THE Association of International Schools of India (TAISI) recently organised an international conference covering various issues on school education, wherein discussions mainly revolved around student-centred learning.

 

Student-centred learning has activity, and responsibility at its heart. "This is in contrast to the teacher-centred learning wherein emphasis is stronger on teacher control and covering content," said Keely Laylock, a Cambridge International Education (CIE) teachers' trainer.
 
Deliberating on the concept behind student-centred and teacher-centred learning, Laylock said: "We can differentiate between the two by observing the teacher and students in a classroom. If the teacher is standing at the front lecturing, then this is considered to be a teacher-centred learning, whereas if students are actively involved in group work and the teacher is either sitting with the group or walking around the classroom guiding and facilitating learning, then it would be termed as student-centred."

 

According to her, student-centred learning requires that students have access to a variety of resources, so that they can find out information for themselves rather than getting spoonfed by a teacher. "I was exposed to the UK education system wherein most learning institutions provide computers with internet access and books for research, which I guess really helps," informed Laylock.

 

In student-centred learning, the teacher designs learning activities or teachinglearning materials (TLMs) that meet the learning objectives, and students are actively participating in their own learning. "This could be through pair or group work, question/answer, role-play, project work or research," said Laylock.
 

In recent years, priority has been given to emphasising on the process of learning rather than on measuring the understanding of content. "While such an objective is relatively easily to achieve in primary classes, it might pose some difficulties as a child moves to a higher grade," felt Laylock, emphasising that the concept of studentcentred learning needs to be first imparted to the teachers in India, before it is finally implemented in schools.

 

Concludes Laylock: "Learning should focus on what students are doing and how involved they are in their own learning. This may not necessarily be in a classroom, but may include participating in a field trip wherein students learn by experiencing things."

 

The teacher acts as a facilitator and students discover things for themselves, enabling them to be more independent and becoming lifelong learners, rather than regurgitating information passed on to them by passively watching a video or PowerPoint presentations, she added.