Module Four - It's not your grandfather's style of teaching

An article about the learner-centered classroom by Terry Doyle was in a National Education Association (NEA) newsletter. I found this article interesting in that students' viewed learner-centered instruction as having a lazy instructor rather than an approach that gives students more control over their learning anda variety of opportunities with determining what they learn and how they learn it.

I can see this happening with some of my students that are used to being 'spoon fed' the information with the instructor doing all the interaction and 'leading' the pack. Some students seem to want only PowerPoint and 'word-for-word handouts for remote memorization rather application of the concepts. With a change to learner-centered, it is important that students understand what this means and what their role is in the learning process and that it is really the optimal way to learn.

It requires the student to take a whole new perspective with the educational process. Thus, it requires more from the student in terms of doing research, being independent learners, reflecting and critical thinking, collaborating with peers, and doing self-assessment and self-evaluation of their own learning. I have found that students really don't like to do the self-evaluation as 'it's the teacher's job!'

I liked this approach for learner-centered teaching as I think it is more realistic to what is required in the 'working world' and what is expected of you as an employee once you entered the work market. I also feel it instills the values of taking ownership and responsibility for your work and learning in the process. A few questions.

(1) Just curious if your organization supports learner-style methods of teaching?

(2) Has anyone encountered student's feedback that the instructor is 'dumping' on them when it comes to learning and that the instructor is not doing their 'job'?