Student- centered teaching method focuses on learning from social interactions, so the cooperative learning-needs students to work together for accomplishing a goal, enjoys high popularity recently , it could help the student expand their knowledge, and have ownership of learning.

The role of the teacher in the student- centered classroom

Student- centered classroom concerns about students’ learning needs and makes the role of student active in the learning process, but it does not mean teachers can ignore students’ learning without guiding them, because the teacher still plays an important role in the student- centered classroom. Without the guidance of the teacher in the student- centered classroom, the shortcomings of cooperative learning will appear.

For example , students would value process over the learning, which means students could focus on the speed of the process rather than thoughtfulness and learning, some students could pay attention to socializing and interpersonal relationship over the learning, also students could transfer their dependence on teachers to their peers, moreover, once a student lose support in the group, the attitude of students would be worse(Rohrkemper,1989).

Applying cooperative learning

If a teacher wants to design positive cooperative learning, the “Jigsaw classroom “could give him some inspirations, which the learning material is divided serval parts, and each student could be an expert in own part and teacher his group members via group work (Aronson,2000, p.173).

Other researchers (Woolfolk &Tschannen-Moran,1999) also announces some suggestions to avoid the disadvantage of group work, the advice is as Figure 1.

Student-centered teaching method in the digital world

Due to the popularity of science and technology, the way of learning presents diversified development, cooperative learning evolved into personalized learning. Educator creates Learning management system (LMS) to observe the performance of students in the internet, teacher could use virtual learning environment (VLE) to help students to build personal learning environment (PLE) thus form personal learning network (PLN) online.

Khan Academy is kind of LMS, created by a teacher whose name Salman Khan, which proves series of educational videos(VLE) with the complete curricula in kinds of subjects, so students could learn it by own step online (PLE), also student could form support groups, and share knowledge via cooperation(PLN).

With help from technology, student- centered classroom evolved into many forms, the class would not be boring because of VLE, which could help students raise the motivation of learning . The students would willing to learn once having motivation, they could do cooperative learning by internet online, for example, Chinese students could share knowledge with Canadian student in internet. Meanwhile, the teacher’s role is transferred from the sole authority to the monitor of students, which helps teachers have more private space and avoid burnout.

Sources:

Rohrkemper, M. M. (1989). Self-regulated learning and academic achievement: A Vygotskian view. In Self-regulated learning and academic achievement (pp. 143-167). Springer, New York, NY.

Aronson, M. L. (200o). Nobody Left to Hate: Teaching Compassion after Columbine. New York,NY:Worth

Woolfolk Hoy, A., & Tschannen-Moran, M. (1999). Implications of cognitive approaches to peer learning for teacher education. Cognitive perspectives on peer learning, 257-284