Have you ever thought about why some classrooms feel more like a lecture and others like an open discussion and group activity?
It is usually the teaching approach. The teacher centered method of teaching is one of the oldest and most common styles of teaching in education. This approach places the teacher as the main source of information and directs their students with guided lessons. No doubt, modern schooling encourage student centered learning, teacher centered teaching continues to feature in the academic environment.
We shall discuss what teacher centered teaching is, its features, its benefits and its disadvantages and compare it with student centered methods. At the end, you will have a better idea of when and why this or that approach can be productive.
What is the Teacher Centred Method of Teaching?
Teacher centered approach to teaching is a conventional teaching method in which the teacher assumes the leading role in the teaching process. The teacher decides:
- What will be taught
- How it will be taught
- When it will be taught
Students do not take part in the process of learning but are mostly listeners and note-takers who simply absorb information. Simply, when the teacher teaches, he or she is the sage on the stage, and students are more passive in the classroom.
Key Characteristics of Teacher Centered Teaching
Teacher as Authority: The teacher controls everything that happens in the classroom and gives a structured guidance.
Target Content: The emphasis is put on the effective delivery of subject matter.
Passive Learning: Students primarily listen, take notes and memorize.
Assessment-Oriented: Testing, quizzes and grades are based on measurements of learning outcomes.
Uniform Pace: The entire class moves through material at the same speed, regardless of individual learning styles.
Pros of Teacher Centered Method of Teaching
This approach is despite the criticism, useful in most situations. The following are some of the benefits:
Efficient Coverage of Content
It is practical in subjects where it may be necessary to learn a great deal of material in a short period, such as history, science, or mathematics.
Structured Learning Environment
The teacher gives effective directions that students can follow and keep pace with. It is particularly helpful when the learner is a beginner or a kid.
Clear Authority and Discipline
With the teacher as the dominant person in the classroom, the school environment is usually more organized, thus fewer distractions and more easily flowing classes.
Preparation for Standardized Tests
Having the focus on the memorization and repetition, students can do better in those exams where they have to remember and know something.
Limitations of Teacher Centered Teaching
Even if this approach works well in certain situations, it has many weaknesses:
Poor Critical Thinking: Students can be taught what to think, but not how to think.
Passive Student Position: Students are not as active and do not get to choose what interests them.
One-Size-Fits-All Approach: Students do not learn at the same pace, and this can leave slow learners behind and the fast learners with nothing to challenge them.
Low Knowledge Response retention: When a person learns by memorising, the responses may not be retained in the long term unless the students engages.
Teacher Centered vs. Student Centered Learning
Education is now commonly defined as either teacher centered teaching or student centered learning. The two are different in terms of philosophy, but knowing their differences helps teachers to choose the right balance in the classroom.
Teacher Centered Learning
Within a teacher centered classroom, the teacher is the leading form of authority and decision maker. Lessons are created, taught and assessed by the teacher. Learners mostly listen, note down, and obey more than participate in designing the learning process.
Control & Structure: Pacing, content and assessment is dictated by the teacher. This creates a very well-organized environment.
Knowledge Transfer: This information flows only in one direction, that is, teacher to student, and it is effective in completing a vast syllabus.
Assessment Style: Tests, quizzes, and examinations (that focus on memorization and fact memorization) are often used as a measure of success.
This technique works especially well in large classes, technical courses where accuracy is needed or in education systems that focus on exams.
Student Centered Learning
By contrast, student centered learning focuses on learner engagement. In this case the teacher is more of a guide or facilitator, inviting the students to explore, ask, and work together.
Active Engagement: Students actively participate in discussions and projects and problem-solving tasks that allow learners to produce their knowledge.
Individual Pace: Learning can adapt to each student’s needs, interests, and abilities and is thus more accommodating.
Principles of Practice: In this method, the critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills are trained to compete in the real world.
This can encourage independence and creativity, but can be more resource-intensive, smaller in class size and take more time to cover.
Conclusion
Therefore, does that mean that the teacher centered method of teaching is outdated? Not entirely.
There is no doubt that the student centered learning has now become popular in the modern education system but the traditional teaching method still has its value in most classrooms.
In addition to this, whether you are a teacher who needs to perfect your teaching style or look for new ways of teaching in the classroom, the Ali Institute of Education can provide you with specialized teaching courses. Such programs help teachers to develop, evolve, and motivate students in a more productive way.
Find out more about the teaching courses and workshops at Ali Institute today and join the learning community that prepares educators to teach in the classrooms of tomorrow.
FAQ’s
What is the function of the teacher in a teacher-centred approach?
With the approach being teacher-centred, the authority and fountain of knowledge is the teacher. They are the ones determining what to teach, how to teach it and leading classroom instruction through planned lessons.
What is the function of students in a teacher-centred classroom?
Students are viewed as having a more passive role, listening to lectures, taking notes, learning information and following the teacher’s lead rather than deciding what or how they would like to learn.
What are the typical teaching methodologies of teacher-centred learning?
Typical methods comprise lectures, direct explanations, demonstrations, telling with examples, and similar other teacher-centred/structured approaches in content delivery.
In which subjects is the teacher-centered method most effective?
This seems to fit best when there are a lot of facts or notes that the student needs to take in, as well as in courses where you are expected to have a thorough grounding, which often happens with more mathematical, scientific and historical courses where we must cover a massive quantity.
What are the benefits of Teacher-Centred Teaching?
Key advantages include:
- Very substantial coverage of both content and strategies.
- Well organised, paced for all students
- Strong classroom discipline and organization
- Good preparation for standardised tests
These are useful when clear instruction and consistency is required.
What are the disadvantages of a teacher-centred approach to teaching?
Main disadvantages are:
- Students remain passive learners
- Insufficient critical thinking and creativity.
- Generic pacing is not appropriate for all learners
- Possible lower long-term retention with lack of engagement
- These can cut down on active student engagement and deeper learning.
What are the impacts of teacher-centred teaching on student participation?
The instruction reduces active learning because students primarily listen and write notes. This frequently leads to less engagement, fewer conversations, and fewer opportunities for students to wrestle with concepts or ask questions.
