Narratives:
Explain the difference between teacher-centered instruction and student-centered
instruction. What does it mean for teaching to begin where the students are?
The difference between teacher-centered instruction and student-centered
instruction is similar to the difference between teaching for process and teaching
through a process. Teacher-centered instruction is when a teacher explains and
works through a problem and expects students to follow and understand the
process they are teaching. Student-centered instruction is different because the
teacher then takes the students starting point into consideration and where the
students’ prior knowledge lies. If the student has absolutely no previous knowledge
on a subject, they will have a very hard time connected the new process with
familiar information. When teachers begin where the students are, they are using
student-centered instruction. By taking in account how much the students
understand and the level of problem solving processes they can handle, the teacher
is potentially helping the student become confident in their mathematics.