The full list of teaching methods. (2023)

Whether you're a longtime educator, preparing for your first teaching job, or pursuing your dream of a career in the classroom, the topic of teaching methods means very different things to different people.

Your individual approaches and strategies for imparting knowledge to your students and inspiring them to learn will likely draw on your academic training as well as your instincts and intuition.

Whether you arrive at your preferred teaching methods organically or through an active study of pedagogy and pedagogy, it can be helpful to have a thorough working 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 each other. A very useful overview of this issue is provided by the educational website Teach.com, which is aimed at teachers.

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

Teacher-centered approach to learning
Teachers act as trainers/authority figures, transmitting knowledge to their students through lectures and direct instruction, aiming to measure results through tests and assessments. This method is sometimes called "Sage on the Stage".

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

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 learning approach, teachers use many different types of technology to help students learn in the classroom.

Low-Tech-Lernansatz
Technology obviously 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. Furthermore, while computer skills are now undeniably necessary, they must be weighed against potential disadvantages; For example, some would argue that over-reliance on spell checking and automatic correction can inhibit, rather than improve, students' spelling and writing skills.

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To further explore the intersections between different types of teaching methods, here is a closer look at three teacher-centered teaching methods and five popular student-centered approaches.

Teaching methods [teacher-centered]

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

Flipped classrooms (high tech)
What if students did the "classroom" part of their learning at home and their "homework" in the classroom? This is a simplified description of the flipped classroom approach, in which students view or read their lessons on their computers at home and then complete assignments and problem-solving exercises in class.

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 ability, is most commonly used to augment traditional forms of teaching - the theory being that students must do, do or create something to exercise different learning muscles.

Teaching methods [student-centered]

Differentiated instruction (Low Tech)
Inspired by the Persons with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1975, enacted to ensure all children have equal access to public education, differentiated education is the practice of developing an understanding of how each student learns best and then adapting teaching to the individual needs of students.

In some cases, this means Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs) for students with special needs, but today teachers are using differentiated teaching to engage all types of students, offering choices about how students access content and in what types of activities. they engage to master a concept of how student learning is assessed and even how the classroom is set up.

Research-based learning (high tech)
Rather than acting as the sole authority figure, question-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, then conduct research - often using online resources - and then demonstrate the results of their work through self-made videos, web pages Web 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 more about how government works or to nature to participate in specific environmental studies. Technology can be used to augment these expeditions, but the main focus is going out into 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 customized to the individual, students can progress at their own pace, build as needed, or dedicate more time. Teachers deliver both traditional classes and online material, but they also continuously monitor students' progress and meet with them 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 targeted learning objectives with the fun of earning points or badges, like a video game. For teachers, planning these types of activities requires additional time and effort, so many rely on software like Classcraft or 3DGameLab to help students maximize the educational value they get from the play-based learning environment.

What about blended learning and UDL?

hybrid learning
hybrid learningis another strategy for teachers who want to introduce flexibility into their classes. This method relies heavily on technology, with part of the instruction taking place online and part in the classroom through a more traditional approach, often utilizing elements of the flipped classroom approach described 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 teaching each student, building flexibility and choice into your curriculum.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
The UDL embodies both student-centered learning and the "theory of multiple intelligences", which asserts that different students are hardwired to learn more effectively in different ways (examples of these "intelligences" include visual-spatial, logical-mathematical, physical -kinesthetic, linguistic, musical, etc.). In practice, this might mean that some students would be working on a writing project, while others would be 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 in a variety of ways.

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Teaching Methods: A to Z

In addition to the many philosophical and pedagogical approaches to teaching, classroom teachers today use different and sometimes very creative methods with specific strategies, instructions and tools that require little explanation. These include:

• appointments with students
• art based projects
• audio tutorials
• author's chair
• book reports
• billboard
• Debate
• case studies
• blackboard instruction
• class projects
• classroom discussion
• Video diary for classes
• Collaborative Learning Spaces
• Creation of murals and montages
• current events test
• o debate
• Designated relaxation area
• discussion groups
• DIY activities
• Dramatization (plays, skits, etc.)
• educational games
• educational podcasts
• Writings (descriptive)
• Rehearsals (exhibition)
• Essays (narrative)
• Essays (convincing)
• exhibitions and exhibitions
• discover different cultures
• travels
• flash cards
• flexible session
• Gamified Learning Plans
• bright hour
• group discussion
• guest speaker
• participation campaigns
• individual projects
• job interview
• write diary
• labor
• learning contracts
• learning stations
• speeches
• literary circles
• make posters
• math games
• false conventions
• Motivationsplakate
• Music from other countries/cultures
• oral reports
• discussion panels
• partner learning
• penpals
• photo
• Problem solving activities
• read aloud
• reader's theater
• recitation
• reflective discussion
• research projects
• Rewards and Recognition
• role playing game
• school newspapers
• science fairs
• scrapbooks
• town twinning programs
• bees spell
• tell stories
• student podcasts
• student portfolios
• student presentations
• Projects created by students
• Supplementary Reading Assignments
• ted talk
• team building exercises
• Homework
• textbook assignments
• Think-Tac-Toe
• time capsules
• timelines
• Use of community or local resources
• video creation
• Videounterricht
• vocabulary lists
• Webquests
• 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 provide a more productive educational experience, or is a more traditional approach with less technology the best way to help students succeed?

Questions like these fuel the thinking of educators around the world, in part because they inspire continual reflection on how to make meaningful changes in the lives of their students.

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