Effective Methods of Teaching

Breonica Carter

Tougaloo College

Abstract

Teachers must have certain strategies or methods in place in order to ensure success among the students. These strategies can vary from class to class and teacher to teacher. There are basics however that need to addressed and carried out in the class. Direct instruction, indirect instruction, experiential learning, independent study and interactive instruction are the five instructional strategies that are more important. There are also other things that teachers can do to receive the positive outcome that they want to achieve.

            There are also best practices teaching methods that teachers have at their disposal. Best practices teaching methods are based more on research as what has worked for a large group of people rather than a select few. The best thing is for the administrators and teachers to make sure they use as many practices as possible to encourage the students to continue learning.

Teachers must have certain methods or strategies in place to ensure mastery among students. Effective strategies are needed in every class to ensure success. Strategies, for those who may not know, are patterns of actions, decisions and policies that are in place to accomplish each objective contained in a comprehensive plan.  Best practices are also important instructional strategies that can also be instrumental in providing different ways for students to learn.

Instructional strategies determine the approach a teacher my take to learning objectives. Five categories of instructional strategies will be discussed. What students learn depends on how and what they are taught and experiences.

Direct instruction is directed solely by the teacher or instructor in the classroom. This is the most commonly used among all others. This is best for step by step skills, providing information and actively involving students in constructing knowledge.

Indirect instruction is more centered on students. Indirect and direct instruction should be used together to provide the best results. Indirect instruction seeks high student involvement. Students must be able to observe, investigate, draw inferences and form hypotheses. In indirect instruction the teacher has several roles. She or he switches from lecturer to a facilitator or supporter. The teacher provides feedback and arranges the learning environment.

Experiential learning is inductive or centered around the learner and actively oriented. This form of learning involves experiences or prior knowledge. Personalized reflection about an experience and forming plans to apply learning to other contexts are key factors in experiential learning. The importance is placed on the learning process as opposed to how much is learned. There are necessary phases in experiential learning. The phases are as listed: experiencing, sharing or publishing, analyzing or processing, inferring or generalizing and applying. In the experiencing phase an activity occurs. In sharing or publishing reactions and observations are shared. In analyzing or processing patterns and dynamics are determined. In inferring or generalizing principles are derived and in applying plans are made to use learning in new situations.

Independent study is the fourth strategy. This strategy refers to the range of instructional methods which are provided to foster the development of students. Student initiative, self-reliance and self-improvement are all fostered by independent study. Independent study is initiated by either the student or the teacher. The students will be under the guidance of the classroom teacher. Independent study can include peer learning or group learning.

Interactive instruction is the last instructional strategy. This method relies heavily on discussion and sharing among students. Students not only learn from their teachers but other students as well. They are able to develop social skills, rational arguments and organize thoughts. The success of interactive strategy depends on how the groups are structured and how qualified the teacher is.

When teaching in the exceptional education classroom there are also methods or techniques that teachers should follow during instruction. The five strategies are as follows: give clear and appropriate assignments, make homework accommodations, teach study skills, use a homework calendar, and ensure home and school communication.

There are also other strategies that foster the development of students. Teachers should also build relationships with their students. Make sure that you are able to develop a rapport with your students so that feel that they can trust you. Focus on the way students learn and observe students to identify their task orientations. Once their orientations are known, the teacher can structure tasks to take them into account. Teachers should communicate expectations to their students. Make sure they understand what you are looking for and what you expect from them. They need to know that you demand good grades at all times. Provide frequent reviews of the content learned. Students need repetition in order to ensure that they can contain their information so that they can begin to apply it in context. Monitor students’ academic progress during lessons and independent work. This will give the teacher an idea of the student needs additional support or if they are closing the gap.

Best practices instructional strategies are also needed in order to make sure students stay encouraged in the learning process and try to continue their thirst for learning. They are collaborative learning, cooperating learning, and discovery-based learning and engaged learning. These four instructional strategies are also instrumental in the learning process.

Collaborative learning is an umbrella term for a variety of approaches in education that involve joint intellectual effort by students or students and teachers. Components of collaborative learning claim that the active exchange of ideas within small groups not only increases interest among students, but also promotes critical thinking.  

Cooperating learning is a teaching strategy in which small teams, each with students of different levels of ability, use a variety of learning activities to improve their understanding of a subject or a particular lesson. Each member of the team is not only responsible for themselves, but for the other students as well.

Discovery-based learning is another teaching method that can be used to increase test scores and outcomes of the student’s learning processes. Discovery-based learning is an inquiry based learning method that is widely used across the world. Discovery based learning takes place in the mostly problem solving situations.  

Engaged learning is the last and final approach. Engaged learners are responsible for their own learning. These students are self regulated and able to define their own learning goals and evaluate their own achievement. Tasks for engaged learning need to be challenging, authentic, and multidisciplinary. Students are observed using observations, interviews and examinations of their presentations in the classroom.

 In conclusion, the teacher has a wonderful task of making sure that all students stay on task. Keep a good relationship with your students so that they can continue to enjoy your classroom environment. Take all instructional time to assure that your students have the best education possible that you can provide them with. There are five types of instructional strategies. Direct instruction, indirect instruction, experiential learning, independent study, and interactive instruction are the five types of instructional strategies that were discussed in the paper.

Teachers have to make sure they are continuing to meet the needs of their students. Students perform better with teachers that they think actually care about what happens to them. When you as the teacher express your expectations from them they will more than likely try to surpass any goals that you have set for them to achieve. We have to continue to try to close the gap between what the students can do with help and what they can do independently. A good way to do this is by constantly reviewing the information in class. Repetition is the best way that students with disabilities learn and retain information.

            Best practices methods are proven and researched strategies that are widely used when teachers have run out of other options. These instructional learning groups and strategies make the classroom an interesting environment that keeps children wanting to learn and ensures their academic achievements. It provides the teachers with a format or guideline in which they should teach and group students so that they are inspired and encourage the other students around them to learn and do better than before.

References

http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/index.html

http://www.sabine.k12.la.us/vrschool/instructstrat.htm

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http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/act/strategies/

http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/cethics/approach.html