Teaching Approaches, Methods,

and Techniques
Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque
Professor and Research Director, Education
and development research Council

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and Development Research Council (EDRC
DIFFERENT APPROACHES
AND METHODS
“A thousand teachers, a thousand methods.”
-Chinese Proverb

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

 INTRODUCTION
TEACHING APPROACH
It is a set of principles, beliefs, or ideas
about the nature of learning which is
translated into the classroom.

TEACHING STRATEGY
It is a long term plan of action designed
to achieve a particular goal.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and Development Research Council (EDRC
TEACHING METHOD
It is a systematic way of doing
something. It implies an orderly logical
arrangement of steps. It is more procedural.

TEACHING TECHNIQUE
It is a well-defined procedure used to
accomplish a specific activity or task.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 TEACHING APPROACHES
TEACHER-CENTERED LEARNER-CENTERED

SUBJECT-MATTERED CENTER LEARNER-CENTERED

TEAHER DOMINATED INTERACTIVE

“BANKING” APPROACH CONSTRUCTIVIST

DISCIPLINAL INTEGRATED

INDIVIDUALISTIC COLLABORATIVE

INDIRECT, GUIDED DIRECT

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
⦿ TEACHER-CENTERED APPROACH
The teacher is perceived to be the only
reliable source of information in contrast to the
learner-centered approach.

⦿ LEARNER-CENTERED APPROACH
In which it is premised on the belief that the
learner is also an important resource because
he/she too knows something and is therefore
capable of sharing something.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
⦿ SUBJECT MATTER-CENTERED
APPROACH
Subject matter gains primacy over that of the
learner.

⦿ TEACHER DOMINATED APPROACH

In this approach, only the teacher’s voice is
heard. He/she is the sole dispenser of information.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
⦿ INTERACTIVE APPROACH
In this approach, an interactive
classroom will have more student talk and
less teacher talk. Students are given the
opportunity to interact with teacher and
with other students.
⦿ CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACH
The students are expected to construct
knowledge and meaning out for what they
are taught by connecting them to prior
experience.
Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and
Development Research Council (EDRC
⦿ BANKING APPROACH
The teacher deposits knowledge into the
“empty” minds of students for students to
commit to memory.
⦿ INTEGRATED APPROACH
It makes the teacher connects what
he/she teaches to other lessons of the same
subject (intradisciplinary) or connects
his/her lessons with other subjects thus
making his/her approach interdisciplinary
and multidisciplinary.
Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and
Development Research Council (EDRC
⦿ DISCIPLINAL APPROACH
It limits the teacher to discussing his/her
lessons within the boundary of his/her
subject.

⦿ COLLABORATIVE APPROACH
It will welcome group work, teamwork,
partnerships, and group discussion.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
⦿ INDIVIDUALISTIC APPROACH
It wants the individual students to work
by themselves.

⦿ DIRECT TEACHING APPROACH

The teacher directly tells or shows or
demonstrates what is to be taught.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
⦿ INDIRECT,GUIDED APPROACH
The teacher guides the learner to
discover things for himself/herself. The
teacher facilitates the learning process by
allowing the learner to be engaged in the
learning process with his/her guidance.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
Other teaching approaches cited in education literature
are:

⦿ RESEARCH-BASED APPROACH
As the name implies, teaching and learning are anchored on
research findings.

⦿ WHOLE CHILD APPROACH

The learning process itself takes into account not only the
academic needs of the learners, but also their emotional, creative,
psychological, spiritual, and developmental needs.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
⦿ METACOGNITIVE APPROACH
The teaching process brings the learner
to the process of thinking about thinking.
The learner reflects on what he learned and
on his/her ways of learning.

⦿ PROBLEM-BASED APPROACH
As the name implies, the
teaching-learning process is focused on
problems. Time is spent on analyzing and
solving problems.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 In summary, approaches vary in the degree of teacher and
learner engagement, focus, number of learners involved in the
teaching-learning process as shown in the diagram below:

Engagement
Teacher Learner
Focus
Subject Matter Learner
Number
Individual Group

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 DIRECT/EXPOSITOR
APPROAC
1) DIRECT INSTRUCTION/
LECTURE METHOD
Direct instruction is aimed at helping
students acquire procedural knowledge
exercised in the performance of some task.
Procedural knowledge refers to skills needed
in the performance of a task.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
Steps of the Direct or Lecture Metho
To employ the methodology in teaching
skill/s, follow these steps:
a) Provide the rationale,
b) Demonstrate the skill,
c) Provide guided practice until mastery,
d) Check for understanding and provide
feedback,
e) Provide extended practice and transfer, and
f) Assess learning at the end.
(This is what we call summative assessment.)

