Teaching Methods#

Effective teaching approaches for different learning contexts.

Methods Overview#

Method	Teacher Role	Student Role	Best For
Direct Instruction	Expert, guide	Active listener	Foundational skills, procedures
Inquiry-Based	Facilitator	Investigator	Critical thinking, curiosity
Project-Based	Coach	Creator, problem-solver	Real-world application
Flipped Classroom	Mentor	Self-directed learner	Active class time
Socratic	Questioner	Critical thinker	Deep understanding

Direct Instruction#

Structure: I Do → We Do → You Do

1. I Do: Model the skill, think aloud
2. We Do: Guided practice with feedback
3. You Do: Independent practice

When to Use#

• New concepts or skills
• Procedural knowledge (math, coding syntax)
• Safety-critical topics

Inquiry-Based Learning#

1. Present a question or problem
2. Students explore, ask questions, investigate
3. Guide toward conclusions through questioning
4. Debrief and formalize learning

Example Prompt#

"How could we determine the most efficient sorting algorithm without looking it up? What experiments would you run?"

Project-Based Learning#

Framework#

• Driving Question: Open-ended, meaningful
• Sustained Inquiry: Multiple research cycles
• Authenticity: Real-world relevance
• Student Voice & Choice: Decisions throughout
• Reflection: Process and product
• Critique & Revision: Feedback loops
• Public Product: Presented to authentic audience

Differentiation#

Adapt for different learners by adjusting:

• Content: What students learn (vary complexity)
• Process: How they learn (vary activities)
• Product: How they show learning (vary assessments)
• Environment: Where/how they learn (vary settings)