Instructional Strategies

1. Tutorial

1.1. Advantages: Students can work independently, they can work at their own pace, and students can individualize their tutorial.

1.2. Limitations: The repetitive nature of this activity could bore students, could also be frustrating and if the teacher is not providing guidance, the student may not be moving along effectively.

2. Discovery

2.1. Advantages: Students at all levels will be engaged in the activity, previous steps can be repeated, and students can have a feeling of control over their learning.

2.2. Limitations: Design and implementation can be time consuming, teachers must be adequately prepared and think of each possible problem, and can lead to misunderstanding about the content.

3. Discussion

3.1. Advantages: Students will likely be interested to be a part of the conversation, it could challenge many of them to think outside of the box, all students are encouraged to participate, and it is a great opportunity for new ideas to be introduced.

3.2. Limitations: Not all students will be able to enter into the conversation due to time constraints, some students may become bored if they are knowledgeable on the subject, some could become frustrated if the subject is foreign to them, and younger children may not respond well this strategy.

4. Cooperative Learning

4.1. Advantages: Encouraging students of different ability levels to work together benefits the entire group, the group can be formal or informal, long-term groups can be developed for multiple learning activities, and cooperative learning can be applied within its content areas.

4.2. Limitations: Groups need to be kept small, this strategy needs not be overused or it could diminish the effectiveness, members of the group need to be chosen carefully.

5. Games

5.1. Advantages: Students will be excited to learn, games can be adapted to match learning outcomes, they can be set to individual and whole class participation, and they are designed to gain attention.

5.2. Limitations: Students may be more concerned in winning than learning, some games may be too difficult and could cause frustration, many games are too expensive, students may become more concerned with who won and who lost verses what knowledge they have gained.

5.3. Games can be used on media devices such as computers and iPads. Today's students are already doing so by playing on education websites such as www.abcya.com and www.poptropica.com

5.4. Games can be used on media devices such as computers and iPads. Today's students are already doing so by playing on education websites such as www.poptropica.com and www.abcya.com

6. Problem-based Learning

6.1. Advantages: Students will be engaged with a real-world learning experience, the relationship between knowledge and skill is forged, challenges can be slowly integrated to increase the students skill.

6.2. Limitations: Creating quality problems can be difficult for teachers, various age and experience may require assistance from the teacher, creating and using problem solving lessons will be time consuming.

7. Simulations

7.1. Advantages: Engaging in learning experiences are safe, only way to engage in recreation of history, very hands on, and students of all ability levels can participate.

7.2. Limitations: The actual event may be hard to represent, classroom setting may prohibit accurate depiction, and the activities could require too much time to complete.

8. Presentation

8.1. Advantages: Information only needs to be presented once, students can can notes, the information sources are legitimate, and students can present what they have learned in small groups or to the whole class.

8.2. Limitations: Not all students respond well to presentations, has the potential to be boring, some students might find it difficult to take to notes, and presentations will need to be adjusted depending on audience level and attention span.

8.3. Presentations can be completed using Power Point, MindMeister, Excel and many other programs. Students and teachers can use these to cultivate or present learning in a colorful, engaging manner.

9. Demonstration

9.1. Advantages: Students get to see the activity being performed before they have to execute it, teachers can guide the entire class, only a small amount of supplies are necessary, and the potential for danger is small because the teacher performs the task.

9.2. Limitations: Students will not have hands-on experience, not all students will have a good view of the demonstration, and there is a set pace, so not all students will be able to comprehend all of the steps.

10. Drill & Practice

10.1. Advantages: Students will receive feedback, information is presented in small chunks, and practicing the information will help students to retain it as well as try out their new knowledge in a positive way.

10.2. Limitations: Not all students will retain the information by repetition, it has the potential to be monotonous and boring, and if students make repeated errors, this activity will not help them succeed.

10.3. Teachers can use digital flashcards on the Smart Board to teach students letters, numbers, words, math and much more.