Instructional Strategies

Instructional Strategies for the Classroom

LectureLecture is a good way to present and share informationLecturing should be limited to 10-20, especially younger students who have short attention spansLecture is useful when giving lots of informationLecture is a good strategy to use in giving directions or presenting informationSome classroom environments such as seating arrangements are more conducive to lecturingStudents can become easily distracted by noises, or too much information at one timeLecturing can be enhanced by the use of visual aids such as power points, videos, websitesVerbal and nonverbal communication are a part of lecturing: Verbal giving clear directions, telling stories, giving examples, using your voice, pitch, etc.Nonverbal making eye-contact, posture, facials

Class DiscussionCan help students develop their critical-thinking abilitiesDiscussion promotes cooperative learning through student interactionsThe teacher lets go of some control but is actively involved as a facilitatorBarriers to using discussion: it takes a lot of time, some students are shy and quiet and may not participate and other students can take over.Some students do not listen well with too much noiseVerbal and nonverbal communication are a part of class discussionVerbal students discuss their thoughts, ideas, and question othersNonverbal- facial expressions, body language, etc. reveal their interest

Small GroupIt is motivating, students usually enjoy working in small groupsStudents develop problem-solving skills by working togetherStudents share their ideas and listen to others to get a different perspectiveThe teachers main role is facilitating, asking questions, and giving suggestionsDisadvantages: it takes time, it can be loud, students can get off task if not actively monitoredVerbal and nonverbal communications are a part of small groupVerbal the students collaborate and talk to their partners, the teacher guides and asks questionsNonverbal - eye contact with other students, face to face interaction

Peer InstructionPeer Instruction is a student-centered approach where students teach or explain concepts to their peersStudents are usually attentive and engaged which can increase their understanding of the informationStudents often feel more comfortable receiving information from their peersPeers can often put the content on a level students can easily understandDisadvantages requires organization, scheduling, and extra timeVerbal and nonverbal communication are a part of peer instructionVerbal peers use discussion and questioningNonverbal eye-contact, facial expressions, signals help check for understanding