Student centred learning

Student centred learning mean  that , "gives students greater autonomy and control 

over choice of subject matter, learning methods and pace of study"(Gibbs, 1992) (p. 23). An important implication of this definition is the need for students to assume a high level of responsibility in the learning situation and be actively choosing their goals and managing their learning. They can no longer rely on the lecturer to tell them what, how, where and when to think. They must start to do this.

Student-centered learning is effective because Students are excited when they discover something for themselves. This excitement generally translates into better engagement, longer retention of knowledge and greater motivation to learn. Also, students gain confidence in themselves as they take on new responsibilities and become competent problem-solvers and students have higher achievement when they have confidence in themselves and when they attribute success to their own abilities and not to luck or help.

I think it's a good way of learning students but not for all stages, it are suited more to adults not children because children need to learn more new things by the teacher and they do not have the ability to learn self-unlike adults are characterized by the ability to research, exploration and decided self without the help from the teacher. Also, this way of learning several obstacles, including the difficult discipline of the class, there is chaos among the students and the teacher loses control of them and the hardest part for a teacher is often letting go. Creating an atmosphere where purposeful and meaningful learning can take place depends on finding a comfortable balance between maintaining authority and relinquishing control, encouraging active and consistent participation.

In my experience this method helped me a lot to manage the disciplinary problems in my class on the first day of school since I left to my students the responsibility of selecting the appropriate punishment for disciplinary problems so they all debated and decided in the end, without interference from me, I'm just directing them and there was a wonderful reaction from the students. Also I used this method with my students through the projects I gave my students the freedom to choose and determine the subject matter, how they work and choose the members of the group. Then they research and work the application alone and there was interaction between students and they are more active than during the traditional lesson which is teacher centred learning.  And during my reading  I learn a new knowledge which I can use this method in assessment that I  have not used it with my students before, but after what I've read I will try to give my students some autonomy and decision –making in assessment.

In the end I want to say that this way of learning is somewhat new for us teachers here in Bahrain, but it is very useful, so it is our responsibility to activate this method of learning in our schools, especially our students of BTC and we must try to published this method among teachers to be used and to get in the end, students effective and have the passion and desire to learn