Hi Keri:
Truly an inspired comment! Thank you.
Regards, Barry
Bill,
Sometimes school is the first and possibly the one and only place where our students may feel as if they are the primary focus of another’s attention, as well as a valued member of our society. Therefore, it is paramount as instructors that we set aside our egos and notions of self-importance in order to demonstrate we truly care about and center our instruction upon the student and their personal learning experience. School is really about them, their journey, and their self-worth.
Hi Timothy:
I agree that trust, respect, confidence, and cooperation by the students will be more likely to be present when we prioritize our students needs. Witnessing the "ah-ha moment" or "get-it" experience by the student can be very encouraging to the teacher, too.
Regards, Barry
Hi Karen:
Good description. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that in addition to all you've stated, a teacher must be willing to perform all of these important activities. Believe it or not, many teachers are not willing to put forth that extra effort that will assist their students down the road to a successful outcome. They may be unwilling, unknowing, or just plainly don't care.
Unfortunate I'd say.
Regards, Barry
There are many priorities an instructor can assign to courses / classes. Making the students a priority will gain the students trust, depending upon the approach and teaching style of the instructor. Success comes in many forms for an instructor, however, the most rewarding is seeing students "get-it" and prove their knowledge.
Being student centered means that I must have the knowledge and creativity at my fingertips to be able to explain 1 piece of information as many ways as possible until every student in my class understands the concept. It might be a rephrasing of a description, to explaining what something smells or looks like.
Knowing how to do this requires me to learn more about my subject which in turn makes me a better teacher.
Hi Alpha:
Most schools precribe a present curriculum to follow, with variations in how much academic freedom an instructor has in adjusting their course to meet the objectives. Student centered teachers will want to grasp where the cumulative core of their students are at and put more emphasis on those areas where the need exists, and where the students would benefit most. Of course, the course objectives have to be met, but there are many ways to achieve that, and it's great when the instruction is reaching the students rather than presenting just our preplanned methods.
Regards, Barry
Because you would understand were the students are coming from.
Hi Diane:
Good point, from a broad philosophical perspective. On a more practical side, to me, sudent centered require adjusting or modifying my anticipated plans for a class in favor of media choices ad instructional strategies that are more aligned with the specfic student(s) in the class. Every class is different, and many classes may require tweaking things somewhat based on individual student needs.
Regards, Barry
If it were not for the students we would not have a job. Thats why we need a student centered
atmosphere. We need to teach them in a way that makes them feel important. Diane Hensley
Hi Sue:
The challenge for teachers is that the existing lesson plans may be preplanned or organized a certain way, and that prevents altering the course to meet the needs of the student. Ultimately, true student centered learning puts the students learning needs above that of canned curriculum in lieu of individualized study plan.
Regards, Barry
Being a student-centered instructor means that the instructor is putting the student first. Always thinking of how you can help that student get the most out of the subject that you are teaching.
This will cause the student to become more engaged in the learning process. This will become a servant-leadership style or model.
Hi William:
I agree. I think we have to be willing to deviate from our established curriculum and traditional classes in order to modify, adjust, or retool our lessons so that both institutional goals for student learning outcomes and student goals for unit objectives are met. When we focus on the specific need of tyhe student we are customizing their educational experience for optimal learning opportunities.
Regards, Barry
Hi William:
Notable post. I think the most important fact is that in a student centered teaching environment we have to be willing to abandon our planned activities and substitute some activities to accomodate the special needs and unique teaching requirements of these students.
Regards, Barry
To build on an earlier point, the challenge and reward of teaching is to find that unique way to reach each student. This requires that we understand the mechanics of learning and be able to assess each students learning and logic preferences, not just in coming up with a methodology but in actual how we organize and present the subject matter. If we limit ourselves to a single style of understanding the material we will limit our effectiveness with a diverse set of students. If our students do not succeed it is as often, if not more, how we teach then it is their ability to learn.
The fact that adult learners are both just-in-time learners and self-motivated requires us to take their needs and interests into account as we both develop and deliver our subject matter. Each class is unique because of the backrounds and interests of the students and if we are going to be effective instructors, i.e. IDEs, we need to be adaptable to the dynamics of the classroom. That is the challenge. Do we have the requisite level of subject matter expertise to teach to their needs vice just what we are comfortable with. If not, we will not be able to react properly to maintain student interest and help them achieve their goals.
Hi Clifton:
Nice sentiments. I think most instructors would say that's what they're striving for.
I think student centered conveys the suggestion that being student centered commannds the teacher to look to the specific needs of their student while attempting to accomplish the institutional goals or programmatic objectives. It may involve mere tweaking existing course curriculum, to performing comprehensive student learning styles assessment and modifying the curriculum to align with the results of the assessment.
Regards, Barry
I will do what ever it takes for them to undersand all the stuff that they need
Hi Nicole:
One way to define student centered is to describe what it isn't: Prepared curriculum that is above or below the students level, too much or too little course material; material presented out of sequence in relation to where the students learning level is.
When we determine to reach our students, we have to be prepared to modify or adjust our curriculum and lesson plans to more closely match the students need.
Regards, Barry
I think I am going to have to give the "duh" kind of answer - The students are why we are here - they are why we teach (or at least hopefully why we teach). Being centered on the reason why we are there (students)only makes sense. We should always "play to our audience".
