Lesson 12: Information Technology In-Support of Student Centered Learning

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.