Definition
Students follow along with their teacher as an ‘apprentice’. By working side-by-side, they learn the subtle little things (‘tacit knowledge’) required to know in order to master a skill.
Benefits
Challenges
Theoretical Link
Socio-Cultural Theory: Rogoff studied Guatemalan Indigenous teaching methods to come up with this approach. It fits under the socio-cultural theory because its emphasis is on social interaction between master and apprentice.
Example
Common in trade schools for students studying to be mechanics, engineers, etc.
Definition
Scaffolding involves providing support to students while they cannot complete a task alone. Then, when the student can complete the task alone, the teacher withdraws their support.
Benefits
Challenges
Theoretical Link
Socio-Cultural Theory: Scaffolding was invented by Jerome Bruner (not Vygotsky).
Example
Definition
Direct instruction (also known as explicit teaching) is a teacher-centered approach that involves the teacher using simple straightforward language to explain concepts to students.
Benefits
Challenges
Theoretical Link
Behaviorism: Traditionally, direct instruction was embraced by behaviorists who believed in teacher-centered teaching. Today, it is used in most teaching approaches.
Definition
Repetition involves giving students time to retry tasks over and over again until it is consolidated in their minds. The information should be safely in a student’s long-term memory before moving on.
Benefits
Challenges
Theoretical Link
Behaviorism: Repetition is central to a behaviorist approach. Pavlov, a famous behaviorist found that he could teach his dog through repetitively associating a bell with food. The dog came to learn through repetition that the bell meant ‘food’.
Definition
Spaced repetition builds on simple repetition. Spaced repetition involves gradually increasing the space between times you repeat something. Repetition of a task should be very common. Over time, the task should be re-examined less and less often.
The idea behind spaced repetition is that the concept being learned is re-engaged with just before it is forgotten so that it is consistently recalled into memory and gradually sedimented into long-term memory.
Benefits
Challenges
Theoretical Link
Behaviorism: Spaced repetition was invented by behaviorist theorist Ebbinghaus in 1885.
Example
Definition
Prompting involves providing students with nudges, guides and questions that will help them to move closer towards an answer. A prompt is a suggestion to a student that they pay attention to a particular aspect of a task that will help them get closer to the answer.
Benefits
Challenges
Theoretical Link
Social Constructivism: Social constructivists believe teachers have a role in helping students to build knowledge in their minds. Teachers’ interventions can help spur knowledge development.
Examples
Definition
Differentiation is a teaching strategy that requires teachers to change their teaching styles and educational materials to meet the diverse needs of students within a classroom. It generally involves grouping students into several sub-groups in the classroom based on ability, skillset or learning preferences.
Benefits
Challenges
Theoretical Link
Socio-cultural Theory: This approach acknowledges that all students have different social and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, each student requires a personalized learning approach. It realizes that one size fits all will not work because all students are different.
Examples
Definition
Manipulatives are physical educational toys (or: ‘tools’) which are used to support learning. Providing students with physical manipulatives during learning enables them to visualize their learning in a 3D space.
Benefits
Challenges
Theoretical Link
Constructivism: Constructivists including Freidrich Froebel and Maria Montessori have advocated for the use of educational toys to help students to explore and discover in student-led active learning contexts.
Examples
Definition
Prior knowledge assessment entails assessing students’ knowledge at the beginning of a unit of work in order to teach students at an appropriate level. If prior knowledge does not take place, teachers may teach content at a level that is either above or below a class’s optimal learning level.
Benefits
Challenges
Definition
A student-teacher conference is a one-on-one discussion between a student and a teacher to take stock of a student’s needs. The conference usually involves a discussion of both strengths as well as areas for improvement. The conference should conclude with a list of goals for the teacher and student to mutually strive toward.
Benefits
Challenges
Theoretical Link
Socio-Cultural Theory: Interactions between teachers and students are important to learning within the socio-cultural approach.
Example
Benchmark (interim) assessment Interim assessments are often carried out at numerous intervals throughout the school…
The code of conduct is based on 10 principles, behaviors and ethics for workers in…
What is the code of ethics for professional teachers? A professional code of ethics outlines…
Attendance and punctuality: Whether in school or work, you learn and accomplish most when you…
Demonstrate integrity Promoting Academic Integrity in the Classroom Talk about academic honesty often. Expect high…
What is Classroom Climate? Classroom climate is a term used to give attention to a…
This website uses cookies.