Lesson 12

Information
Technology in Support
of
Student-Centered
Learning

The idea of student-centered

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

In this lesson, we shall see how teacher

can expand his opinions to make
himself more effective and relevant in
the 21st millennium information age. In
particular, the lesson shall respond to
the questions on the student-centered
learning approaches in the classroom.
From the traditional teacher-centered
learning approach, practical helps on
designing
and
adapting
studentcentered activities shall be examined.

The traditional classroom

It may be observed that

classrooms are usually arranged
with neat columns and rows of
student chairs, while the teacher
stands in front of the classroom
or sits behind his/her desk. This
situation is necessitated by the
need to maintain classroom
discipline and also to allow
teacher to control classroom
activities through lecture and

Noticeably, however, after spending

so
many
minutes
in
lesson
presentation and class management,
student 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. To prevent this
situation, teachers often make student
take time to work individually on
worksheets can help the situation.

Another option is now

presented and this is
adopting the idea of
developing students to
be independent learners
with the end of making
them critical and
creative thinkers.

The StudentCentered Learning

Classroom
(SLC)

John Dewey has described traditional

learning as a process in which the
teacher pours information to student
learners, much like pouring water
from 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 the direct instruction

approach to learning, however, is the
fact that the worlds societies have
begun to change. Of course, this
change may not be strongly felt in
many countries in which the economy
no longer depends primarily on factory
workers who do repetitive work
without thinking on the job. The
traditional
classroom
and
direct
instruction approach to learning
conform to this kind of economies.

In contrast, in individualized societies we

find knowledgeable-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 and
instruction, schools in these developed
economies have also adopted the support
of ICTs. Their students have now become
active not passive learners, who can
interact
with
other
learners,
demonstrating independence and selfawareness in the learning process.

Generally, the new classroom environment is

characterized by student individually or by
groups:
performing computer word processing
for text or graph presentation
preparing power-point presentation
Searching for information on the internet
Brainstorming on ideas, problems and
project plans as needed, the teacher
facilitating instruction, also gives
individualized instruction to serve individual

Observably, there is a
departure from traditional
worksheet, read-and-answer,
drill-and-practice activities.
Students also no longer need
to mark the test of peers
since the computer has
programs for test evaluation
and computerized scoring
results.

Giving this new trend in

teaching-and-learning, it must be
pointed out, however, that the
traditional classroom activitiesespecially in less developed
countries- will continue to have a
strong place in the classroom. In
spite of this setback experienced
in some countries, the option has
now been opened for the modern
teacher to shift gears to student-

tHank You AnD

God bless
Prepared by:
Egymil Lopez
Princess Agrao