Traditional Views of Teaching and Learning
Most teachers employ behaviorist teaching methods. The theory of behaviorism states that teaching and learning are the result of stimuli and responses. The effective teacher organizes information and presents it to students in a clear manner (stimuli). Teachers who explain clearly help students learn. Students learn by listening carefully to their teachers, reading carefully, memorizing information, and reciting (response). In this view, students are empty vessels to be filled with knowledge from the teacher. If the teacher organizes information and experiences effectively and the students participate, the students must learn.
Preconception Research
Beginning in the 1990's, however, educational researchers found that even very young children often had their own ideas about the concepts that teachers were trying to teach. Researchers also found that the children's ideas (or preconceptions) were often subconscious and incorrect and that these incorrect ideas interfere with teachers' efforts. In fact, children believe their own ideas so strongly that even the best traditional teachers are unable to change their students' minds. Most students will tell the teacher what they believe the teacher will want to hear while still holding on to their wrong preconceptions. After the assessment, students quickly revert to their own ideas. This gives teachers the impression that they have successfully taught their content even though students have not actually learned the material.
Learner-Centered Classrooms
In the past, the focus was on the teacher. This made sense because the view of learning was that it was only students' natural response to what the teacher did in class. Research on student preconceptions, shows that learning is not that simple.
In research-based classrooms the focus shifts to the students. Learner-centered classrooms pay careful attention to the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs that learners bring to the educational setting. When possible, learner-centered teachers incorporate their students cultural practices into their lessons. For example, a school in Hawaii used local story-telling practices to help children develop literacy.
Learner-centered teachers also structure lessons to uncover and challenge students' preconceptions.
What the research says about changing students' preconceptions
Based upon recent research, the most effective teachers do the following
Make students aware of their preconceptions by
having them write down their ideas and/or
explain their ideas and/or
discuss their ideas with peers at the beginning of the lesson.
Provide students with experiences that challenge their preconceptions. Ideally, if students ideas are incorrect, they should see that their ideas don't work (i.e., they should not succeed at the task). When students find their ideas don't work, they are more willing to abandon the incorrect ideas and adopt new ones.
Allow students to revise their thinking and try the task again.
Allow students to work in groups where they discuss their ideas.
Use evidence-based class discussions to draw out student ideas and evidence for the correct idea.
The teacher's role in a learner-centered classroom.
Many people think the teacher is no longer teaching in a learner-centered classroom. Quite the opposite! The effective teacher diagnoses student preconceptions through observation, questioning and conversation, and reflection on the products of student activity. Then she carefully chooses activities that challenge student thinking, monitors group discussions and asks questions that help students evaluate their thinking. In large class discussions, the effective teacher will use questioning to draw out less than accurate ideas and will encourage students to use evidence to support their thinking. The best teachers will encourage students to examine whether the evidence from their work supports their ideas.
Below are some videos to help you learn more about learner-centered classrooms. Please watch them and then join the discussion about learner-centered teaching.
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These Singapore classrooms use a lot of technology. As you watch, consider how you might be able to do similar things with less technology.
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