A variety of instructional delivery strategies is an essential quality of an exceptional teacher. Educators who instruct in different formats help more students achieve and surpass their academic potentials. Successful teachers also evaluate and adjust their instructional delivery methods for every academic year, class, and student.
Active Learning
Active learning is a teaching strategy in which students actively engage in their learning, as opposed to passively listening to information. There are many methods in which teachers engage students in an active learning process. Such methods include class discussions, think-pair-share activities, class debates, game-based learning, project-based learning, and more. I designed a Gas Laws lesson in which students participated at three stations. We learned about gas laws a few days prior to this lesson. Then the students got to see gas laws take place with simple and fun activities. The picture to the left shows two students at the “Gas Laws Are Not That Hard-Boiled” station. The video below shows the “Crushing Cans with Brain Power” station.
Technology Integration
Technology integration is an excellent way to enhance instructional delivery. Technology comes in all forms–electronic and non electronic. It is important that teachers expose students to a variety of technologies because students will interact with technology outside of school. I plan to use Elements 4D, Twitter, a classroom website, and many more technologies in my classroom. I created an instructional video (below) to show students how to download and use Elements 4D. I effectively used technology to teach students outside of the classroom, and I also plan to use the Elements 4D technology in lessons once students access the technology.
Variety of Strategies and Resources
A variety of strategies and resources aids instructional delivery by providing information to students in different formats. There are many ways students learn, and it is vital that educators deliver instruction in an assortment of ways. For example, some students are auditory learners, whereas other students are visual learners. Exceptional teachers use visuals and audio for these students to learn. Teachers differentiate instruction and focus on Gardner’s multiple intelligences. In addition, I believe allowing the students to choose activities is important. Instead of administrating a summative test at the end of the unit, I will consider allowing the students to choose between a summative test, project, paper, etc. I designed a project in which groups of students choose the format of the project.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
–Maimonides