The learner-centred paradigm of education: its features and philosophical basis

Abstract

Nowadays, educators notice swift changes in education as a social institution. One possible way to describe and analyze its transformations is T. Kuhn’s paradigmatic approach applied to education. The paper states that the contemporary educators work within the learner-centred paradigm. However, it may seem that education is still influenced by the previous paradigm. So, the paper has two main objectives. The first one is to consider the two educational paradigms: the teacher-centred and the learnercentred to show their differences. Secondly, it is essential to know what concepts are topical in contemporary philosophy, and if they coincide with the learner-centred paradigm. The author attempts to distinguish philosophical concepts that have a considerable impact on the worldview at present. They are the following: four-dimensional ontology, constructivist epistemology, the problem of agency, personal identity, and the narrative approach to the questions of identity and cognition. These concepts are explained and analyzed through the lenses of the learner-centred paradigm.