The complete list of teaching methods. (2023)

Whether you're a longtime educator, preparing for your first teaching job, or dreaming of a career in the classroom, teaching means many different things to different people.

Your individual approaches and strategies for imparting knowledge to your students and inspiring them to learn are probably based on your academic training as well as your instinct and intuition.

Whether you acquire your preferred teaching methods organically or through active study of pedagogy and pedagogy, it can be helpful to have a thorough knowledge of different teaching methods.

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Teaching methods: not as easy as ABC

The teacher-centered approach versus the student-centered approach. High-tech versus low-tech learning approaches. Flipped classrooms, differentiated instruction, inquiry-based learning, personalized learning, and more.

Not only are there dozens of teaching methods to explore, but it's important to get a sense of how they often overlap or relate to one another. The teacher-centric educational website Teach.com provides an extremely helpful insight into this topic.

"Instructional theories can be grouped into four categories based on two main parameters: a teacher-centered approach versus a student-centered approach, and the use of high-tech versus low-tech materials," the news reads.Teach.com Article, which breaks down a variety of influential teaching methods as follows:

Teacher-centered learning approach
Teachers act as trainers/authority figures, imparting knowledge to their students through lectures and direct instruction, aiming to measure results through tests and assessments. This method is sometimes referred to as "gradual".

Student-centered learning approach
Teachers still serve as an authority figure, but they can act more as facilitators or "additional guides" as students take a much more active role in the learning process. In this method, students learn continuously and are assessed in activities such as group projects, student portfolios, and class attendance.

High-tech learning approach
From devices like laptops and tablets to using the internet to connect students to information and people around the world, technology is playing an increasingly important role in many of today's classrooms. In the high-tech approach to learning, teachers use many different types of technology to help students learn in the classroom.

Low-Tech-Lernansatz
Of course, technology has advantages and disadvantages, and many teachers believe that a low-tech approach allows them to better tailor the educational experience to different types of students. While computer skills are undeniably necessary these days, this needs to be weighed against the potential downsides; For example, some would argue that over-reliance on spell check and auto-correct features may impair rather than strengthen students' spelling and writing skills.

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To delve deeper into the intersections between different types of teaching methods, here's a closer look at three teacher-centered teaching methods and five popular student-centered approaches.

Teaching methods [teacher-centred]

Direct instruction (low technology)
Under the direct instruction model, sometimes referred to as the "traditional" instructional approach, teachers impart knowledge to their students primarily through lectures and written lesson plans, without regard to student preferences, hands-on activities, or other learning opportunities. This method is also often low-tech, relying on text and workbooks rather than computers or mobile devices.

Flipped Classrooms (Hightech)
What if students made the "classroom" part of their home learning and did their "homework" in the classroom? This is a highly simplified description of the flipped classroom approach, where students watch or read their lectures on their home computers, and then complete classroom assignments and problem-solving exercises.

Kinesthetic Learning (Low-Tech)
In the kinesthetic learning model, students engage in hands-on physical activities rather than listening to lectures or watching demonstrations. Kinesthetic learning, which prioritizes movement and creativity over technological skills, is most commonly used to augment traditional styles of teaching; The theory states that students are required to do or create something to exercise various learning muscles.

Teaching Methods [Student Centered]

Differentiated instruction (Low Tech)
Inspired by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1975, enacted to ensure all children equal access to public education, differentiated education is the practice of developing an understanding of how each student learns best and the The lessons are then adapted to the individual needs of the students. it takes.

In some cases, this means Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with special needs, but today teachers use differentiated instruction to engage with all types of students and offer choices about how students access content and what types of activities they engage in conduct to master a concept of how student learning is assessed and even how instruction is organized.

Research-based learning (high tech)
Rather than acting as a single authority figure, inquiry-based teachers provide support and guidance as students work on projects that depend on them taking a more active and participatory role in their own learning. Different students can participate in different projects, develop their own questions and then conduct research, often using online resources, and then demonstrate the results of their work through self-made videos, web pages or formal presentations.

