Running head: FROM TEACHER TO FACILITATOR 1

From Teacher to Facilitator

Roi Kelly
Carnet # 5076-1720148

Carmen Berdo
Carn # 5076 1784

April 29, 2017

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Introduction
The traditional pedagogical teaching approach emphasizes the role of the teacher as the

sole holder of wisdom and knowledge. The teacher is the director, the administrator, the supplier,

the tyrant. This approach has been slowly changing. The classrooms are becoming more student

centered rather than teacher centered, making the teacher more of a facilitator of learning and the

giver of participation to the students. This paper will give you insight on how to shift from teacher

to facilitator.

Teacher Personality
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Being a teacher isnt about what you do in class, but who you are, and how the students

perceive you. The best teachers and instructors are those who bring their personality, wit, passion,

and experience into the classroom. Its not just about teaching a subject. Its about opening up to

your students by including yourself in a conversation with them, creating an environment where

everyone can learn from each other.

Making the Transition

To make the transition to facilitator you have to think differently. Its not about you and

your understanding; its about leading your learners to a new understanding within themselves.

Your job is not to tell, but to stimulate thinking, encourage exploration, make associations, and be

a connector and integrator

Students Responsible for their Own Learning

Facilitation automatically makes the learners responsible for their own learning.

Introducing subjects of discussion, sharing ideas, creating projects, and allowing students to

choose their topics which are based on their reality and experiences will definitely facilitate their

learning. Create autonomy by making them depend on themselves and on each other.

Find Out Who Your Learners Are

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Get to know your students by asking questions. Learn about them, their background, level

of knowledge, and experience Explain to them what they need to learn and why. This ice-

breaker opens up participation and creates a good initial connection between you and your

students.

How to Introduce Information

Go slowly when you are introducing new content. Use creative visuals. Make associations,

use anecdotes, stories, even allow the students to choose the order in which to discuss the topic or

topics. As you speak, elicit information from the students and, permit them to share their

experiences with the class. Make the content applicable. Ask students how they would apply the

content in their current environment. This prevents learners from leaving the class without an idea

for how they will apply their new knowledge.

Learners as Teachers.

Allow your learners to actively share their experiences effectively leverage the knowledge

and experience of your learners to help them teach each other. Experience, truly, is the best

teacher! When asked a question or faced with a problem, the traditional teacher would think of

it as his or her duty to provide an answer immediately. However, as a facilitator, the best thing

to do is grasp the opportunity to say Lets find out together and assign quick investigation on

the matter and have the students teach each other.

Encouragement and Motivation is Essential

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Encourage collaborative learning by having group projects or peer mentoring. Students can

share what they know with the whole class. Encourage students to choose their own topics and

projects, so that they are able to learn what they want when they want. Motivate students to

reach their own conclusions.

Assessment

Evaluate not to according to the knowledge memorized, but what is done with what your

students have learned and how they apply it. Learn to use rubrics that evaluate the student

based more on his or her skills or abilities such as how they get along working in a group, how

they distribute the work, how they work with the process, and how they complete the final

product.

References: Making the shift: 'teacher as knowledge owner' to 'teacher as

facilitator'https://www.etprofessional.com/making_the_shift_39teacher_as_kno
wledge_owner39_to_39teacher_as_facilitator39_81781.aspx

From Teacher to Facilitatorhttps://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/74/from-

teacher-to-facilitator
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Conclusion

We as teachers will gradually have to learn to let go of the control we have on our students,

and let them take control. This takes time and practice. Learn to prepare your classes that are

more student centered than teacher centered. This might mean more time in preparing, but it

translates into less work in the classroom. The root word of facilitator is facile, which means

easy. If you do it right, it will definitely be easy for both student and teacher.