Student Centered vs. Teacher Centered How are they similar? How are they different? By: Erin McGregor

Benefiting the Students Studies have shown that students put-forth greater effort when working in groups that are student centered, rather than teacher centered. Studies have shown that student centered groups scored on the average higher, than the teacher centered groups. Students will be able to learn new ways to solve the problem from their peers. Students will aid other students through processes and strategies. Students will feel more comfortable, take chances, and express themselves more freely in groups. Gives the students ownership of their ideas and justify answers to their group members. Students create their own understanding of a concept.

Differences

Teacher Centered Focuses on procedure Ex = 9 Abstract is shown, and process is memorized. Student Centered The focus in on the child’s thinking Ex. Manipulatives are given to the students to aid in solving the problem. Concrete, abstract, and pictorial. Ex. Using blocks if needed.

Teacher Centered The teacher is the instructor and the decision maker Ex. -Right and Wrong Student Centered The teacher is the facilitator and guide, and the students are the decision makers Ex. -Student created -Choices!

Teacher Centered Pedagogy – Based on Standards -Curriculum centered Student Centered Pedagogy - Based on Constructivism – prior knowledge

Teacher Centered Relies more on the textbook and lecture Ex. Go to page 24 and do the problems. Student Centered Highlights real life examples Use problems that tie into the student’s lives that they can relate to and find interesting. Ex. Children that live in Japan will find the area of a rice field vs. the area of a parking lot..

Teacher Centered Rote knowledge Student Centered Experiential knowledge For example: Using manipulatives and other problem solving methods and experimental ways of solving problems. The implementation of the student’s prior knowledge. Ex. “Please solve the problem however you would like.” Learning a procedure without truly understanding the material. For example memorizing the steps of right to left subtraction without knowing the meaning of place value. Ex. “You add the one’s place first because I said so.”

Teacher Centered Isolated teaching and learning Passive Learning Ex. Students who know answers raise their hands, other are easily overlooked. Student Centered Collaboration Active Learning Ex. Children learn to take risks.

Teacher Centered Learning takes place in the classroom Ex. I had $5,000,000 and lost $1,203,200 of it. How much do I have left? Student Centered Learning extends beyond the classroom -Students are able to relate problems and strategies to their lives. Ex. Use fake money within the classroom which earns them rewards – saving money = greater reward.

Similarities

The objective is to teach the child to understand the concept! The teacher corrects the child when he or she is incorrect. The teacher is present to overlook the child’s work, and help guide the child in the right direction.

References Marino, Jay. Quality in Education Retrieved on February 1, 2007 from ed_vs_teacher_ce.html ed_vs_teacher_ce.html Pearson Education. Inc. Teacher Vision Retrieved on February 1, 2007 from methods/curriculum-planning/4786.html methods/curriculum-planning/4786.html Van De Walle, John A. Pearson Education. Inc. Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally Chapter 3, Pages