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DIRECT
INSTRUCTION
What is it?
The Glossary of Educational Reform defines it as:
1) instructional approaches that are structured, sequenced, and led by teachers, and/or
(2) the presentation of academic content to students by teachers, such as in a lecture or demonstration.
In short, teachers are “directing” the instructional process or instruction is being “directed” at students.
Some of the Characteristics of direct instruction are as follows:
Created by the teacher
Teacher led
Mostly used to teach skills/can be used to teach ideas
Is prepared ahead of time and usually scripted
Is linked to prior learning
Standards and outcomes are stated in the class
Requires interaction of students in class
Provides feedback to the students
Allows students to practice and builds off of last class
Allows for immediate feed back
Direct instruction evolved from Behaviorism which is a theory based on the assumption that students/humans are products of environment; therefore they will mimic what is seen. (Skinner)
Advantages
Resources
Student academic development can be measured easily.
It can be a way to create good classroom management.
Great for students who are visual because it allows them to see what the teacher is saying.
Disdvantages
Instruction is teacher centric. Limited communication from students.
There is little room for the teacher to be creative.
Only works with some populations of students.