5.
Various learning modes can be tried by the
Interest Learning Centers
Introduction
This teaching approach requires
establishing an Interest Centered Classroom (ICC)
wherein the area is divided into various academic
learning centers. There could be a science center,
language arts center, math center, social science
center, and others. The science center can further
be divided into a biology, physics, or chemistry
center in the secondary level. In some schools, a
biology center includes a genetics, cytology or
ecology center.
Located in each center are materials and
equipment needed for simple investigations. In the
case of a biology center the materials may be live
plants and animals, specimens, models, charts and
illustrations. Included are dissecting sets,
microscopes, hand lens, and various containers.
The materials and tools may be limited to those
that are needed for a particular unit in biology.
The scope of the lesson is made clear to
the students before hand. The time to be spent for
each segment of work is flexible depending on the
interest of the student. In some classes, the
students may sign a contract with the teachers
regarding the objective of the lesson and the time
to be spent in the center.
Some schools require a certain amount of
time per week in each interest center. In addition,
a project may be undertaken within the time
allowed per unit.
Advantages
This self-paced learning according to ones
interest offer a number of positive assistance.
1. The center, provides for individual learning.
2. Motivated by strong interest in the topics to be
learned, new meaning and understandings are
easily achieved.
3. This strategy is success-guaranteed since
interest is the driving force.
4. The teacher moves around freely and assist
each student in the learning activity.
students since they do not have to progress with
the others at the same time.
6. The students have the opportunity to work with
a wide variety of materials including those of his
own choice which may be brought from the home
or community.
7. They become more responsible for their own
learning activities.
Disadvantages
1. Rearranging and replacement of materials and
equipment may need so much in time and effort
since there should always be a great number
presented every time.
2. It will be more expensive considering the wide
variety of instructional materials desired.
3. Free movement from place to place may cause
problems regarding time, effort and space
allocation.
Guidelines for Establishing Interest
Centers
To assist the setting up the learning
centers, here with are some points to remember:
1. Prepare a list of the instructional materials and
equipment that will be needed including suitable
substitutions at the beginning of the school year in
order to get ready with additional funds it will
entail and accomplish procurement procedures
required by the school.
2. The type and quantity of materials must be
determined early enough. The choice would
depend upon the objectives of the lessons or the
entire unit. Encourage the students to bring
materials to borrow equipment which may not be
available.
3. Request the assistance of experts in some
special topics of interest. Some parents may spend
some time with them as they work from center to
center. Prior consultations with the experts will
help a lot.
4. A simple contract between the teachers and the
students indicating the scope of the lesson and the
approximate time allowance they will need should
be accomplished before the activity.
5. Daily activities and time spend should be
recorded and kept in an individual folder for
monitoring purposes. The student logs his
achievements in an individual file.
6. Assessment of students progress can be
facilitated by giving a short quizzes or written
exercises.
7. Other teaching strategies could be employed
with interest-centered classrooms such as
independent study, constructing projects and
student research.