Teaching is an art with which you can establish a strong bonding with your students. The bond eventually serves to be a boon in developing the core intellectual brain of the learners. The competency level uplifts, thereby increasing the knowledge span of a student. But to establish this mechanism, you need to inherit the key teaching strategies. The detailed understanding of the various teaching methods and acquaintance with the core teaching strategies are the keys to success.
Before venturing into the professional field of teaching, you need to gear up to face the educational world with grace and smartness. In the article, we will elaborate on the different types of teaching methods and their significance. Next, we will focus on the effective teaching strategies that you need to concentrate on.
Introduction to the world of e-learning and e-learning methods
Remember: Teaching strategies differ in the mode of education, classroom-based or virtual sessions. The teaching strategies for virtual classes slightly vary from that of a physical presence in a classroom.
What are the different types of Teaching Methods?
Though there are various teaching methods, you need to select the one that aligns with your subject of specialisation and the educational environment.
1. Teacher Focused Learning Methodology
In this particular type of learning methodology, a teacher is an authoritative person. He or she governs and instructs the entire proceedings in the classroom or the virtual sessions. Students are the listeners, obtaining the requisite knowledge from the instructor. The percentage of learning acquired by the students is measured through various assessments and tests.
Below are the sub-parts of this methodology.
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a. One Directional Conversation
The objective is to conduct short and focused sessions on a particular topic. All the topics and sub-topics are precisely packed into the defined duration. The teachers impart the knowledge within the fixed duration, with the students following the instructions. The option for questions and answers is not provided. It’s a technique to gather as much as knowledge possible.
b. Pre-recorded Classroom sessions
Though in this type of method, the teachers are present but the sessions are conducted through videos. The teachers record their lectures along with online or classroom-based assignments. They guide the students on the lessons that they need to follow and adopt in the videos. The students are expected to go through the videos at their home. Once done, they are expected to attend the classroom or online sessions to complete the assignments or tests.
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c. Hands-on learning sessions
The students in these type of learning sessions obtain knowledge through different hands-on activities. It may be in the form of browsing applications, conducting group discussions, presentations, debates and so on. There is no formal lecture provided by the teachers. The students are kept engaged continually, focusing on their practical abilities to adopt a topic.
2. Student Focused Learning Methodology
In this type of learning, the students and the teachers collaborate and interact extensively. Though the teachers coordinate the activities in the sessions, yet they encourage the students to communicate with themselves more. The students are assessed through group activities and their collaboration power.
The different sub parts of the methodology are:
a. Varying Instruction Levels
This method is based on the concept that all students do not possess the same level of grasping power. The intellectual levels may differ, and even the learning curve. The teachers essentially assess the capacity of the students and group them based on their learning abilities. They then specifically focus on the deficiencies within a group and try to uplift by conducting separate sessions.
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b. Learning through enquiries
Teachers here emphasise on questions from students. They then guide the students to research on the topics that would eventually assist them in receiving the answers to their queries. The students scan through different websites and books for deep dive research and analysis. The teachers facilitate the entire process and guide them on their analysis. A session is then conducted where the students share their learnings and experiences.
c. Experience-based learning
It is one of the effective methods of teaching. The students visit the real world and try to decipher the exact functions that occur practically. The areas of focus are selected based on their niche topics. The teachers guide them, to visit a factory or a travel destination or any government department for example. The students are expected to watch live actions and collect real-life data for their research and analysis.
d. Personalised Mode of Education
Each student is provided with a separate personalised study plan based on their interests and capabilities. The plan is prepared after assessing the students intellectual level and learning desires. This particular type of education is applicable while designing online courses or programs. You can set beginners level, intermediate level and expert level for each of the sessions. The students can select based on their expertise.
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e. Learning through games and events
The method is super interactive and entertaining. Various games and events are conducted in the classroom and the online sessions. They are designed in such a way to provide incentives for achievements. The students are required to participate and win points or prizes. The more they score the more they are rewarded. The teachers curates games and events in such a manner that the students work out their brains for the solutions.
Fun Fact: Gamification is a popular concept now in the professional world. Companies are focusing on it to gain customer satisfaction. If it is followed as a teaching method for the students, then you can prepare them well for the future.
3. Learning through Traditional Method
In classroom-based learning, normally, the traditional method of education is followed. The teachers utilise the whiteboard technique in imparting knowledge. The students are assessed through handwritten answers. Certain oral assessments are also conducted in the traditional methods of learning. The teachers encourage students to interact more with them and their fellow learners. They normally do not depend on Technology for conducting their academic sessions. Hands on is also encouraged through art, craft, and presentations.
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4. Leveraging Technology for learning
Teaching software has undergone remarkable changes in recent times. Different applications and systems are available for online teaching. They have strengthened the teaching strategies for virtual classes. Smart classes are now prominent in the schools, colleges and universities. The online software supports screen sharing, sending documents, email notifications, instant messaging and chats etc. Students from various parts of the world can register and login for online classes through the audio and video conferencing systems with ease.
We will now discuss the core teaching strategies in a classroom as well as in online sessions.
Teaching strategies in a classroom
1. Prototyping
Prototyping is a method by which teachers create an example for an assignment. They essentially demonstrate the steps for completing the work by mimicking a live activity. This is one of the popular effective teaching strategies wherein the students can easily follow the instructions. They can finish their assignments with ease and can seek clarifications at the beginning itself. During prototyping, you must articulate each of the steps in a detailed and concise manner without any ambiguities.
2. Admit mistakes and rectify
Well, teachers are human beings and can commit any error. There is no harm or fault in it. Some may be accidental and some may be due to lack of relevant knowledge. Students may point out the fault in your lectures or may even correct your errors. Admit it smartly and acknowledge the certifications.
