Here are some of the best methods of teaching. You can use the method by your choice and according to the interest of your students. However, you can use these methods up to the primary level very easily.
1.
Teacher-Centered
Often
thought of as one of the most traditional teaching methods, the
teacher-centered methodology, attention is concentrated on the teacher.
Teachers are in charge of the classroom and direct all activities. Typically,
in this approach, children are seated at individual desks that face the
teacher. While group work may take place, most classroom time is spent with the
teacher explaining concepts and assigning individual work.
The teacher-centered methodology has recently fallen out
of favor because this strategy for teaching is seen to favor passive students. Ideally,
teachers would rather their students participate actively in the learning
process. The teacher-centered approach does not strategically aim to facilitate
this. Instead, control over student behavior is a priority. One advantage is
that behavior problems are typically easy to control in this environment.
Another advantage is that it’s rare for a student to miss a topic because the
teacher directs everything that happens in the classroom.
Despite
its advantages, there are quite a few downsides to the teacher-centered
approach. Most importantly, children don’t get to benefit from the social
advantages of other approaches. In addition, children don’t get the chance to
direct and play an active role in their own learning. Life skills such as
collaboration, critical thinking, debate, and more, are harder to gain in a
teacher-centered classroom.
2.
Student-Centered / Constructivist Approach
Many
of the teaching methods and strategies on this list are considered
student-centered or constructivist. In simple terms, it turns the focus on
students rather than only on the teacher. In this approach, children may sit in
small groups, access centers, and possibly move about the classroom freely.
Children play a more active role in their learning and may even help choose the
topics they learn about.
To
avoid behavior problems, teachers must lay a lot of groundwork in
student-centered classrooms. Typically, it involves instilling a sense of
responsibility in students. In addition, students must learn internal
motivation. Although sometimes challenging to achieve, these qualities of
responsibility and intrinsic motivation also build self-confidence and instill a lifelong love
of learning in students.
The A student-centered approach can be difficult for teachers to master or perfect. However, the results and outcomes can be very positive when the approach is effectively employed.
A
relatively new teaching method, project-based learning is a teaching method that
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. Also, an important
tenant of the project is that students have a choice.
Typically,
projects are created in response to an open-ended question such as “How can our
school be greener?” or “How was our city planned in the past and how could it
be planned in the future?” Another important part of the projects is that they
relate to real-world problems. The projects shouldn’t be just a project for
school but have an impact, too. For example, students might make a radio show
for the whole school to hear. Or, they might write a letter to the town council
and attend a meeting to express an opinion.
All
of the learning is conducted under the care of the teacher. In between
projects, a 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.
Project-based
learning teaches many skills that are useful after graduation, and so is
considered a very useful teaching method.
4.
Montessori
This
type of teaching is based on a methodology that’s over 100 years old. Yet, it
continues to offer a novel approach to creating a student-centered classroom.
Maria Montessori was an Italian doctor who worked with poor children in the
early 1900s. She developed her methods based on careful observation of the
children in her care.
Today,
the Montessori Method is most popular in preschools, kindergartens, and lower
elementary grades. In this method, the teacher prepares an ideal classroom environment
full of activities that children may pick from to work on. The teacher guides
the children to ensure that they choose an adequate number of lessons from all
of the subject areas.
The method also encourages the use of “materials” or carefully created objects
designed for learning. For example, there are trays containing different types
of triangles or cards and definitions explaining the parts of a bird.
Children
often work independently and have their choice of what to work on and where to
work in the classroom. However, group work is also common at the elementary
level.
Furthermore,
the Montessori Method includes areas of the curriculum that teach social skills
and practical life skills such as cooking and cleaning.
Strong
intrinsic motivation and a strong sense of responsibility are important
qualities that the Montessori Method strives to instill in students.
5.
Inquiry-Based Learning
What
if learning was question-driven? This is exactly what inquiry-based learning is
about. In this approach, the teacher guides 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. Students are encouraged to fail as a
part of the process and then improve their performance in subsequent
activities.
Instead of
repeating answers students have been taught, students learn to seek their own answers to questions. So, students develop strong research skills.
In addition, children learn how to choose questions to answer and what
questions they might ask.
This approach is also student-centered as it requires active participation on the
part of students. The teacher guides and teaches, however, students also help
choose topics of study.
6.
Flipped Classroom
In
this fascinating approach to learning, homework is very intentional. Rather
than being “extra” practice, homework is a preparation for the next class. With
this approach, students may watch a video or lecture about the content and
ideas that will be used in the next class. In other words, lower orders of
thinking in Bloom’s Taxonomy, such as remembering and understanding, are
relegated to homework. Then, classroom work focuses on higher orders of
thinking and learning such as analyzing, evaluating, and creating. The idea is
that students should have more time in-classroom focusing on achieving these
higher levels of thinking and learning. That way, the teacher can guide this
practice more effectively.
The Flipped Classroom is
also an acronym. The letters FLIP represent the four pillars included in this
type of learning: Flexible environment, Learning culture shift, Intentional
content, and Professional educator. As you can see, the second pillar refers to
a culture shift from the traditional approach where students are more passive
to an approach where students are active participants. As a result, this
approach is also a student-centered teaching method.
7.
Cooperative Learning
As
the name suggests cooperative learning involves a lot of group work. However,
it also requires a lot of structure and intervention from the part of the
teacher to make learning as effective as possible. Some commonly used
cooperative learning strategies include “think-pair-share”. Discussions in
small groups or pairs can also be effective, as can a “jigsaw” approach. In the
jigsaw model, students are broken into small groups and read or learn from a
certain perspective. Then, one group member from each of the groups form new
groups and they bring their understanding to that group.
Essentially, cooperative learning believes that social interactions can improve learning. In addition, the approach recreates real-world work situations in which collaboration and cooperation are required. There is good evidence that this student-centered approach is an effective teaching strategy.
8.
Personalized Education
Personalized
education takes the student-centered approach to a new level by, as much as
possible, responding to each individual learner’s unique needs, strengths, and
weaknesses. Through individualized instruction, learning is tailored to the
student. In today’s world, this might be seen in one-on-one tutoring or
high-tech, responsive learning applications like Happy Numbers.
An a very effective form of learning, personalized
education can achieve outstanding learning outcomes. Some examples of this
approach include the Montessori method, which strives to allow each student to
follow their own interests and move at their own pace. However, many other
high-tech programs may also achieve this type of learning. Finally, a
personalized education approach may also mix in cooperative learning for a
balanced mix of social and individualized learning.
What
Is the Best Method of Teaching?
There
is no “best” method of teaching. However, some methods do prove to be more
effective than others. Many researchers today agree that including more
student-centered learning approaches to the classroom can improve learning.
Using only a teacher-centered approach leaves out many skills and learning
opportunities for students. Yet, there may still be space for teacher-centered
learning for some specific topics and learning objectives. However,
teacher-centered learning shouldn’t be the only strategy in your teacher
toolbox.
The bottom line is that each teacher needs to find a teaching style that fits their personality. An effective teacher is a passionate teacher who is confident in what they’re doing! So, if any of the strategies on this list of teaching methods intrigued you, why not look into it a bit more? You might discover a new method that motivates your students and improves their learning and your teaching experience!
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