What is Child-Centred Learning and Why it is Important
3 min read
Most top-rated private and international schools adopt the child-centered methodology because, according to research, this is the method that produces the best learning outcomes. Rote learning, or learning by memorisation, does not teach students critical thinking or problem-solving skills, in fact, rote learning has many shortcomings.
How does child-centered learning work?
The students study in small groups and they decide what will learn about, which is a great motivation to learn. Typically, a project would last 2-4 weeks, at the outset, the teacher would gather the students and divide them into small working groups of 4-8 students and ask each group to discuss what they would like to learn about. The teacher is more like a facilitator than an instructor and doesn’t guide the students unless they need some help. Take a look at any international primary school in Thailand and you will see project-based learning in action.
Project presentation
Of course, there are many ways to present a group project;
- On boards
- PowerPoint slide show
- Written report
- Song and dance
- Collage
- Art
Each group has the freedom to choose their preferred presentation method, while they must divide the work among the group, so every student plays an important part in the project. A date would be set and each group would present their project to the class, which means all students learn a lot from each group.
Also See: Parents-Teachers collaboration: an important pillar of Online Schooling
Learning to work in a team
When you think about it, your working life is all about working as part of a team and child-centered learning puts the students in a position where they must work together in a group to achieve a joint goal. Teamwork involves give and take and having the responsibility to finish your work according to a timeline; problems do arise and the teacher would not get involved unless the group can’t solve a problem. Online learning is very popular, many students have a private tutor with whom they share video calls.
Taking responsibility for your learning
When you enrol your child in a school that uses child-centered approaches, they develop a responsibility for their learning outcomes, treat a child like an adult and they will respond positively. The atmosphere is always relaxed and teachers adopt a holistic approach to a child’s education and with regular parent meetings, the students develop in all areas, academically, physically and intellectually.
Critical thinking/problem solving
These are essential skills that need to be developed; to succeed in this 21st century, you need to think outside the box and active learning develops the students in this critical area. They have to deal with real life issues and cannot expect their teachers to do everything for them, they need to adopt an active approach to learning and a top international school would use cutting-edge methodologies that develop the students in every way.
If you are looking for the best international school in Bangkok, start with a Google search and browse the many school websites; pay attention to their mission statement and learning methodologies, which tells you what you need to know.
