Instructional Strategies

1. Drill & Practice

1.1. Advantages

1.2. Small amounts of information can be practiced, giving students opportunities to try it out.

1.3. Students receive feedback on their responses.

1.4. Limitations

1.5. May seem repetative or boring to some students

1.6. If student appears to be not understanding and making same errors, a new approach will be needed.

2. Simulations

2.1. Advantages

2.2. Hands on

2.3. Provides a safe environment

2.4. Students of different ability levels can participate

2.5. Limitations

2.6. May not truly represent actual event

2.7. May require too much time to complete.

2.8. Idea may be too complex.

3. Tutorial

3.1. Advantages

3.2. Self paces, and students can work independently.

3.3. Some programs will respond to students progress and allow them to begin a new topic, or offer extra help if needed.

3.4. Limitations

3.5. May be boring and not engaging.

3.6. No guidance from teacher. Student may not understand based off the tutorial, and may not be effective as a learning approach.

4. Discovery

4.1. Advantages

4.2. Very engaging

4.3. Can use steps or processes that have been previously learned.

4.4. Limitations

4.5. Time may become a factor

4.6. Sometimes preparation can be very critical. Teachers must think about any issues they may run into,

5. Discussion

5.1. Advantages

5.1.1. Opportunity for new ideas.

5.1.2. May be more interesting than sitting and listening, more engaging.

5.1.3. Limitations

5.1.4. Not all students will participate.

5.1.5. Younger students may not follow along as well

5.1.6. Some questions may pose to difficult for some, or may not be challenging enough.

6. Advantages

7. Demonstration

7.1. Advantages

7.2. Students will see how its done before they do it.

7.2.1. Session Rule 1

7.2.2. Session Rule 2

7.3. If teacher is the only one doing it, supply cost will be cheaper.

7.4. If there is a safety concern, potential danger will be limited if teacher does demonstation only.

7.5. Limitations

7.6. No hands on for students.

7.7. If pace is too fast, some students may not be able to follow the pace.

8. Presentation

8.1. Advantages

8.2. Several note taking strategies

8.3. Several resources to find most current information

8.4. Limitations

8.5. May need to present info in different ways due to learning styles

8.6. No interaction, not interactive

8.7. May not be appropriate for younger students. Age and attention level important.

9. Cooperative Learning

9.1. Advantages

9.2. Students that are not understanding may benefit from a group of different ability levels.

9.3. Can be used for different content.

9.4. Limitations

9.5. Groups may end up too large, not allowing for easy participation.

9.6. Grouping may end up with limitied levels of ability

10. Games

10.1. Advantages

10.2. Provides a competative environment.

10.3. Keeps students engaged.

10.4. Limitations

10.5. Games may be too difficult or not difficult enough.

10.6. May be too expensive

10.7. Learning objectives may be overlooked due to interest of winning vs learning.

11. Problem Based Learning

11.1. Advantages

11.2. Can control the level of problem complexity

11.3. Students stay engaged as they work towards the solution.

11.4. Limitations

11.5. Quality problems may be difficult to make

11.6. Creating the lesson may be difficult.