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
The goal of summative assessment is
to evaluate student learning at the end of an
instructional unit by comparing it against
some standard or benchmark.
Summative assessments are often high
stakes, which means that they have a high
point value.
Examples of summative assessments
include:
⦿ a midterm exam
⦿ a final project
⦿ a paper
Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and
Development Research Council (EDRC
 If you teach facts, principles, or laws, your steps
are similar with those of teaching a skill.
a) Give a short introduction by providing the
rationale,
b) Present your lesson,
c) Develop the lesson by explaining, illustrating, it
with diagrams if appropriate and/or giving
concrete examples,
d) Give application of the lesson, and
e) Check for understanding and provide feedback.
(This is what we call formative assessment.)

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
The goal of formative assessment is
to monitor student learning to provide ongoing
feedback that can be used by instructors to
improve their teaching and by students to improve
their learning. More specifically, formative
assessments:
⦿ help students identify their strengths and
weaknesses and target areas that need work
⦿ help faculty recognize where students are
struggling and address problems immediately.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 Formative assessments are generally low
stakes, which means that they have low or
no point value.
Examples of formative assessments
include asking students to:
⦿ draw a concept map in class to represent
their understanding of a topic
⦿ submit one or two sentences identifying the
main point of a lecture
⦿ turn in a research proposal for early
feedback

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 INSTRUCTIONAL
CHARACTERISTICS
1. The strategy is teacher-directed.
2. The emphasis is on the teaching of skill.
Each step must be mastered, hence the
students gain “how” rather than “what”. It
is termed procedural knowledge.
3. Taught in a step-by-step fashion, it ensures
the learning of the entire procedure with
no step missed.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
4. Lesson objectives include easily observed
behaviors that can be measured
accurately.
5. This is a form of learning through
imitation, sometimes termed “behavioral
modeling”.
6. This can also be used to teach facts,
principles, and laws.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 GUIDELINES FOR ITS
EFFECTIVE USE
TEACHING SKILL
1. The students must be given ample time for
practice.
2. They must be included in the planning stage
since this technique is highly task-oriented and
aimed at mastery of every step. The lesson
objectives are student-based.
3. Describe the testing situation and specify the
level of performance expected.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
4. Divide complex skills and understanding
into subskills or into its component steps so
they can be taught easily and with
precision.
5. Design own strategy in teaching each skill
which will eventually contribute to the
learning of the entire skill.
6. Before the demonstration, carefully
rehearse all steps. The steps should be
observed and followed.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
7. Assign practice for short periods of time,
then continue learning by imitating others.
8. Provide feedback and encouragement
through praises. Positively motivated, the
students will never get tired practicing.
9. Be able to construct good
performance-based tests.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 Teaching Declarative Knowledge –
Facts, Principles and Laws

1. Be sure the facts, principles, and laws are correctly,

clearly, and adequately explained.
2. Use visual aids to concretize abstract principles and
laws.
3. Illustrate laws and principles with concrete
examples.
4. Present facts meaningfully by citing their
significance and by connecting them with everyday
life.
Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and
Development Research Council (EDRC
2.) DEMONSTRATION METHOD
As the name implies, in the demonstration
method the teacher or an assigned student or
group shows how a process is done while the
students become observers.
The demonstrator is knowledgeable in
preparing the apparatus needed according to
the steps to be followed. The rest of the class
becomes focused on the activity and
concentration on the subject is assured.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 GUIDELINES FOR ITS EFFECTIVE
USE
BEFORE
1. The demonstrator/s must be well-selected.
He/she/they must be skilled in operating modern
equipment and proficient in undertaking
scientific investigations.
2. When planning the activities make sure that the
materials are easily available. Likewise, get
prepared with possible substitutes.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
3. Get ready with the equipment and tools to be
used. Demonstration should be scheduled as to
day and class period.
4. The demonstrator must try the activity several
times before the real demonstrations for a
smooth sequencing of the steps as well as
accuracy of the result.
5. The observers must be prepared and
motivated to ensure concentration throughout
the activity.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
6. The demonstrator must be ready with
on-the-spot revision/s such as alternative steps
or substitute materials when needed.
7. Arrange the observers around the
demonstration area or at a distance where
they will be able to observe fully what is going
on.
8. Depending on the kind of demonstration to be
undertaken, pointers or questions may be
given to focus students’ attention and avoid
irrelevant observations.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
DURING
1. The place must be quiet in order to sustain
the observers’ attention and interest
during the activity.
2. Extreme care must be taken in performing
some delicate steps.
3. The activity must not be interrupted by
unnecessary announcements or noise in the
surroundings.
4. They are allowed to take down short notes
or record some data which may be
analyzed after.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
AFTER
1. Allow some questions which bothered them
during the demonstration.
2. An examination of the observed data and all
information recorded follows.
3. Have an analysis of trends, patterns or
uniform occurrences that can help in
arriving at a conclusion.
4. The solution or summary must be
cooperatively undertaken by the whole class.
5. Assess learning by way of a short test, an
oral evaluation or a performance test.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 ADVANTAGES
1. The demonstration method follows a
systematic procedure.
2. The use of expensive equipment and
machines will be maximized.
3. Possible wastage of time, effort and
resources will be avoided since the
demonstration is supposed to be
well-planned in advance.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
4. It will not result to trial and error learning
as what happens with unplanned learning
activities.
5. The findings are reliable and accurate
since the procedure has bee tried before.
6. The value of confidence is developed
among the demonstrators for such
hands-on demonstration.
7. Curiosity and keen observing ability are
instilled among the observers.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 EXPLORATORY
APPROACH
Indirect instruction method is best used
when the learning process is inquiry-based,
the result is discovery and the learning
context is a problem. This can come as
1) Inquiry method/discovery method
2) Problem solving method
3) Project method

