Blending emerging technologies for student-centred teaching: A critical analysis

Student-centred learning is different from traditional teacher-centred or institution-centred learning, where the power balance leans more towards teachers and institutions. They set the learning outcomes while students remain passive listeners. In institution-centred learning, schools, colleges and universities design learning in a way that advances their own financial, administrative or logistical benefits; student learning becomes a secondary aim. However, in recent times, these traditional teaching approaches have been replaced by a movement that places students at the centre. The ideology of student-centred learning proposes a paradigm shift that makes student participation a crucial part of teaching. Some of the key principles of student-centred teaching are:
• The curriculum, content and pedagogy are designed to build on what the students have already learnt to relate to what they would like to learn further.
• Student-centred learning assists students to independently acquire knowledge via active participation in the teaching process.
• Student-centred classrooms are characterised by students provided with specific, skill-based learning outcomes to motivate them to fully engage with the teaching process.
• Students are provided with opportunities to actively interact with the class and share their views and knowledge openly.
• Student feedback is emphasised to ensure that the teaching is student-centred, and the teacher is aware of what the students would like to learn.

Implementing these student-centred learning principles involves radical changes in the way teaching and educational institutions worldwide rely on e-learning platforms to implement student-centred teaching and learning. The present chapter will critically analyse the ways in which five leading e-learning platforms, learning management systems (LMS), virtual reality (VR), internet of things (IoT), Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and social media, offer their support in implementing principles of student-centred learning.