Learner centred teaching focus – UGC NET Question

Learner-centred teaching views students as active participants who construct knowledge through engagement with tasks and dialogue. Responsibility for learning is shared because learners are expected to explore, question and collaborate rather than only receive information. The teacher designs activities that promote participation and autonomy while providing guidance. Therefore, a classroom where students actively participate and share responsibility with the teacher is best described as practising learner-centred teaching.

Option A:
Learner-centred teaching deliberately shifts the focus from teaching to learning by involving students in decision-making, problem-solving and reflection. It matches the idea in the stem because students are not passive listeners but co-creators of learning experiences. The teacher facilitates rather than dominates, which is exactly what is implied when responsibility is shared. Hence, this option correctly names the approach described.

Option B:
Teacher-centred teaching places the teacher at the centre of the process, with students mainly listening, taking notes and following directions. It does not typically emphasize shared responsibility or active participation to the same extent. Thus, it does not match the description of a classroom where learners are deeply engaged in learning tasks.

Option C:
Lecture-dominated teaching relies heavily on continuous teacher talk, often leaving little room for student interaction except occasional questions. Students are primarily receivers of information rather than active participants. Consequently, this option does not capture the emphasis on shared responsibility and active engagement mentioned in the stem.

Option D:
Authoritarian teaching stresses strict control, obedience and little negotiation of classroom decisions. In such a climate, students may hesitate to participate freely or share responsibility. Therefore, it is almost the opposite of the learner-centred, participatory style described in the question.