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
1) INQUIRY METHOD
We will never be able to help children learn
if we tell them everything they need to know.
Rather, we must provide them with
opportunities to explore, inquire and discover
new learning. The core of inquiry is a
spontaneous and a self-directed exploration.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 STEPS IN THE INQUIRY
METHOD
1. Define the topic or introduce the question.
2. Guide students plan where and how to
gather data and information.
3. Students present findings through graph,
charts, PowerPoint presentation, models,
and writing.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 INSTRUCTIONAL
CHARACTERISTICS
The following are commonly observed
characteristics of the discovery/inquiry method:
1. Investigative processes such as inferring,
hypothesizing, measuring, predicting,
classifying, analyzing, and experimenting,
formulating conclusions and generalizations
are employed.
2. The procedure in gathering information is not
prescribed by the teachers.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
3. The children are highly motivated to
search, hence active participation is the
best indicator of inquisitiveness.
4. The answers arrived at are genuine
products of their own efforts.
5. Focused questions before, during and after
are critical ingredients that provide
direction and sustain action.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 OUTCOMES OF INQUIRY
TEACHING
1. Its emphasis is on the processes of gathering
and processing of information
2. Its dependence on firsthand experience with
objects and phenomena occurring in the
environment is certainly in agreement with the
most often cited theory of Piaget on
intellectual development.
3. The inquiry approach which predominantly
allows some degree of freedom develops
initiative and divergent thinking.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
4. A deep sense of responsibility is developed when
learners are left to manage their own learning, be
it in pursuit of answers, mastery of content or
simply solving a problem that confronts them
instantly.
5. Educators strongly believes that facts and
concepts that learners discover by themselves
become stored as part of their permanent
learning.
6. Experiencing success in inquiry-based/discovery
lessons builds up the learners’ feeling of
confidence.
7. Participation in inquiry activities strengthens
learners’ intellectual capabilities.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 HOW TO FACILITATE INQUIRY
TEACHING
1. Arrange for an ideal room setting.
2. Choose tools and equipment that can easily be
manipulated.
3. The materials to be used or examine must lend
themselves easily to the processes to be
employed and the end product desired.
4. The questions/problems to be answered should
originate from the learners, followed by the
formulation of hypothesis.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
5. The procedure should likewise be planned by
them.
6. At the completion of the activity, require an
evaluation of the steps undertaken as to its
effectiveness and the clarity of the results.
7. Above all, the teacher himself/herself should
internalize his/her changed role to that of a
guide, facilitator, and counselor rather than
the traditional authority who not only
determines the material to be learned but also
dictates how it should be learned.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
2) PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD
Problem solving is a teaching strategy that
employs the scientific method in searching
for information. The five basic steps of
scientific method or investigatory process
are:
1. Sensing and defining the problem
2. Formulating hypothesis
3. Testing the likely hypothesis
4. Analysis, interpretation and evaluation of
evidence
5. Formulating conclusion
Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and
Development Research Council (EDRC
 ADVANTAGES
1. This method is most effective in developing
skill in employing the science processes.
2. The scientific method can likewise be used
effectively in other non-science objects.
3. The student’s active involvement resulting in
meaningful experiences serves as a strong
motivation to follow the scientific procedure in
future undertakings.
4. Problem solving develops higher level thinking
skills.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
5. A keen sense of responsibility, originality and
resourcefulness are developed, which are
much needed ingredients for independent
study.
6. The students become appreciative and grateful
for the achievement of scientists.
7. Critical thinking, open-mindedness and wise
judgment are among scientific attitudes and
values inculcated through competence in the
scientific method.
8. The student learn to accept the opinions and
evidence shared by others.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
 GUIDELINES FOR ITS
EFFECTIVE USE
1. Provide sufficient training in defining and
stating the problem in a clear and concise
manner.
2. Make sure that the problem to be solved
fits the age, interests and the skills of the
students.
3. Group the students and allow each one to
share in the tasks to be performed.
4. Guide them at every step by asking leading
questions in case of snags.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
5. Get ready with substitutions for materials
which may not be available.
6. The emphasis is on the procedure and the
processes employed rather than on the
products.
7. The development of skills and attitudes takes
priority over knowledge.
8. Involve the students in determining the
criteria with which they will be evaluated.

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and

Development Research Council (EDRC
THANK YOU AND GOOD
AFTERNOON

“I may know many things

but I do not know everything.”

Dr. Md. Enamul Hoque, Director at Education and Development Research Council (EDRC