5 Features of Student-Centered Teaching

posted on Sep 10, 2020

In a typical classroom setting, the teachers often have overall control of the classroom. What topic is to be discussed today? Who is going to teach it? What assignments will the students carry home? And what problems are to be solved around the topic? To date, the strategy has been effective in imparting education to students of almost all generations. But effectivity had rarely been questioned as no mechanism existed to understand the amount of information that students retained.

In a typical classroom setting, the teachers often have overall control of the classroom. What topic is to be discussed today? Who is going to teach it? What assignments will the students carry home? And what problems are to be solved around the topic? To date, the strategy has been effective in imparting education to students of almost all generations. But effectivity had rarely been questioned as no mechanism existed to understand the amount of information that students retained. Modern research, however, has proved that empowering the students with these decisions actually leads to effective education and thus came the concept of student-centered teaching.

The roles are reversed, but not entirely. Students have more autonomy, but teachers still play a guiding role. The top 10 schools in Noida Extension are applying student-centered teaching into their classrooms to improve engagement and they are doing it at all levels. Here are the main features or characteristics of the student-centered teaching approach.

1. There is room for reflection

Once a part of the academic authority transfers from teachers to students, the need to follow evaporates to a certain extent. In other words, students no longer come to classrooms and sit through the lectures because that is what they should do. Instead, they ponder upon why they are taking the subject, what benefits will they draw from learning the nuances. Sure, the teacher is there to get the students started but the class figures out the purpose of education and strives towards it rather than following any set norm. Reflection brings meaning to education. And this is the essence of student-centered learning.

2. Students decide the topics and assignments

A student-centered classroom often begins with the question, “what shall we learn today?” This is especially common in the top play school in Noida Extension where a strict curriculum is generally not followed. Even among older students, the freedom to choose the topic for the class is left unto the learners as this creates the drive for knowledge. And a similar concept applies to assignments as well. Whenever possible, teachers allow the students to decide their essay topics or the problems they want to work upon. Autonomy automatically brings engagement and intrinsic motivation.

3. They learn from each other

Group projects and discussions are common features of student-centered learning. The onus is not always on the teacher to teach everything. Students can easily learn from each other, research together and come up with ideas as a group based on individual strengths. All subjects are explored better when students learn through discussions. For they take examples and talk in a language that everyone understands. From a point of expertise, it is often difficult for teachers to mellow down a few points. But in student-centered teaching, they can just be the facilitator while students discuss.

4. Learning is more personalised

Given the freedom to learn on their volition, students can personalise their education based on their preferences. For instance, if the teacher asks the students to complete the questions behind the chapter as an assignment, almost everyone will be forced to refer to the text that is written in the book. But if the teacher asks to jot down 5 real-life examples that involve the concepts of the chapter, it gives students the freedom to search anywhere. Some may choose books. Others may watch videos. A few may ask around. While some may take help from parents. The point – learning gets personalised in the way students want.

5. Feedback is almost instantaneous

The feedback about students’ learning does not wait until the assignments come in for evaluation in student-centered learning. As the teacher has more time now having delegated some of the control to the students, he/she can observe better and provide immediate feedback wherever necessary. A mistake made during a discussion can be corrected then and there. Any erroneous notion on any subject can be rectified almost immediately. With quick feedback, students actually progress with their education faster and build the foundation of their knowledge better.

And these are precisely the reasons why BGS Vijnatham school has always followed a student-centered learning approach. Its top spot in the list of schools in Noida Extension is due to this. The direct lectures still hold their relevant places in BGS. But teachers also use the flip-classroom strategy to empower students to conduct their own education with purpose and learn via engagement and curiosity. The results are visible through the students’ performances. And motivation levels at BGS always run high. Children of the current generation are smarter, more proactive. If given the opportunity to take control of their academics, they will naturally respond productively.