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3. Student Performance Assessment and Feedback
Students often are not aware of their performance levels in the classes. Their parents or guardians also seek feedback from the teachers. You must share your feedback through assessments or verbal meetings. The feedback should be focused on both good and bad points. You need to provide the remediation suggestions for improving the weak points.
4. Collaborations and Interactions
Introducing methods to collaborate and interact with students is one of the vital teaching strategies. The teachers must encourage them to speak about various topics through group projects and discussions. They also must facilitate extensive researches and analysis on the mentioned topics. The students will feel engaged and motivated through this process. It increases the bonding between teachers and students.
5. Experiential Learning
Gaining knowledge through live real-time experiences is a vital part of any learning process. This is one of the key instructional strategies that teachers must adopt in the modern academic world. Watching situations in front and analysing the different aspects are far more beneficial than a normal lecture imparted in a class.
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6. Role of a Teacher
Once or twice students must be allowed to play the role of a teacher. The essence is to give them topics and instruct them to explain the same in the class. It is one of the prominent teaching strategies adopted by the majority of the teachers while conducting their classes. The students feel the importance and prepare themselves for the sessions. They even gain knowledge by answering various questions from other students.
7. Group Projects and Discussions
Group discussions and executing projects in groups showcase the inherent talents of students. Teachers can easily assess the students on their research skills, communication expertise and analytical abilities. The students will be inspired to learn more and share their knowledge with all.
8. Encourage Queries
Teachers must encourage to ask questions as much as possible. But the answers must not be provided instantly. One of the smart instructional strategies is to provide the students’ hints for conducting researches to receive the probable answers. Teachers must guide the students in the process, thus encouraging effective participation from them.
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9. Be Transparent
You must be confident about your goals and objectives of the sessions. Before even initiating the classes, you must ensure your students are aware of the. Be transparent on your ideas and plans. The students then will be able to follow the entire session without any difficulty.
10. Graphics
Visual images are more appealing and effective in the learning process. You may be wondering what are examples of teaching strategies using visual methods. Well, it can be images, presentations, or utilising any props for demonstration. Your students will be able to relate the study topics with the graphics and grasp the concepts better.
Teaching strategies for online sessions and classes
The teaching strategies for online classes require much more care and dedication since you will not undergo a face to face interactions with your students.
1. Leverage Collaboration Tools
Conducting online classes will demand extensive interaction and collaboration with the students remotely located in different regions. You must select the best collaboration tools for conducting your classes. The tools must support sharing of screens, live chats and instant messaging, passing of files and documents as needed. Provision must be there for group discussions, polls, and surveys with the online classes in progress.
2. Self-learning via online courses
You can create interactive online courses through use cases and videos. The students can go through them as per their convenient time. You can organise clarification sessions for resolving queries. This provides additional flexibilities to the students and also opportunities for clearing their doubts.
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3. Utilise various Learning Tools
You must experiment on various innovative methods that you can adopt to increase the concentration level of students. It can be a combination of traditional and modern means of teaching strategies. You can sometimes leverage videos for a practical experience of situations or subject topics. On the other hand, you can use live whiteboards to explain the concepts. In either case, you need to focus on the attention level of students.
4. Curate varying sessions
One of the important teaching strategies for online classes is to assess the participants and their levels. Normally the online programs are planned or organised in a manner to benefits learners at different experience or age levels. There can be beginners, intermediate and expert level courses. Similarly, there can be programs for varying age levels – Kindergarten, Primary school, Middle School and Higher School.
5. Encourage cooperative and collaborative education
Online classes tend to divert the attention of students if they are not kept constantly engaged. Well, to answer the question of what are the examples of teaching strategies to ensure proper engagement? As a teacher for online sessions, you must promote online opinions and discussions between the students. The students must be encouraged to debate on topics, share their opinions, suggestions, recommendations for effective participation.
Fact: Teaching Strategies GOLD is an interesting mechanism assisting teachers to evaluate and assess their students at different age and educational levels. It has different parameters for the assessment activity. You can go for a continuous and ongoing assessment through the resources of Teaching Strategies GOLD.
6. Availability of online content in Smart Devices
Students prefer, nowadays, modern technologies and smart devices to assess online courses and programs. Hence you need to ensure the online courses and e-learning content are available in laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets. They must be easily accessible and downloaded into the devices.
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7. Encourage Online feedback and comments
Feedbacks and comments are important teaching strategies for improvising your skills. After sessions, you must open the space for constructive feedback from the students. The best way is to create a feedback template and provide some questions which will help the students answer efficiently. The feedbacks need to be accepted positively and worked on sincerely.
8. Assessments and Tests
One of the important teaching strategies is to evaluate the performance of your students. You must conduct online assessments and tests at frequent intervals. Feedbacks about a student’s performance is also important to be communicated on time. It is mutually beneficial in both ways.
Tip: You may not be able to answer some queries from students. Do not treat it as a failure. But be smart in acknowledging to get back soon on the answer.
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Conclusion
We have discussed by now, different teaching strategies that can eventually guide for conducting your classes smartly and efficiently. However, it is not mandatory to follow all the strategies. You need to first assess the subject topic, its complexity, the qualifications of the students and the course duration. Based on the assessment, determine which teaching method or strategy is best suited for you. Apply them appropriately and enjoy their benefits.
In certain cases, you may not be sure about which teaching strategy to be leveraged. You can try for some experimentation in that case. Apply the techniques for a few sessions and evaluate success and failure. If you succeed, then look for more and more innovations. For failure, understand the deficiencies and try for different strategies.
The teaching strategies mentioned in the article are the proved and prominent techniques leveraged by the majority of academicians and teachers. It is recommended to follow them after proper research and analysis.
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