1.1 Introduction to Methods

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The definition of instructional methods is "an educational approach for turning knowledge into learning." Instructional methods are the "how to" in the delivery of training. You have all heard the old saying that there is more than one way to skin a cat. Likewise, there is more than one method to use in training your students. The methods used in any learning situation are primarily dictated by the learning objectives decided upon by the course developers. In many cases a combination of methods are used to intensify the learning experiences.

Any instructional method a teacher uses has advantages, disadvantages, and requires some preliminary preparation. Often times, a particular teaching method will naturally flow into another, all within the same lesson, and excellent teachers have developed the skills to make the process seamless to the students. Which instructional method is "right" for a particular lesson depends on many things, and among them are

the age and developmental level of the students,

what the students already know, and

what they need to know to succeed with the lesson, the subject-matter content, the objective of the lesson, the available people, time, space and material resources, and the physical setting.

Another, more difficult problem is to select an instructional method that best fits one's particular teaching style and the lesson-situation. There is no one "right" method for teaching a particular lesson, but there are some criteria that pertain to each that can help a teacher make the best decision possible.

The purpose of the teacher in the classroom is to develop and apply appropriate methods of teaching sensitive to the conditions of the students, teachers and environment.

There are two dominant styles of teaching: Direct and Indirect.
Direct teaching is called systematic teaching, explicit instruction and active teaching. All these terms refer to explicit, step-by-step instruction. It is associated with a teacher-centered or teacher-controlled classroom.
Indirect teaching define a teacher who prefer to draw things our of their students. It is associated with student-centered classroom.

Teacher with “direct style” tend to

set definite academic goals, use structured, sequential learning materials, prescribe what students will do and how they will do it, allow sufficient time to learn the prescribed materials, monitor and check student progress toward the goals and provide them with corrective feedback.

Some types of direct instruction are

Lecturing,

Expository teaching,

Peer and cross-age tutoring,

The use of computer as an information provider,

Teacher with “indirect style” tend to

Set general rather than specific goals, Use more and more varied learning materials, May set a task to be accomplished but permit students to decide how to do it, Serve as a facilitotor when students need help, Provide sufficient time to accomplish the task and to consider its merit.

Some types of indirect instruction are

Discovery Instruction,

Discussion,

Problem solving

Drama

Project based teaching