Instructional Strategies for the Classroom

Lecture• Lecture is a good way to present and share information• Lecturing should be limited to 10-20, especially younger students who have short attention spans• Lecture is useful when giving lots of information• Lecture is a good strategy to use in giving directions or presenting information• Some classroom environments such as seating arrangements are more conducive to lecturing• Students can become easily distracted by noises, or too much information at one time• Lecturing can be enhanced by the use of visual aids such as power points, videos, websites• Verbal and nonverbal communication are a part of lecturing:

Verbal – giving clear directions, telling stories, giving examples, using your voice, pitch, etc.Nonverbal – making eye-contact, posture, facials

Class Discussion• Can help students develop their critical-thinking abilities• Discussion promotes cooperative learning through student interactions• The teacher lets go of some control but is actively involved as a facilitator• Barriers to using discussion: it takes a lot of time, some students are shy and

quiet and may not participate and other students can take over.• Some students do not listen well with too much noise• Verbal and nonverbal communication are a part of class discussion

• Verbal – students discuss their thoughts, ideas, and question others• Nonverbal- facial expressions, body language, etc. reveal their interest

Small Group• It is motivating, students usually enjoy working in small groups• Students develop problem-solving skills by working together• Students share their ideas and listen to others to get a different perspective• The teachers main role is facilitating, asking questions, and giving

suggestions• Disadvantages: it takes time, it can be loud, students can get off task if not

actively monitored• Verbal and nonverbal communications are a part of small group

• Verbal – the students collaborate and talk to their partners, the teacher guides and asks questions

• Nonverbal - eye contact with other students, face to face interaction

Peer Instruction• Peer Instruction is a student-centered approach where students teach or explain

concepts to their peers• Students are usually attentive and engaged which can increase their understanding of

the information• Students often feel more comfortable receiving information from their peers• Peers can often put the content on a level students can easily understand• Disadvantages – requires organization, scheduling, and extra time• Verbal and nonverbal communication are a part of peer instruction

• Verbal – peers use discussion and questioning• Nonverbal – eye-contact, facial expressions, signals help check for understanding