Principles of Teaching: Different Methods and Approaches

DIFFERENT APPROACHES AND METHODS

“A thousand teachers, a thousand methods.” -Chinese Proverb

(BENG)

INTRODUCTION

TEACHING APPROACH It is a set of principles, beliefs, or ideas about the nature of learning which is
translated into the classroom.

TEACHING STRATEGY It is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal.

TEACHING METHOD It is a systematic way of doing something. It implies an orderly logical arrangement
of steps. It is more procedural.

TEACHING TECHNIQUE It is a well-defined procedure used to accomplish a specific activity or task.

EXAMPLES OF TEACHING APPROACHES

1. TEACHER-CENTERED APPROACH - The teacher is perceived to be the only reliable source of

information in contrast to the learner-centered approach.
2. LEARNER-CENTERED APPROACH- It is premised on the belief that the learner is also an
important resource because he/she too knows something and is therefore capable of sharing
something.
3. SUBJECT-MATTERED CENTER APPROACH - Subject matter gains primacy over that of the
learner.
4. TEACHER DOMINATED APPROACH - Only the teacher’s voice is heard. He/she is the sole
dispenser of information.
5. INTERACTIVE APPROACH – It is an interactive classroom will have more student talk and less
teacher talk. Students are given the opportunity to interact with teacher and with other
students.
6. “BANKING” APPROACH- The teacher deposits knowledge into the “empty” minds of students
for students to commit to memory.
7. CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACH- The students are expected to construct knowledge and meaning
out for what they are taught by connecting them to prior experience.
8. DISCIPLINAL APPROACH- It limits the teacher to discussing his/her lessons within the boundary
of his/her subject.
9. INTEGRATED APPROACH- It makes the teacher connects what he/she teaches to other lessons
of the same subject (intradisciplinary) or connects his/her lessons with other subjects thus
making his/her approach interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary.
10. INDIVIDUALISTIC APPROACH- It wants the individual students to work by themselves
11. COLLABORATIVE APPROACH- It will welcome group work, teamwork, partnerships, and group
discussion.
12. INDIRECT, GUIDED APPROACH- The teacher guides the learner to discover things for
himself/herself. The teacher facilitates the learning process by allowing the learner to be
engaged in the learning process with his/her guidance.
13. DIRECT APPROACH- The teacher directly tells or shows or demonstrates what is to be taught.

(JHOYCE)

OTHER TEACHING APPROACHES CITED IN EDUCATION LITERATURE ARE:

 RESEARCH-BASED APPROACH As the name implies, teaching and learning are anchored on
research findings.
 WHOLE CHILD APPROACH The learning process itself takes into account not only the academic
needs of the learners, but also their emotional, creative, psychological, spiritual, and
developmental needs.
 METACOGNITIVE APPROACH The teaching process brings the learner to the process of thinking
about thinking. The learner reflects on what he learned and on his/her ways of learning.
 PROBLEM-BASED APPROACH As the name implies, the teaching- learning process is focused on
problems. Time is spent on analyzing and solving problems.

 In summary, approaches vary in the degree of teacher and learner engagement, focus, number of
learners involved in the teaching-learning process as shown in the diagram below:

(INSERT DIAGRAM HERE!)

DIRECT/EXPOSITORY APPROACH

1) DIRECT INSTRUCTION/ LECTURE METHOD- Direct instruction is aimed at helping students

acquire procedural knowledge exercised in the performance of some task. Procedural knowledge refers
to skills needed in the performance of a task.

 Steps of the Direct or Lecture Method To employ the methodology in teaching skill/s,
follow these steps:
a. Provide the rationale
b. Demonstrate the skill
c. Provide guided practice until mastery
d. Check for understanding and provide feedback
e. Provide extended practice and transfer
f. Assess learning at the end. (This is what we call summative assessment.)
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT The goal of summative assessment is to evaluate
student learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against some
standard or benchmark. Summative assessments are often high stakes, which
means that they have a high point value. Examples of summative assessments
include:
 a midterm exam
 a final project
 a paper
 If you teach facts, principles, or laws, your steps are similar with those of teaching a skill.
a) Give a short introduction by providing the rationale
b) Present your lesson
c) Develop the lesson by explaining, illustrating, it with diagrams if appropriate
and/or giving concrete examples
d) Give application of the lesson
e) Check for understanding and provide feedback. (This is what we call formative
assessment.)
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT The goal of formative assessment is to
monitor student learning to provide ongoing feedback that can be used by
instructors to improve their teaching and by students to improve their learning.
More specifically, formative assessments:
 help students identify their strengths and weaknesses and
target areas that need work.
 help faculty recognize where students are struggling and
address problems immediately.

