TYPES OF TEACHING METHODS

Teacher-Centered Instruction/ LECTURE METHOD/ TEACHER

EXPOSITION

Recognized as the most conventional approach, the teacher-centered

methodology is based on the idea that the teacher has the main responsibility in
the learning environment. Teachers are in charge of the classroom and direct all
activities. Typically, in this approach, students are seated at individual desks that
face the teacher. This method is completely under the control of teacher and is information
centered approach. In this method the teacher is an active participant and the child is a passive
learner. In this method the teacher speaks or delivers a lecture on a particular topic and the
children listens. It is one way traffic because the teacher gives ideas and the children receives
them. In other words, students passively absorb the information while the teacher
actively delivers it.

Advantages:
1. It highlights the importance of the teacher’s role as facilitator. Although
the teacher-centered approach has been criticized for encouraging passive
learning, no one can deny that students need the assistance of a teacher to
develop their skills.
2. Having been built on behavioral theory, this teaching method facilitates
control over changes in student behavior through direct instruction. It might be
helpful to use the core of this approach and modify it depending on the teacher’s
and students’ needs, gradually shifting the focus from the former to the latter.

Disadvantages:
1. Critics cite lack of stimulation student motivation. Indeed, the teacher-
centered method, used blindly, may not allow students enough freedom of mind
and creativity.
2. It is poor at promoting analytical thinking and problem solving skills. Not
having enough opportunities for students to make their own choices may result in
lack of decision making skills and even inability to think critically.

Small Group Instruction

Small group instruction (SGI) usually follows whole group instruction and provides
students with a reduced student-teacher ratio, typically in groups of four to six
students. SGI allows teachers to work more closely with each student on a specific
learning objective, reinforce skills learned in whole group instruction, and check
for student understanding. This teaching method is based on constant activities
around workstations: groups working with the teacher and groups working
independently on varied activities, such as using manipulatives or computer/online
resources.

Advantages:
1. Lessons are adapted to each student’s level. This allows teachers to
provide targeted, differentiated instruction to small groups of students in a natural
way. It helps the instructor to more closely evaluate what each student is capable
of and construct strategic plans around the assessments.
2. It promotes students’ social adaptation skills. Students who find it difficult
to ask questions and participate in a large group setting may benefit from working
in a small group setting, where they feel more at ease and less overwhelmed.

Disadvantages:
1. It takes more time and effort to prepare materials and organize
workstations for each student group. Teachers need to think through each type of
activity that will be provided at workstations: they should be equally engaging and
effective.
2. Students might feel pressure to always be involved, always contributing to
lessons, and always taking some kind of role in group work.

3. Student-Centered / Constructivist Approach

As we consider shifting the focus from teacher to students, the rest of the
approaches from this list are considered to be student-centered or constructivist.
With the development of the educational sphere and society in general, the idea of
a student-centered approach has become more popular, and there are good
reasons for that. Student-centered classrooms include students in planning,
implementation, and assessments. Involving the learners in these decisions places
more responsibility and ownership on them rather than on the teacher. Also,
teachers must become comfortable with changing their leadership style from
directive to consultative. Meanwhile, students may work in small groups, access
centers, and move about the classroom freely.

Advantages:
1. Students play a more active role in their learning and develop a sense of
responsibility.
2. Thanks to teachers avoiding transmission of knowledge directly, students
have a chance to stimulate their analytical thinking, by “making sense of what they
are learning by relating it to prior knowledge and by discussing it with others,”
according to American educational psychologist J. Brophy.

Disadvantages:
1. There is a risk of facing some behavioral problems by giving students
independence, especially when it comes to young children. To avoid such
problems, teachers must lay a groundwork by creating a model of correct
behavior: having the freedom to do what you want means being ready to take
responsibility for the process and the results.
2. This method works best when the instructor makes the lesson interesting.
Without this, students may get bored, their minds may wander, and they may miss
key information.

4. Project-Based Learning
A relatively new teaching method, project-based learning falls within the student-
centered approach. As the name suggests, in project-based learning students
complete projects. However, these are big, meaty projects in which students
acquire knowledge, research, think critically, evaluate, analyze, make decisions,
collaborate, and more.
Typically, projects are created in response to an open-ended question. Another
important part of the projects is that they relate to real-world problems. The
projects shouldn’t just apply to the classroom but have an impact, too. For
example, students might make a radio show for the whole school to hear. Or, they
m

Advantages:
1. Between projects, the teacher may provide scaffolding and smaller bite-
sized projects to help build skills such as how to research, how to solve division
problems, how to write a letter, etc. Thus, students build on what they know by
asking questions, investigating, interacting with others, and reflecting on these
experiences.
2. Cooperative learning is enhanced by letting students organize their work
in groups.

Disadvantages:
1. It’s quite time consuming and requires good classroom management skills
(from equipment availability to organizing and controlling the usage of it).
2. Students without experience in group work may have difficulties adapting
roles and negotiating compromise.

6. Inquiry-Based Learning
What if learning was question-driven? This is exactly what inquiry -based learning
is about: it engages students by making real-world connections through
exploration and high-level questioning.

Advantages:
1. Teachers guide students to develop critical thinking and problem solving
skills. To learn these skills, the teacher helps students think through their
processes, teaches them possible approaches, and encourages them to try various
methods.
2. Students are encouraged to fail as a part of the process and then improve
their performance in subsequent activities.
3. Instead of repeating answers students have been taught, students learn to
seek their own answers to questions. So, students develop strong research skills.

Disadvantages:
1. Because students are always encouraged to speak up, participate, and not
be afraid to fail, there is always a risk of embarrassing students who may not be
quick thinkers (or who suffer from learning disabilities and processing issues). This
leads to a higher level of anxiety and loss of motivation.
2. It may result in poorer standardized testing performance. When too much
time is dedicated to student inquiries, there’s always the risk that important “core”
topics could be left out.

Heuristic Method/ DISCOVERY METHOD

The word heuristic is believed to be originated from Greek work “Heurisco” which means “I find
out”. The profounder of this method was Professor Henry Edward Armstrong.Properties of
Heuristic method are:

 Just like other methods, heuristic method also has a special place in mathematics
teaching.
 This method helps in developing scientific and mathematical attitude in students.
 Herbert Spencer has thrown light on this method and stated that- “Students should
be told minimum and as much as possible they should be encouraged to discover.”
ADVANTAGES

 It develops self-confidence, self-reliance and scientific attitude.

 It develops ability of observation and spirit of enquiry to solve the problems.
 Students get the opportunity to develop the mental and thinking powers.
 This method is based on the principle of activity.
 Individual attention of the teacher is possible and the relation between the teacher
and learner becomes more intimate.

DISADVANTAGES

 It is not suitable for lower class students.

 It is a very slow method.
 There is lack of textbooks written on heuristic approach.