A Case for Teacher-centric Pedagogy
In recent years, the trend in education seems to have favored towards more of learner-centric pedagogy. Since the end goal of education is to maximize the learning benefits of the learners, it is not so surprising to see such a claim.
Before anything, it should be noted that my stance is not to belittle the importance of students. Indeed, since students are the ultimate beneficiary of the education, the goal should be maximizing their learning effects. However, what I intend to do is to bring what is implicit more explicit. The implicit part of the learner-centric pedagogy is to "train the teachers" who could practice learner-centered pedagogy. Even in learner-centered pedagogy, it is by no means that the teachers are eradicated. They are still play a main role in the classroom.
In fact, my experience tells me that all of the great classes I had is attributed to outstanding teachers. They prepared materials to be so organized and easily understandable; their delivery of knowledge (in a lecture-based course) or setting the goal of lessons (in a discussion-based course) was crystal clear; and, they were sensitive to what was going on in the students' head (if not, they would check in if the progression rate is appropriate with the students, "Is the class too fast?"). On the other hand, those of not-so-great teachers came into the classroom unprepared (e.g. no presentation powerpoints or student materials), rambled on with irrelevant and unorganized contents (hence losing students' interest and attention), and was dull to reading the room. Whereas the great teachers showed well plotted drama that brinigs light to the students' eyes, the others would bring a mediocre cacophony played by a middle school band (or "shittyfluted") that would invite sleeps to the beholders.
이런 생각의 배경에는 한국의 "스타 강사" 문화가 있는 게 아닐까?
I wonder if I am confused between "teacher training" and "teaching per se".