Week 2 Teacher Centered vs. Student Centered Learning

 This week I really enjoyed the reading and discussion regarding teacher vs student learning.  I know both are good and necessary, but I have to say I really like the student focused learning. I appreciate it because the main focus is on the learner and how he or she learns, that the student is indeed absorbing the information and his or her input is important. I can remember learning the 50 states…well let’s just say many years ago and I did poorly at the assignment and I can recall being somewhat defiant about the whole thing and just never really taking the time to learn them.  I can say now that had the learning been more student focused I probably would have learned them and with enthusiasm. Teacher focused learning was all that was provided and while many children did well with it, I was not one of them.  The teaching only worked well for those who were able to give good feedback upon command. I enjoyed the pictures of the student vs teacher centered learning.  I enjoy the student centered learning more, but there are times where it is important just to have the teacher teach and the students absorb.

So did I ever learn all the states?  No not exactly, I am really good at the western states as I have visited or lived in most of them, but as things move east I may not be able to re-create a map, but I can find what I am looking for.   I still notice in myself a bit of the rebel, but it has helped me to understand others better.  I appreciate that teaching is bringing experience into the classroom or even the counseling room, not just coming in to be fed and then regurgitate information. 

In the counseling arena it is important for participants to be part of the process, otherwise change does not occur. I have to make sure that I understand the position of the client so that I can be a better guide in helping the client achieve his or her goals.  I appreciate the assessment process and feel that I could certainly be better at it, so I hope to use this class to help me focus more on fine tuning how I assess and what I assess so that I can be a better teacher and student.