Outline

These professional development sessions explore how we can shift the balance of agency in the classroom from teacher-led to student-centred. There is no 'one size fits all' approach to education. At times it is appropriate for the teacher to control the flow of information and knowledge sharing, for example through explicit instruction. At other times it may be more suitable for students to have agency and control over their own learning through student-centred and inquiry-based learning experiences.

Explicit instruction overview
Advantages and disadvantages
Explicit instruction process: Raising stars
Explicit instruction in your subject
Connect, extend, question reflection task

Learning design principles

Explicit Instruction - Teacher-led Learning

Power - Explicit instruction

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Explicit instruction

Explicit instruction is a teacher-led method of teaching. It relies on the teacher delivering clear structured, and pre-prepared materials on a specific topic or skill.

Explicit instruction can follow a rigid process, such as the instruction of a procedure or step-by-step method. It can also be used to teach discrete skills such as rules, formulae, or thinking processes.

There is no “right way” to teach: only the right tool for the right situation. Although explicit instruction is sometimes criticised as being too traditional or didactic, there are many occasions where it is an appropriate method of instruction.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

Useful for direct instruction of key skills and concrete information
Teacher has control over the quality of the materials
May be less confusing for students
Provides lots of opportunity for practice and acquisition of new skills
May lighten the cognitive load of new information

Disadvantages

May limit the creativity of the teacher
Relies on strong content knowledge and confident delivery
May become dry or boring if overused
May disadvantage some students with specific learning needs, particularly ADHD and dyslexia
Limited scope for student agency

Incorporating explicit teaching is an essential practice that educators should consider in every early childhood learning centre. Explicit teaching not only helps children understand instruction but also ensures that they actively comprehend the concepts that educators introduce.

Learn more about explicit instruction from

Raising Stars Early Learning Centre.

Explicit instruction in your subject

When considering whether explicit instruction is suitable, ask yourself the following questions:

Which areas of your curriculum/subject would benefit from the clear instruction of processes and procedures?
Does the explicit instruction form a whole lesson, a sequence of lessons, or just part of a lesson?
Would it be suitable for students to find this information for themselves, or does it need to be taught consistently and directly to all students.
Can all of the students in the classroom access the instruction?

Connect - Extend - Question

How are the ideas and information presented connected to what I already know?
Which new ideas extended, broadened, or deepened my thinking?
What questions or challenges does this raise in my mind?

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