DIRECT TEACHING
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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Preparation
|
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Very specific learning
targets.
Students are told reasons why
content is important - helps to
clarify lesson objective.
Relatively easy to measure
student gains.
Is a widely accepted
instructional method.
Good for teaching specific facts
and basic skills.
|
Can stifle teacher
creativity.
Requires well-organized content
preparation and good oral
communication skills.
Steps must be followed in prescribed
order.
May not be effective for higher-order
thinking skills, depending on the
knowledge base and skill of the teacher.
|
Content must be
organized
in advance.
Teacher should have
information about student
prerequisites for the lesson.
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COOPERATIVE LEARNING
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Preparation
|
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Helps foster mutual
responsibility.
Supported by research as an effective
technique.
Students learn to be patient, less
critical and more compassionate.
|
Some students don't
work well this way.
Loners find it hard to
share answers.
Aggressive students
try to take over.
Bright students tend
to act superior.
|
Decide what skills
or knowledge are to
be learned.
Requires some time to prepare students.
to learn how to work in groups.
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LECTURE
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Advantages
|
Disadvantages
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Preparation
|
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Factual material
is presented in a
direct, logical manner.
May provide experiences that
inspire
- useful for large groups.
|
Proficient oral
skills are
necessary.
Audience is often passive.
Learning is difficult to
gauge.
Communication is one-
way.
Not appropriate for
children below grade 4.
|
There should be
a clear introduction
and summary.
Effectiveness related to time and scope
of content.
Is always audience specific; often
includes examples, anecdotes.
|
LECTURE WITH DISCUSSION
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Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Preparation
|
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Involves
students, at least
after the lecture.
Students can
question, clarify
and challenge.
Lecture can be
interspersed with
discussion.
|
Time constraints
may affect discussion
opportunities.
Effectiveness is connected to appropriate
questions and discussion; often requires
teacher to "shift gears" quickly.
|
Teacher should
be prepared to allow
questions during lecture, as
appropriate.
Teacher should also anticipate
difficult questions and prepare
appropriate responses in advance.
|
PANEL OF EXPERTS
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Preparation
|
|
Experts present
different opinions.
Can provoke better discussion than
a one person discussion.
Frequent change of speaker keeps
attention from lagging.
|
Personalities may
overshadow content.
Experts are often not
effective speakers.
Subject may not be in
logical order.
Not appropriate for
elementary age students.
Logistics can be
troublesome.
|
Teacher coordinates
focus of panel,
introduces and summarizes.
Teacher briefs panel.
|
DISCUSSION
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Preparation
|
|
Pools ideas and
experiences from group
Effective after a presentation, film or
experience that needs to be analyzed
Allows everyone to participate in an active
process
|
Not practical with
more that 20 students
A few students can
dominate
Some students may not
participate
Is time consuming
Can get off the track
|
Requires careful
planning by
teacher to guide discussion
Requires question outline
|
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION
Video
CASE STUDIES
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Preparation
|
|
Develops analytic
and problem
solving skills
Allows for exploration of solutions for
complex issues
Allows student to apply new
knowledge and skills
|
Students may not
see relevance to own
situation
Insufficient information can lead to
inappropriate results
Not appropriate for elementary level
|
Case must be
clearly defined
Case study must be
prepared
|
ROLE PLAYING
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Preparation
|
|
Introduces problem
situation dramatically
Provides opportunity for students to assume roles
of others and thus appreciate another point of view
Allows for exploration of solutions
Provides opportunity to practice skills
|
Some students may
be too self-
conscious
Not appropriate
for large groups
Some students may
feel threatened
|
Teacher has to
define
problem situation and roles
clearly
Teacher must give very clear
instructions
|
WORKSHEET/SURVEYS
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Preparation
|
|
Introduces problem
situation dramatically
Provides opportunity for students to assume roles
of others and thus appreciate another point of view
Allows for exploration of solutions
Provides opportunity to practice skills
|
Some students may
be too self-
conscious
Not appropriate
for large groups
Some students may
feel threatened
|
Teacher has to
define
problem situation and roles
clearly
Teacher must give very clear
instructions
|
GUEST SPEAKERS
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Preparation
|
|
Personalizes topic
Breaks down audience's stereotypes
|
May not be a good
speaker
|
Contact speakers
and coordinate
Introduce speaker appropriately
|
VALUES CLARIFICATION
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Preparation
|
|
Opportunity to
explore values
and beliefs
Allows students to discuss
values in a safe environment
Gives structure to discussion
|
Students may not
be honest about their
values.
Students may be too self-conscious.
Students may not be able to articulate their
values in an effective way.
|
Teacher must carefully
prepare exercise
Teacher must give clear
instructions
Teacher must prepare
discussion
|
Video Tape Slides
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Preparation
|
|
Develops analytic
and problem
solving skills
Allows for exploration of solutions for
complex issues
Allows student to apply new
knowledge and skills
|
Students may not
see relevance to own
situation
Insufficient information can lead to
inappropriate results
Not appropriate for elementary level
|
Case must be
clearly defined
Case study must be
prepared
|
Brainstorming
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Preparation
|
|
Listening exercise
that allows
creative thinking for new ideas.
Encourages full participation
because all ideas are equally
recorded.
Draws on group's knowledge
and experience.
Spirit of cooperation is created.
One idea can spark off other
ideas.
|
Can be unfocused.
Needs to be limited to 5 - 7
minutes.
Students may have difficulty
getting away from known
reality.
If not managed well, criticism
and negative evaluation may
occur.
Value to students depends in
part on their maturity level.
|
Teacher selects
issue.
Teacher must be ready to intervene
when the process is hopelessly
bogged doen.
|
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1. Dialogue This!
