Teachercentered

Teacher-centered refers to instructional approaches in which the teacher is the primary source of knowledge and authority in the classroom. In this model, the teacher designs the curriculum, selects the learning objectives, determines the pace, and directs the activities. Students largely receive information, practice skills, and demonstrate understanding through teacher-led tasks and assessments. Common methods include direct instruction, lectures, demonstrations, scripted lessons, and routine questioning, often accompanied by standardized or teacher-made assessments that measure attainment of predefined outcomes.

Context and usage: Teacher-centered instruction is prevalent in large classes, time-constrained curricula, and systems that emphasize accountability and standardized testing. It is often used for introducing foundational content or when rapid coverage of material is needed. It can be part of a blended approach, where teacher-led activities precede or follow student-centered tasks.

Advantages: It can promote clear expectations, efficient content coverage, and uniform instruction across students. It supports learners who benefit from explicit guidance and structured routines, and it can be easier to assess with standardized measures, especially in large-scale education systems.

Criticisms: The approach can limit student autonomy, motivation, and opportunities for higher-order thinking. It may promote passive learning and insufficient differentiation for diverse learners. Its effectiveness depends heavily on teacher skill, and over-reliance can reduce creativity and engagement in the long term.

Relation to other approaches: Teacher-centered instruction often contrasts with student-centered or inquiry-based models, though many classrooms use a mix. When well designed, it can serve as a foundation for introducing concepts before applying them in more interactive activities.