instructor-centered
|in-struc-tor-cen-tered|
🇺🇸
/ɪnˈstrʌktər-ˈsɛntərd/
🇬🇧
/ɪnˈstrʌktə-ˈsɛntəd/
focused on the instructor
Etymology
'instructor-centered' is a modern English compound formed from 'instructor' + 'centered', where 'instructor' denotes 'one who instructs' and '-centered' means 'focused on or organized around'.
'instructor' derives from Latin 'instructor' (from 'instruĕre' meaning 'to build, arrange, instruct'), while 'centered' comes from 'center' (Old French/Latin 'centre' < Latin 'centrum' < Greek 'kentron' meaning 'sharp point' or 'center'); the compound 'instructor-centered' arose in 20th-century educational discourse by combining these elements to mean 'focused on the instructor'.
Initially 'center' literally meant 'the middle point'; over time the adjectival '-centered' developed figurative use meaning 'focused on' or 'organized around', producing the modern sense 'focused on the instructor' for 'instructor-centered'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
describing a teaching or learning approach in which the instructor (teacher/lecturer) is the primary authority and source of knowledge; instruction is lecture-driven and teacher-led rather than organized around students' active participation.
The program was criticized for being instructor-centered, with little opportunity for student discussion or active learning.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/06 00:37