Formative assessments are generally low stakes, which means that they
have low or no point value.

Examples of formative assessments include asking students to:

 draw a concept map in class to represent their understanding of

a topic
 submit one or two sentences identifying the main point of a
lecture
 turn in a research proposal for early feedback

 INSTRUCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

1. The strategy is teacher-directed.

2. The emphasis is on the teaching of skill. Each step must be mastered, hence the students gain
“how” rather than “what”. It is termed procedural knowledge
3. Taught in a step-by-step fashion, it ensures the learning of the entire procedure with no step
missed.
4. Lesson objectives include easily observed behaviors that can be measured accurately. 5. This is a
form of learning through imitation, sometimes termed “behavioral modeling”. 6. This can also
be used to teach facts, principles, and laws.

GUIDELINES FOR ITS EFFECTIVE USE TEACHING SKILL

1. The students must be given ample time for practice.
2. They must be included in the planning stage since this technique is highly task-oriented and
aimed at mastery of every step. The lesson objectives are student-based.
3. Describe the testing situation and specify the level of performance expected.
4. Divide complex skills and understanding into subskills or into its component steps so they can be
taught easily and with precision.
5. Design own strategy in teaching each skill which will eventually contribute to the learning of the
entire skill.
6. Before the demonstration, carefully rehearse all steps. The steps should be observed and
followed.
7. Assign practice for short periods of time, then continue learning by imitating others. 8. Provide
feedback and encouragement through praises. Positively motivated, the students will never get
tired practicing. 9. Be able to construct good performance- based tests.

Teaching Declarative Knowledge – Facts, Principles and Laws

1. Be sure the facts, principles, and laws are correctly, clearly, and adequately explained.
2. Use visual aids to concretize abstract principles and laws.
3. Illustrate laws and principles with concrete examples.
4. Present facts meaningfully by citing their significance and by connecting them with everyday life.

(AZARIA)

2. DEMONSTRATION METHOD As the name implies, in the demonstration method the teacher or an
assigned student or group shows how a process is done while the students become observers. The
demonstrator is knowledgeable in preparing the apparatus needed according to the steps to be
followed. The rest of the class becomes focused on the activity and concentration on the subject is
assured.

GUIDELINES FOR ITS EFFECTIVE USE BEFORE

1. The demonstrator/s must be well-selected. He/she/they must be skilled in operating modern

equipment and proficient in undertaking scientific investigations.
2. When planning the activities make sure that the materials are easily available. Likewise, get
prepared with possible substitutes.
3. Get ready with the equipment and tools to be used. Demonstration should be scheduled as
today and class period.
4. The demonstrator must try the activity several times before the real demonstrations for a
smooth sequencing of the steps as well as accuracy of the result.
5. The observers must be prepared and motivated to ensure concentration throughout the activity.
6. The demonstrator must be ready with on- the-spot revision/s such as alternative steps or
substitute materials when needed
7. Arrange the observers around the demonstration area or at a distance where they will be able
to observe fully what is going on.
8. Depending on the kind of demonstration to be undertaken, pointers or questions may be given
to focus students’ attention and avoid irrelevant observations.

 DURING

1. The place must be quiet in order to sustain the observers’ attention and interest during the
activity.
2. Extreme care must be taken in performing some delicate steps.
3. The activity must not be interrupted by unnecessary announcements or noise in the surroundings.
4. They are allowed to take down short notes or record some data which may be analyzed after.

AFTER

1. Allow some questions which bothered them during the demonstration.

2. An examination of the observed data and all information recorded follows.
3. Have an analysis of trends, patterns or uniform occurrences that can help in arriving at a
conclusion.
4. The solution or summary must be cooperatively undertaken by the whole class.
5. Assess learning by way of a short test, an oral evaluation or a performance test.

ADVANTAGES

1. The demonstration method follows a systematic procedure.

2. The use of expensive equipment and machines will be maximized.
3. Possible wastage of time, effort and resources will be avoided since the demonstration is
supposed to be well- planned in advance.
4. It will not result to trial and error learning as what happens with unplanned learning activities.
5. The findings are reliable and accurate since the procedure has bee tried before.
6. The value of confidence is developed among the demonstrators for such hands-on
demonstration.
7. Curiosity and keen observing ability are instilled among the observers.

