Lesson 12: Information Technology In-Support of
Student Centered Learning
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 addition, suggestions shall be made on
how a student-centered classroom (SCL) can be supported by information
technology (IT).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 learning process. In the
traditional classroom, it may be observed that classroom are usually arranged
with neat columns and rows of student chairs, while the teacher stands in front
of the classroom or sits behind his desks. This situations is necessitated by
the need to maintain classroom discipline, also they allow the teachers to
control classroom activities through lecture presentation and teacher-led
discussion. 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 mange misbehavior in class as students start to
talk among themselves or simply stare away in lack attention. To prevent this
situation, teachers often make students 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. In the SCL
classroom, John Dewey described the traditional learning process in which
the teacher pours information to students 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 kind of learning outcomes. The problem with the direct
instruction approach to learning, however, is the fact that the world’s
societies have began to change. Of course, this change may not be strongly felt
in many countries in which the economy 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, industrialized societies we find knowledge based economies in which
workers depends on information that can be accessed through information and
communication technologies. Desiring to gain effectiveness, efficiency and
economy in administration and instructions, 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 self-awareness in the learning process.
In this lesson, the thing that is the main
concern is the usefulness of computer when it comes in student-centered learning.
With the very broad power of this invention, it allows students to be
independent learners, where they are not being spoon-fed by their teachers.
Also, they can easily research a thing in their mind that needs answer, so they
are now exploring in their own. The fact that we are now in the modern times,
and the students should be the primary concern. And through computers and
internet, the students can be the center of teaching inside the classroom.
The Information
Technology can support the student-centered learning, for
instance, the students are asked by their teacher to do reporting via
Microsoft PowerPoint, so the tendency is that the students will work for
themselves to do their task. Also, if the students have assignments, they can
browse the internet, and through it, they are exploring in finding information
they need.
