Teacher in Development

So the question begs to be asked, researched and answered. “If it’s all about the student, if student centered learning is the “updated classroom”, then where does that leave me- the teacher? What does this look like, and how do I start doing it?

Welcome to the conversation.

I’ve yet to see a clear, practical exploration around this topic and that has annoyed me to no end. I’ve been preached to. I’ve seen the stats proving student centered learning (SCL) is better than the traditional, “outmoded classroom.” I’ve converted, and I’m sold out on the idea, But I have never seen a clear “How to implement SCL” explanation anywhere.

Enough discussing the Student Centered classroom and how awesome it is. How do you do it? What does it really look like? How should we begin to get out of the driver’s seat, as J.M. mentions in his great comments around implementation. Is there a role for curriculum and learning outcomes?

The bottom line: We want passionate classrooms. We want active learners. We know that SCL sounds right, but the question remains: How do you really do it? How do you let go as a teacher, and yet hold students to a trajectory that will help them cover required learning outcomes? Let’s face it, no matter how learner centered we go, we will always have to cover the basics…the “must know’s” of our school districts. That’s where I hope this conversation travels: a candid, reality based, exploration of deploying a student centered classroom.