The Role of Learning Centers in Early Learning

        A learning center, in the context of education refers to an area where students can perform tasks or activities that they may do alone or while interacting with others with the aid of instructional materials that will allow them to explore one or more subject areas. A learning center allows educators to give students a variety of activities that will introduce, reinforce and/or extend the learning of the student, often doing so even while the teacher is not physically present.

        Learning centers are a good tool to help address the varying needs and skills of young learners. A child learns and actively constructs knowledge through hands-on interaction with the world that surrounds them. Teachers can them contribute to their learning process by organising learning centers that will encourage resourcefulness and independent activity. A learning center will allow an early childhood educator to teach a specific skill to children either individually or in small groups. This method will also work for children who are lagging behind while the rest of the class continues with the normal pace of learning activities. Learning centers can also provide facilities that will help teachers review basic skills such as telling time, practising basic mathematical operations, creating word families and recognising and writing the alphabet.

        A learning center does not really need to be intricate, expensive or have too many equipment. We must remember that they are only tools to aid learning, and that the child should still be able to learn even without it by reverting to traditional methods that were used when technology was not yet invented to make a learning center possible and learning was at its purest form of teacher to student interaction. Instead, students can do structured activities with tasks that are arranged in a specific sequence. Teachers can also make use of open-ended materials that will encourage student creativity and help enhance their oral vocabulary.

Setting Up a Learning Center For a Kindergarten Classroom

        Setting up a learning center for my kindergarten class is among the ideas I came up with to improve the learning abilities of my students. I came up with the idea just a few days after I started in my job and at that time, it was just several months after I passed the teacher licensure examination, and I was full of new ideas as a new kindergarten school teacher

        During my college education, I learned that a learning center or also known as a center for learning is an area that is set up in the classroom that is designed for a specific activity that would have a duration from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the nature of the particular activity and the time remaining for the other class activities. During my teaching education, I learned that they are four primary types of centers of learning, which are: learning style center; enrichment center; discovery center; and skills center.

        Based on the training I received during college, I applied in my class about the basic steps on how to create a learning center for a kindergarten classroom. The steps include:

• Decide the specific spot in the classroom where the center would be located. You could use furniture, bookcases, and other equipment to define the limits of your center so it could be separated from the other activities in the room.

• The center should have the specific places where to put the books, educational equipment and tools, educational games and toys, and other materials or equipment needed for the center. The walls that define the center could be decorated with drawings, pictures and other education visuals.

• The center should be safe and child-friendly for any activities. The floor should have a mat or rug. You should organize the materials and equipment. Make sure that the shelves and storage bins should be properly labeled and categorized according to the proper use of the materials or equipment.

Art, Blocks and Discovery Centers in the Learning Center Strategy

The learning center strategy has eight basic centers of learning. Based on the program of the Stephen F. Austin State University Charter School, these centers include the art center, blocks center, discovery center, dramatic play center, library center, muscle center, music center and table games center. A ninth center would be the writing center. Here are some insights into the art, blocks and discovery centers.

1. Art Center – Arguably the most important or most valuable learning center is the art center. This is because it develops creativity and expression which is very important in the teaching strategy. This center enables pupils to practice and improve their language skills, cognitive skills and aesthetics. The art center is also used in teaching science, social studies and communication arts. Teachers can utilise art or drawing for activities in this subjects. For example, pupils are asked to draw different plants and animals which drawings are used in discussing the diversity living things in biology.
2. Blocks Center – For pre-kindergarten pupils, the blocks learning center is essential. This center provides learners with avenues in which to account their experiences and explore the components of implications of structures. For example, students learn and understand more about the community by recreating them through building blocks. Concepts of community and its functions are thought using the blocks center in which students explore the principles of relationships, teamwork and society.
3. Discovery Center – Children ask questions in through the discovery center where they will explore the corresponding answers. The natural curiosity of the pupils are tapped in this center. The discovery center is all about science and students learn about life, the earth and natural laws. It is a venue for learning the scientific method in predicting and finding solutions which starts in the first grade's second half.

The Learning Center Strategy of Early Child Education

There is a learning strategy originating from and used America which is called the learning center strategy. It involves the use of eight basic learning centers that address the myriad goals of American early childhood classrooms. The strategy aims to develop each student's social, emotional, physical, cognitive and aesthetic abilities.

1. Function – According to the Stephen F. Austin State University Charter School program, there are eight basic centers of learning in the elementary or childhood classroom. Each learning center is designed to expand the experiences of the students in various meaningful and effective means. Each of them is structured to embrace multiple objectives which includes standards set by the state, the federal government, the school and the community.
2. Set Up – The learning center approach emphasises on student autonomy and learning style through the means of giving each student opportunities in exploring the learning environment on a hands-on manner and in a classroom which is appropriate with respect to child development. The teachers role is that of a facilitator who provides the materials and guidance. They also plan activities, discussions, demonstrations and reviews.
3. Process – Centers of learning are set up in a classroom with the aim of encouraging children to explore the options they offer. Children work in the centers and, as they do this, they learn to work independently and cooperatively. The process enables the children to do things with individual control over the things they do. This process features a characteristic of being one single venue that addresses different learning styles of the children as individuals.
4. An Exemplary Center – The art center, among the eight centers, is the most valuable and uniquely important one. As an independent learning environment, it develops creativity and expression. According to Dodge, Colker and Heroman, the art center enables children to express themselves visually. In addition, the children also learn how to give critical evaluation of their work.

The Role of Learning Centers in Education

          Learning centers refer to areas and activities in an academic program that allow students to manipulate materials, explore ideas, find out about consequences, build, create and express themselves through art. Learning centers also give students with the opportunity to make decisions in order to have more freedom in the timing of his or her learning. It is highly suggested that children should have a choice in how a learning center should be designed and operated to create the most effective learning environment. Ideal learning centers are not imposed; instead, they give the student a choice as to which center he or she prefers and the time that he or she will participate.

          The value of play and manipulation encouraged in learning centers allows a student to learn the following essential concepts:

• Learning center projects provide hands-on reinforcement activities to supplement a skill taught in the classroom.
• Playing and interacting with other students allow a student to function as part of a group, which gives him or her the opportunity to enhance his or her social skills.
• The activities conducted in a learning center teach students the value of cooperation, teamwork, respect and empathy for other students.
• Learning centers teach students the rules and regulations of play and how this affects them and others directly.
• Learning centers allow students to determine what they are capable of achieving and to practice if they are lacking in an area.
• Learning centers are also excellent settings to help children learn how to solve problems and resolve conflicts.
• Learning centers which put great emphasis on motor activities allow the child to develop his physical strength and skill.

          Each learning center should have a goal or purpose in mind for each activity assigned to students. The activities should be open-ended enough so that the children will be encouraged to extend it or create another activity. In both cases, their creativity is stimulated.