Center-Based Learning Opportunities in Classroom - Essay Example

The main differences found between the two methods of teaching and learning included student behavior, efficient use of teacher’s and students’ time, student independence, use of playful learning, the inclusion of art, music, and physical movement, and academic learning.

In terms of the findings by Bottini & Grossman (2005), all factors have implications for my teaching. Students in the traditional classroom were expected to sit and listen to the teacher and then work independently with little if any time allowed for interaction; whereas students in the center-based classroom (centers focused on science, art, mathematics, reading, writing, and computers) were able to explore and experiment to create their own learning and knowledge with the teacher guiding and helping them. The teacher within the traditional classroom wasted a lot of time reprimanding students on their bad behavior – bad behavior caused by having to sit for long periods of time with no interaction with peers or teacher, and the fact that some students finished a task more quickly than others and so had time to waste while those taking longer became agitated and disturbed.

No such issues arose in the center-based classroom because students were able to work independently at their own pace, encourage each other and engage in playful learning. While it is acknowledged that as children progress in grades the curriculum changes, it does not mean that grade classes cannot utilize a center-based approach at least for some periods of the day; such practice would provide more learning opportunities for my students. While students in both classrooms obviously learn the required subject matter, those in center-based classrooms do so by exploration and hands-on experience and are thus more likely to retain what they learn and adapt it to other situations.

The other factor is that if students are interacting while they are learning they are also acquiring social skills not necessarily learned within a traditional environment. It will certainly be my intention to incorporate center-based learning opportunities in my classroom, and although not possible throughout the entire day due to institutional regulations and expectations, as well as curriculum requirements, it is certainly possible to accommodate centers for certain periods. The main hurdle will be organizing the classroom logistically and acquiring the materials to best take advantage of the situation.

Once these hurdles are overcome however, my classroom will better meet the needs of each and every student and allow them to learn in a more playful, cooperative, and collective way and thus foster their social skills while encouraging and furthering their academic knowledge and learning skills and strategies.