guide on the side

I was watching a class that was given recently about how to teach online. The instructor pointed out the move to online learning is highlighting and supporting certain changes that have been happening in education overall. The old model was the "sage on the stage" which is a teacher centered model where an instructor imparts their knowledge. The new model is the "guide on the side" where the learners are actively engaged in the learning process. The goal of this particular class was to help give people alternatives to simply using a video conference platform to offer their courses and to introduce people to the potentials of learning management systems to make online learning more engaging and interactive. 

It was wonderful to hear this perspective since our school and the Education for Life approach is firmly grounded in these types of more dynamic and experiential methods. Our curriculum is student centered meaning we develop the themes and lessons around the students current needs and interests. We incorporate the different aspects of Flow Learning into our lessons and throughout the day. These include: awaken enthusiasm, focus attention, offer direct experience and allow students to share inspiration. Very little of our teaching is meant to be one person imparting knowledge to another. As much as possible we try to make learning a process of experience and discovery. 

Rather than tell a student what to do and why we try to find ways to allow them to have an experience that leads them to their own discovery of consequences, right action, cause and effect. For example we can have conversations or read books about kindness or concentration but when we give them opportunities to help one another or practice concentration in a game they have a direct, personal experience of those qualities which makes a much deeper impression.