Types of Direct Instructional Approaches

Post date: Oct 13, 2009 7:58:48 AM

Presentations

Material can be presented in a variety of ways, such as PowerPoint or simply on a whiteboard. Whichever method is chosen, it should be planned and prepared well, and the teacher should know the material thoroughly. Additionally, it should be presented in a way that is interesting with appropriate structure and sequence (Burden & Byrd 2016). In order to create clear presentations, it should have clearly stated goals, be presented in a step-by-step manner, include concrete procedures that are specific and provide assessment for understanding (ibid.).

When using presentations, graphic organizers should be given to students to help them understand and transcribe the information in a way that is understandable.

Below is an example of graphic organizers from Burden & Byrd (2016)

Demonstrations

Similarly to presentations, demonstrations provide information to students using visuals. This provides modeling for students, where the teacher acts as a model for what the students should be able to do. In order for demonstrations to be effective, they must be carefully planned, be broken down into simple steps, as well as allow for student practice (Burden & Byrd 2016).

Questioning

There are several types of questions that can be used: focusing, prompting, and probing (Burden & Byrd 2016). Focusing questions simply get students ready for the material and can arouse student interest, whereas prompting questions direct students to the desired answer. Probing questions dig deeper, attempting to clarify material and provide a more complete answer to something that may have been stated previously (ibid).

Practice/ Drills

Practice and drills are used to review material and ensure that students learned what they were supposed to learn during the lesson. They allow for students to practice what was taught in order to ingrain the information into not only their minds but also their motor skills. When something is practiced, it becomes almost second nature, so practicing and drilling are important for students when learning a skill that requires repetition, such as with writing or math equations.

Review

Similarly to practice and drills, reviews allow students to recap on what they were supposed to have learned and can sum up a lesson to provide closure. Reviews can be done in fun ways, such as with games, or in more formal ways, such as with a quiz or an exit card. However they are done, they are a good way to assess student comprehension.

Reference:

Burden, P., & Byrd, D. (2016). Methods for effective teaching: Meeting the needs of all students

(7th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.