How does the role of the teacher as facilitator differ from more traditional teacher roles?

A traditional teacher role is usually depicted as a teacher lecturing to passive students, and the interactions is seen mostly as a one way relationship (teacher to student).  A facilitator is seen as a guide and is cast in more a support role when compared to the more traditional role of a teacher. In this type of atmosphere the students become the focus of the  class, and communication flows openly between students and with the teacher.