Q: How does student-driven learning benefit a child — especially one with a learning difference?
A: “Student-driven learning is when students take ownership of what they need to learn in a particular subject,” says Jodi Johnston, principal of Julie Billiart School. “A lot of times with kids with special learning needs, the more engaged and the more they see the purpose of what they’re learning, the easier it is for them to grasp onto the subject. Not having that connection makes it difficult to learn and retain information. If they’re learning about clouds and one of the students says, ‘I like tornadoes,’ the teacher can pull that information to include it as part of the lesson. They are still getting the information they need, but in a way that makes it more meaningful so they are engaged and willing to work on something that is difficult.”
