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

In addition, suggestions shall be made on how a student-centered classroom (SCL) can be supported by information technology (IT)

The Traditional Classroom

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

The SCL classroom

John Dewey has described traditional learning as process in which the teacher pours information to the student learners, much like pouring water from a jug into cups. This is based on the long accepted belief that the teachers 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 he fact that the world’s 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 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 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 and instruction, schools in this 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 self a awareness in the learning process.

Generally, the new school classroom environment is characterized by student individual to or in groups:

• performing computer word processing for text or graph presentation
• preparing power-point presentation
• searching information on the internet
• brainstorming on ideas, problems and project plans as needed, the teacher facilitating instruction, also gives individualized instruction to serve individual needs.