MOTIVATING STUDENTS TO LEARN in the classroom can be a challenge. The "Learner-Centered" principles focuses on a learner’s experiences, talents, and interests to motivate learning and achievement. Technology can be exploited to enhance the integration of the Learner-Centered Principles by supporting the learner’s needs and capabilities while promoting creative and critical thinking. Teachers must advance in their method of instruction and knowledge of technology to support the individual learner in a Learner-Centered Framework. 

Barbara L. Mc Combs is the original author of the "Learner-Centered" principles that have been revised over time. There are fourteen principles (apa taskforce, 1997) that are designed to support teaching standards and assessment, while actively engaging the learner in the learning process. Learning is a process that is active and dynamic where students organize new information using creative and critical thinking. They are stimulated by learning tasks that are difficult, relevant, authentic, challenging, and different based on their preference, pace, and unique capabilities. 

Technology can support" Learner-Centered" principles in two main facets: researching and creating an authentic product for assessment. The Internet provides an unrestricted number of sources of information and data on most topics. It allows learners to seek information, meet experts in their subject matter, view information with webcam's, participate with online activities, and gain access to real documents. Products can vary as vastly as the technology available. Web pages are a popular forum. Other product examples include: power point presentations, word documents, HyperStudio presentations, video animation's, web movies, digital camera and Photo Shop images, and excel spreadsheets. All products do not have to be technology based.

When utilizing technology with the "Learner-Centered" principles the goal is to have the students create original products based on the knowledge they have acquired. They will have to integrate the information into their schema of previous knowledge. Then the learner must develop an understanding of how to integrate all the different sources of information into a single original product. The entire process can be exciting, frustrating, challenging, difficult, intriguing,motivating, but most of all never boring. The ultimate goal is to increase learning with longer retention, and even increased performance on standardized tests. 

For a teacher to change their teaching methods and incorporate technology they must have time, confidence, motivation, training, the proper technology supported environment, and the incentive to do so. Even with the optimal situation these changes do not take place over the course of a year. It is reasonable to expect a 3-5 year period for the teacher to develop appropriate curriculum and incorporate technology that effectively supports it. 

White Paper New Designs for Connected Teaching and Learning by Margaret Riel
Dr. Barbara Mc Combs professional bibliography site

Karen Boe Graduate Student Department of Educational Technology, San Diego State University
Math and Science Teacher, San Diego Unified School District