Student-Centered Learning :: Education Teaching Papers

Student-Centered Learning Recently, the buzzword for school wide educational reform is student-centered learning. My last year teaching, the administration threw around this term, yet no in-services were in limit on this subject in order to earn the goal. Even Atlanta Public Schools strategic technology plan uses the earthy student-centered learning phrase, Teachers will move from mentor in the center to tend on the side. However, very few teachers actually use this attempt in their classrooms. One example of an excellent student-centered learning activity was Biomes in a Box. A colleague of mine used this project, her students work in teams to query and create a biome of a particular temper of their choosing. I ascertained students using various forms of media including the Internet and CD-ROM resources to research their particular biome. They constructed the climate conditions of that biome using various raw materials at their disposal. In the end, they presented their bi ome to the class with an oral examination discussion of the climatic elements involved with that biome. The students were so proud and so actively involved in their learning. It was a great success. I am true that Biomes in a Box will be one lesson those students intentional in that school. Even though some teachers use this new approach successfully in their class, my concern is that not all of the teachers can or even know how to change from the mentor in the center to go on the side. Has the school systems come up with way to change the mindsets of these teachers and bespeak them how to make their classrooms active learning environments? No, they are just content to design the phrase around without determining how to bring about student-centered learning in the classrooms. So what is Student centered learning? Is it the cure all for the hurt public education system? What tools need to be in place in order to palliate a student-centered learning environment? What lova ble of in-service or extra training will be necessary in order to foster the student-centered classroom? In this paper, I will coiffure student-centered learning, explain the key attributes to this type of learning process, and identify the tools that will facilitate its growth.From Mentor in the Center to Guide on the Side Students should be presented with real life problems and then helped to discover information required to puzzle out them John Dewey