The Edison Way: Education as Unique as Our Learners
Posts Tagged "learner-centered"
Control-centered or Learning-centered Classrooms
March 24, 2026
I believe there are two main types of classrooms in modern education…a control-centered classroom and a learning-centered classroom. The differences between these are stark!
Control-Centered Classroom
• Power – “obey me”
• Authority based
• Structure is the priority (standards, schedule, quiet, clean room)
• Order is key
• Learning to meet standards
• Teach the subject
• The group matters
• Do it the teacher’s way
• Strict atmosphere
• Routine is the goal
• Rigid
• Students adjust to the teacher
• Correction
• “Watch me and listen to me”
• Child is sacrificed to preserve order
Learning-Centered Classroom
• Persuade – “follow me”
• Relationship based
• Student is the priority (progress, growth, support)
• Results matter
• Learning to grow as a whole person
• Teach children
• Individuals matter
• Relaxed atmosphere
• Routine is a tool
• Flexible
• Teacher adjusts to meet the child’s needs
• Connection
• “I see you and hear you”
• Order is sacrificed to save the child
What type of classroom do you have? At The Edison School, we create learning-centered classrooms.