guide on the side

guide on the side (plural guides on the side)

1. (education) An educator whose method is to provide students with occasional advice, assistance, and correction while allowing them to explore a subject area independently or by interacting among themselves; this educational method itself.
   • 1981 August 6, “‘Gifted Students’ Classes Offered”, in Harlan Daily Enterprise, USA, retrieved 1 Sept 2013, page 5:

     Mrs. Johnson said the teacher for the gifted and talented will be more of a "guide on the side" rather than a "sage on the stage."

   • 2005 April 13, Jennifer Toomer-Cook, “2 Utah teachers win presidential awards”, in Deseret Morning News, retrieved 1 Sept 2013:

     Skousen, a chemist's daughter, directs her third-graders to conduct hands-on experiments — her force and motion unit is particularly popular — with self-discovery as their learning compass. "I act as the mentor, the guide on the side," Skousen said.

   • 2006 August 25, Nina Vizcarrondo, “Sci-Fi Today, Sci-Fact Tomorrow”, in Time, retrieved 1 Sept 2013:

     Case Western has always been an advocate of what Williams calls the "sage on the stage versus the guide on the side" learning method.

• This term is often used in contrast with the term sage on the stage, which refers to an alternative educational method.