2. INDIRECT/GUIDED / EXPLORATORY

APPROACH Indirect instruction method is best used when the learning process is inquiry-based,
the result is discovery and the learning context is a problem. This can come as 1) Inquiry
method/discovery method 2) Problem solving method 3) Project method

  1) INQUIRY METHOD We will never be able to help children learn if we tell them everything
they need to know. Rather, we must provide them with opportunities to explore, inquire and discover
new learning. The core of inquiry is a spontaneous and a self-directed exploration.

 STEPS IN THE INQUIRY METHOD

1. Define the topic or introduce the question
2. Guide students plan where and how to gather data and information.
3. Students present findings through graph, charts, PowerPoint presentation, models,
and writing.
 INSTRUCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
1. Investigative processes such as inferring, hypothesizing, measuring, predicting,
classifying, analyzing, and experimenting, formulating conclusions and
generalizations are employed.
2. The procedure in gathering information is not prescribed by the teachers.
3. The children are highly motivated to search, hence active participation is the best
indicator of inquisitiveness.
4. The answers arrived at are genuine products of their own efforts. 5. Focused
questions before, during and after are critical ingredients that provide direction
and sustain action.

 OUTCOMES OF INQUIRY TEACHING

1. Its emphasis is on the processes of gathering and processing of information
2. Its dependence on firsthand experience with objects and phenomena occurring in
the environment is certainly in agreement with the most often cited theory of
Piaget on intellectual development.
3. The inquiry approach which predominantly allows some degree of freedom
develops initiative and divergent thinking.
4. A deep sense of responsibility is developed when learners are left to manage their
own learning, be it in pursuit of answers, mastery of content or simply solving a
problem that confronts them instantly.
5. Educators strongly believes that facts and concepts that learners discover by
themselves become stored as part of their permanent learning.
6. Experiencing success in inquiry- based/discovery lessons builds up the learners’
feeling of confidence.
7. Participation in inquiry activities strengthens learners’ intellectual capabilities.

(JAMIE)

 HOW TO FACILITATE INQUIRY TEACHING

1. Arrange for an ideal room setting.
2. Choose tools and equipment that can easily be manipulated.
3. The materials to be used or examine must lend themselves easily to the processes
to be employed and the end product desired.
4. The questions/problems to be answered should originate from the learners,
followed by the formulation of hypothesis.
5. The procedure should likewise be planned by them.
6. At the completion of the activity, require an evaluation of the steps undertaken as
to its effectiveness and the clarity of the results.
7. Above all, the teacher himself/herself should internalize his/her changed role to
that of a guide, facilitator, and counselor rather than the traditional authority who
not only determines the material to be learned but also dictates how it should be
learned.

2) PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD

Problem solving is a teaching strategy that employs the scientific method in searching for
information. The five basic steps of scientific method or investigatory process are:

1. Sensing and defining the problem

2. Formulating hypothesis
3. Testing the likely hypothesis
4. Analysis, interpretation and evaluation of evidence
5. Formulating conclusion

ADVANTAGES

1. This method is most effective in developing skill in employing the science processes.
2. The scientific method can likewise be used effectively in other non-science objects.
3. The student’s active involvement resulting in meaningful experiences serves as a strong
motivation to follow the scientific procedure in future undertakings.
4. Problem solving develops higher level thinking skills.
5. A keen sense of responsibility, originality and resourcefulness are developed, which are
much needed ingredients for independent study.
6. The students become appreciative and grateful for the achievement of scientists.
7. Critical thinking, open-mindedness and wise judgment are among scientific attitudes
and values inculcated through competence in the scientific method.
8. The student learn to accept the opinions and evidence shared by others.

GUIDELINES FOR ITS EFFECTIVE USE

1. Provide sufficient training in defining and stating the problem in a clear and concise manner.
2. Make sure that the problem to be solved fits the age, interests and the skills of the students.
3. Group the students and allow each one to share in the tasks to be performed.
4. Guide them at every step by asking leading questions in case of snags.
5. Get ready with substitutions for materials which may not be available.
6. The emphasis is on the procedure and the processes employed rather than on the products.
7. The development of skills and attitudes takes priority over knowledge.
8. Involve the students in determining the criteria with which they will be evaluated.

“I may know many things but I do not know everything.”