☞Information Technology in Support of Student-Centered Learning☜

The Traditional Classroom

is what we are all most familiar with. It is how most of learned in elementary and secondary school, and this type of learning is still used by most colleges and universities. Traditional learning usually awards credits based on student performance, which is measured through assignments, tests, and exams. These credits can then be put towards a certificate, diploma, or degree, which is to be completed later on. Traditional schools offer a number of different courses, which can satisfy any learner’s needs.

Traditional Classroom

A traditional classroom usually has a number of specific features, including:

• an instructor who delivers information to students
• a number of students who are all physically present in the classroom and regularly meet at a specific time
• student participation in lectures and discussions

"Spoonfeeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon" - E. M. Forster

The SCL classroom

• A student-centered approach helps students to develop a “can-do” attitude. It is effective, motivating, and enjoyable. This booklet sets out to discuss how this approach can be implemented. It also deals with the problems that may arise.

Student-centered instruction [SCI] is an instructional approach in which students influence the content, activities, materials, and pace of learning. This learning model places the student (learner) in the center of the learning process. The instructor provides students with opportunities to learn independently and from one another and coaches them in the skills they need to do so effectively. The SCI approach includes such techniques as substituting active learning experiences for lectures, assigning open-ended problems and problems requiring critical or creative thinking that cannot be solved by following text examples, involving students in simulations and role plays, and using self-paced and/or cooperative (team-based) learning.

Generally the new school classroom environment is characterized by student individually or in group:

• Performing computer word processing for text or graph presentation
• Preparing power-point presentation
• Searching for information on the internet
• Brainstorming on ideas, problems and project plans
• As needed, the teacher facilitating instruction, also giving individual instruction to serve individual needs.

"People learn more quickly by doing something or seeing something done."
- Gilbert Highet

✎Reflection:

• Traditional Or SCL classroom? This are the questions that some teachers will encounter. Living in this generation that focused on the use of new technology is never easy. We need to progress, we are not saying goodbye to the old way but were adapting and developing much better way of teaching our students that we know it can help us a lot. 
•  For our students now and in the future, we need to think the best way of giving them what they need. So let them explore, discover, do and experienced the topic, let them relate it to their lives, because teaching is not only giving them the knowledge but applying and doing it will be more effective way.
• Some students said that traditional learning was boring, it is more on writing, reading and memorizing and it is way of gaining knowledge so we need to integrate SCL in traditional learning so that it is much better and much effective to the learning of students.