The oldest idea of teaching depicts a wise and knowing adult standing in front of a group of attentive children concentrating on learning
Hopefully, each Block 1 student has already experienced learning in such a situation. Probably any adult in the world would identify such a scene as a teacher teaching. However, educators and researchers have had their doubts about such situations, especially schooling that consists of little else. This arrangement emphasizes obedience but does little for social skills, leadership, initiative, creativity, appropriate risk-taking, courage, self-direction, humor and many other skills and characteristics needed throughout life. One inspiring statement showing the need for additional approaches to instruction and the severe limitations of schooling only by teacher presentation and direction is Howard Gardner's The Unschooled Mind: How Children Think and How Schools Should Teach (1991, Basic Books).
Ideas, plans, lessons and assignments that involve elements such as these are steadily gaining favor with teachers, professors and trainers:
groups working together with teachers or coaches on the sidelines most of the time
real life problems that have no neat solutions or textbook answers
creating collections or portfolios of work accomplished
fewer formal tests, especially computer scored tests
student responsibility or partial responsibility for study content and structure, with teacher guidance and approval
some responsible self-assessment by the student
The traditional picture, as above, is sometimes referred to as "the sage on the stage" while a common label among professionals for an alternative is "the guide on the side."