Week 4-1 Blog

1.) 30 Word Micro-Session Summary
-When a classroom uses the teacher-centered approach the teacher controls the lesson. However, when a classroom uses the student-centered approach students control the lesson which results in many advantages when it comes to student learning.

2.) Thinking Back Of Your Prior Learning Experiences In The Classroom As A Student, How Teacher-Centered Classroom Teaching Approaches Such As Direct Instruction Have Influenced Your Personal Learning?
-After watching the video "Direct Instruction in K-8" this made me have a flashback to my 4th grade class, when learning the multiplication tables. It was a teacher-centered classroom that actually used the direct instruction (like in the video). It has influenced my personal learning because the teacher takes the time to teach the basics of the topic and eventually as the class gets better the teacher starts to yell out problems and the classroom shouts out the answer. Instances like this have influenced my personal learning because it kept me aware of what was going on and I was never confused in what part of the lesson was important (because the teacher always made it known what should be known and what shouldn't be).


3.) Tell Me Any Of Your Thoughts/Opinions/Perspectives About Teacher-Centered Instruction Reflecting What You Have Watched In The Following Videos.
-My thoughts about teacher-centered instruction is that I think it's a great method for younger students (i.e. elementary) because the teacher is in control of what will be taught, how it will be taught, the teacher does most of the decision making and the students always goes off of what the teacher says. But in my opinion, I feel that once students get older the teacher-centered instruction should switch to student-centered instruction because most of the time older students know what they want to learn and at least this way the lesson turns less into a lecture and more into an intellectual conversation between teacher and students. Which is why I think it's more beneficial since students remember the material more (able to recall it better) because they're able to think back to the intellectual conversation they were a part of.
       

4.) Tell Me Your Thoughts About Teacher-Centered Vs Student-Centered Teaching Regarding This Video. Do You Believe That A Student-Centered Teaching Model Can Enhance Students' Learning Experiences And Outcomes? If So/Not Why?
-I believe that student-centered instruction is better than teacher-centered instruction because as the video states, student-centered instruction have four main components. Which is: Learning is personalized, competency based, learning happens at anytime and anywhere, and students take ownership. This enhances the students learning because all students are put on the same level (no one is just getting by), everyone goes off of their competency levels, and my favorite, the students and teachers end up having an intellectual conversation and not just a lecture. This way, students are able to express things about their education and communicate what can be done to improve the curriculum.


5.) From A Teacher's Perspective, Name One Student-Centered Teaching Approach That You Think Is Most Effective And Also Practically Doable In The K-12 And/Or College Educational Settings (Out Of The Five Student-Centered Teaching Approaches Introduced In The Video Folder) And Tell Me The Reason You Think So.
-One student-centered teaching approach that I think would be most effective in any grade level would be, being very clear about how to do well in the class. In my opinion, I believe that if a teacher/professor explains how to do well in their class then the students know what they have to do to get a good grade, they know whats expected of them, and if the students know that they'll need help ahead of time then they will be able to communicate that to the teacher/professor and then at least teacher and student can think of a plan of what to do in order to help the student.


6.) Do You Have Any Questions Or Concerns About Course Learning?
-I do not have any questions or concerns at this time.

7.)

	Modules	Topics  & Activity	Check ✓ if Completed
Week 4	Week 4-1 *Due by August 8 at 10:59 am	1) Week 4-1 Reading Quiz	✔
		2) Week 4-1 Discussion Forum: one initial response & two peer feedback replies	✔
		3) Week 4-1 Personal Blog Reflection	✔
	Week 4-2 *Due by August 8 at 10:59 am	1) Week 4-2 Reading Quiz
		2) Week 4-2 Discussion Forum: One initial response & two peer feedback replies
		3) Week 4-2 Personal Blog Reflection

8.) Feedback Comments

Hello Maureen!
As I was reading your blog I had to agree with what you said in answer #2. I do believe that in some classes it is best to have the teacher-centered approach (like for example your history class), to be honest some classes are just built for that approach. However, as you said, there are other classes that benefit better with the student-centered approach. Personally I am a fan of the student-centered approach and if it can be used in a classroom then I feel that it should be applied since I believe that students will benefit more from it.
-Melissa Parkes

Hello Miranda!
As I was reading your blog I liked what you said about the teacher-centered approach and how the videos made the teachers looked too authoritative. I personally as a student, would not do too well in an environment like that because if I feel that I am being pressured for an answer or if I am put on the spot then I will most likely not give an answer and will not feel comfortable. And in an learning environment the students have to feel comfortable in order to learn and succeed which is why I am a firm believer in the student-centered approach. Plus, I feel like students do better when it is student-centered because they may feel less pressured by their peers.
-Melissa Parkes