Expeditionary Learning (Low-Tech)
Expeditionary learning is based on the idea that there is significant educational value in taking students out of the classroom and into the real world. Examples include trips to City Hall or Washington, D.C. to learn how government works, or trips into the great outdoors to participate in specific environmental studies. Technology can be used to augment these expeditions, but the main goal is to engage the community for real-world learning experiences.

Personalized learning (high tech)
In personalized learning, teachers encourage students to follow personalized, self-directed learning plans inspired by their specific interests and abilities. Because the assessment is also tailored to the individual, students can progress at their own pace and add more time as needed. Teachers deliver both traditional classroom and online material, while continuously reviewing student progress and meeting with students to make necessary changes to their study plans.

Game-based learning (high-tech)
Students love games, and significant advances have been made in the field of game-based learning, which requires students to be problem solvers while working on missions to achieve a specific goal. For students, this approach combines specific learning objectives with the fun of earning points or badges, just like in a video game. For teachers, planning this type of activity requires additional time and effort, which is why many rely on software like Classcraft or 3DGameLab to help students maximize the educational value they receive in the game-based learning environment.

What about blended learning and UDL?

hybrid learning
hybrid learningis another strategy for teachers who want to introduce flexibility into their lessons. This method relies heavily on technology, with part of the instruction delivered online and part in the classroom through a more traditional approach, often utilizing elements of the flipped classroom approach outlined above. At the heart of blended learning is the philosophy of taking the time to understand each student's learning style and developing strategies for each student's instruction, while building flexibility and choice into your curriculum.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
The UDL embodies both student-centered learning and the "multiple intelligences theory," which asserts that different students are hardwired to learn more effectively in different ways (examples of these "intelligences" include visual-spatial, logical-mathematical, physical -kinaesthetic, linguistic). , musicals, etc.). In practice, this could mean that some students are working on a writing project while others are more involved in creating a play or film. UDL emphasizes the idea of ​​educating all students, including students with special needs, in the general education classroom, creating community and building knowledge through various mediums.

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Teaching methods: from A to Z

In addition to the many philosophical and pedagogical approaches to teaching, classroom educators today employ diverse and sometimes very creative methods that involve specific strategies, instructions and tools that require little explanation. These include:

• appointments with students
• Art based projects
• Audio-Tutorials
• author chair
• book reports
• billboard
• Brainstorming
• case studies
• chalkboard instruction
• class projects
• discussion in the classroom
• Video diary for lessons
• Collaborative Learning Spaces
• Creation of murals and montages.
• current questionnaires
• The debate
• designated placeholder
• discussion groups
• DIY activities
• Dramatization (plays, skits, etc.)
• educational games
• Educational Podcasts
• writings (descriptive)
• Essays (exhibition)
• Essays (narrative)
• Essays (convincing)
• exhibitions and exhibitions
• Discover different cultures
• trips
• flash cards
• flexible seat
• Gamified Learning Plans
• cool hour
• group discussion
• guest speaker
• practical activities
• individual projects
• interview
• Daily
• laborexperiment
• learning contracts
• learning stations
• Network
• literary circles
• make posters
• math games
• bogus conventions
• Motivationsplakate
• Music from other countries/cultures
• oral reports
• discussion forums
• peer learning
• penpals
• Photo
• Problem Solving Activities
• Read aloud
• theater of the readers
• recitation
• reflective discussion
• research projects
• rewards and recognition
• role playing game
• school newspapers
• science fairs
• scrapbooks
• town twinning programs
• spelling bees
• Narrative
• student podcast
• student ID cards
• student presentations
• Projects designed by students
• Supplemental reading assignments
• network
• Teamwork exercises
• coursework
• textbook assignments
• Think tac toe
• time capsules
• timelines
• Use of community or local resources.
• video creation
• video classes
• vocabulary lists
• web missions
• word walls
• workbooks

for the love of teaching

So is the center of the educational universe the teacher or the student? Does a heavy reliance on the wonders of technology lead to a more productive educational experience, or is a more traditional, low-tech approach the best way to help students succeed?

Questions like these are food for thought for educators around the world, in part because they inspire ongoing thought about how to meaningfully transform students' lives.

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