect of active learning versus traditional lecturing on the learning achievement of college students in humanities and social sciences: A meta-analysis. Higher Education, 86(6), 1377–1394. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00977-8

Laursen, S. L., & Rasmussen, C. (2019). I on the prize: Inquiry approaches in undergraduate mathematics. International Journal of Research in Undergraduate Mathematics Education, 5(1), 129–146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40753-019-00085-6

Lilllejord, S., Børte, K., Nesje, K., & Ruud, E. (2018). Learning and Teaching With Technology in Higher Education—A systematic review. Knowledge Centre for Education,. https://www.forskningsradet.no/siteassets/publikasjoner/1254035532334.pdf

Lund, T. J., & Stains, M. (2015). The importance of context: An exploration of factors influencing the adoption of student-centered teaching among chemistry, biology, and physics faculty. International Journal of STEM Education, 2(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-015-0026-8

Marbach-Ad, G., & Rietschel, C. H. (2016). A case study documenting the process by which Biology instructors transition from teacher-centered to learner-centered teaching. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 15(4), ar62. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.16-06-0196

McCabe, A., & O’Connor, U. (2014). Student-centred learning: The role and responsibility of the lecturer. Teaching in Higher Education, 19(4), 350–359. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2013.860111

Myers, C. B., & Myers, S. M. (2015). The use of learner-centered assessment practices in the United States: The influence of individual and institutional contexts. Studies in Higher Education, 40(10), 1904–1918. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2014.914164

Osman, S. Z., Jamaludin, R., & Iranmanesh, M. (2015). Student centered learning at USM: What lecturer and students think of this new approach? Journal of Education and Practice, 6(19), 264–277.

Rodrigues, H. D. A., Brasil, V. Z., Milistetd, M., & Trudel, P. (2021). Learner-centered teaching in a Higher Education course: A case study with a recognized researcher in Sports Coaching. Research, Society and Development, 10(3), e44910313568. https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i3.13568

Sabah, S., & Du, X. (2018). University faculty’s perceptions and practices of student centered learning in Qatar: Alignment or gap? Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 10(4), 514–533. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-11-2017-0144

Savin-Baden, M. (2014). Using problem-based learning: New constellations for the 21st century. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 25(3 & 4), 197–219.

Schaefer, K. M., & Zygmont, D. (2003). Analyzing the teaching style of nursing faculty. Does it promote a student-centered or teacher-centered learning environment? Nursing Education Perspectives, 24(5), 238–245.

Stains, M., Harshman, J., Barker, M. K., Chasteen, S. V., Cole, R., DeChenne-Peters, S. E., Eagan, M. K., Esson, J. M., Knight, J. K., Laski, F. A., Levis-Fitzgerald, M., Lee, C. J., Lo, S. M., McDonnell, L. M., McKay, T. A., Michelotti, N., Musgrove, A., Palmer, M. S., Plank, K. M., … Young, A. M. (2018). Anatomy of STEM teaching in North American universities. Science (New York, N.Y.), 359(6383), 1468–1470. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aap8892

Stes, A., Min-Leliveld, M., Gijbels, D., & Van Petegem, P. (2010). The impact of instructional development in higher education: The state-of-the-art of the research. Educational Research Review, 5(1), 25–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2009.07.001

Theobald, E. J., Hill, M. J., Tran, E., Agrawal, S., Arroyo, E. N., Behling, S., Chambwe, N., Cintrón, D. L., Cooper, J. D., Dunster, G., Grummer, J. A., Hennessey, K., Hsiao, J., Iranon, N., Jones, L., Jordt, H., Keller, M., Lacey, M. E., Littlefield, C. E., … Freeman, S. (2020). Active learning narrows achievement gaps for underrepresented students in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and math. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(12), 6476–6483. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1916903117

Tricio, J. A., Montt, J. E., Ormeño, A. P., Del Real, A. J., & Naranjo, C. A. (2017). Impact of faculty development workshops in student‐centered teaching methodologies on faculty members’ teaching and their students’ perceptions. Journal of Dental Education, 81(6), 675–684. https://doi.org/10.21815/JDE.017.014

Trinidad, J. E. (2020). Understanding student-centred learning in higher education: Students’ and teachers’ perceptions, challenges, and cognitive gaps. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 44(8), 1013–1023. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2019.1636214

Weimer, M. (2013). Learner-Centered Teaching: Five Key Changes to Practice (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Wentzell, G. W., Richlin, L., & Cox, M. D. (2017). Assessment for student learning: A message from the editors. Journal on Excellence in College Teaching, 28(2), Article 2.

Wheeler, L. B. (2021). Supporting STEM faculty of large enrollment undergraduate courses: A mixed methods study of impact. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.20429/ijsotl.2021.150107

Williams, M., Uhing, K., Bennett, A., Voigt, M., Funk, R., Smith, W. M., & Donsig, A. (2024). Conceptualizations of active learning in departments engaged in instructional change efforts. Active Learning in Higher Education, 25(3), 355–374. https://doi.org/10.1177/14697874221131300

Published

2026-10-14

Data Availability Statement

The six transcribed, anonymized interviews and a summary of the data analysis is available at 

https://figshare.com/s/b8c4bb2a62184e4f4bfc

Issue

Section

Articles

Categories

How to Cite

Learner-Centered Pedagogy in Practice: Insights From a Qualitative Study of Early Adopters . (2026). Journal on Excellence in College Teaching. https://celt.miamioh.edu/index.php/JECT/article/view/1240