Lesson 12: Information Technology in Support of Student- Centered Learning

CONTENT

          The idea of student-centered learning is not a recent idea. In fact, as early as the 20^th century, educational educators such as John Dewey argued for highly active and individualized pedagogical methods which place the student at the center of the teaching-learning process.

The Traditional Classroom

It may be observed that classrooms are usually arranged with neat columns and rows of student chairs or desks, while the teacher stands in front of the classroom or sits behind his table. This situation is necessitated by the need to maintain classroom discipline, also allows the teacher to control classroom activities through lecture presentation and teacher-led discussions.

Noticeably, however, after spending so many minutes in lesson presentation and class management, students can get restless and fidgety. Often enough, the teacher has to also manage misbehaviour in class as students start to talk among themselves or simply stare away in lack of attention.

The SCL Classroom

          John Dewey has described traditional learning as a process in which the teacher pours information to student learners, much like pouring water from a jug into cups. This is based on the long accepted belief that the teacher must perform his role of teaching so that learning can occur. This learning approach is generally known as direct instruction, and it has worked well for obtaining many kinds of learning outcomes. The problem with it is that the approach in learning, however, is the fact that the world’s societies have began to change. It may not be felt strongly to countries in which on countries who depends mostly their economy to factory workers. Traditional and direct instruction is very useful in these countries.

          In contrast, industrialized societies we find knowledge-based economies in which workers depend on information that can be accessed through information and communication technologies (ICTs). Desiring to gain effectiveness, efficiency and economy in administration, schools in these developed economies have also adopted the support of ICTs. Their students have now become active not passive learners, demonstrating independence and self-awareness in the learning process.

EXPERIENCE

          Information technology is helping alot in a classroom to be student-centered, just like in my case, through Information technology i am involved in the teaching-learning process or shall we say I am constructing my own idea because i am involved. If we involved our students in the teaching-learning process there is a greater probability that the students will learn best. For me, if i am involve in the teaching-learning process I can easily understand topic as well as i can easily remember the topics presented and there is what we call meaningful learning. The IT really supports the student-centered learning especially that there are so many software in where in requires the involvement of the student just like simulation games, virtual learning and etc.

RELECTION

          SCL environment is very useful especially if a nation wants to progress and develop. There are some schools here in the Philippines who already adopted the SCL environment in instruction. Others object from it since they think that and SCL can be noisy and unwieldy.

          As we all know, in the traditional classroom, a teacher can discipline and manage his/her students. The teacher in that has always the first and final say in the lesson. But the difference is that in the traditional classroom, a student can sometimes feel intimidated and bored since it is always the voice of the teacher who echoes most of the time and leads the discussion. While in a SCL environment, it gives students the venue to interact with each other, be motivated as everyone can participate and enjoy. It can be as noisy as it is, but it gives the students independence and self-awareness. It does not mean that in a SCL, the teacher can no longer do classroom management. The teacher still is the one more knowledgeable than his/her students, but he do not anymore act as the teacher who do talking most of the times, but he/she is now a facilitator, open to ideas, problems and resolutions from his/her students. I believe that SCL is fun, memorable and healthy just like training or a workshop.

APPLICATION

It just likes the battle of the old and the modern method of teaching wherein the both side is a process that the student must be learned. In other way, teacher must think what is good method he will use to the student to be more effective in teaching. Once the students are engage with any material or method that caught their interest they are willing and actively participating the class discussion and teacher and easily evaluate the performance of the student.

Desiring to gain effectiveness, efficiency and economy in administration and instruction, schools in these developed economies have also adopted the support of ICT's. Their students have now become active not passive learners, who can interact with other learners, demonstrating independence and self-awareness in the learning process.