Teaching Approaches

Teaching approaches, teaching styles, and instructional strategies all refer to the ways teachers go about delivering the content of the lesson to students. Different styles or approaches are usually defined in terms of the amount of teacher control versus learner involvement in the lesson. A teacher might select a direct instruction approach, in which the emphasis is on class control, with little opportunity for students to choose between alternatives and make decisions about their own learning. Using this style, a teacher would give explicit instructions and provided clear description of what learners are to do. They would Specify how students should respond and direct all aspects of the class. Think of teaching styles on a continuum with a direct approach at one end and an indirect approach at the other. An indirect instruction approach is characterized by opportunities for student involvement with teachers establishing a learning environment that helps students discover solutions On their own. Indirect teaching would involve students in deci¬sion making at a maximum level. Teachers can select an approach that falls anywhere along the continuum from direct to indirect, depending on the goal of the lesson and the intended outcome.