Strategic Methods of Teaching
In today’s world, teaching plays a major role in the lives of many people. And, one of the most important factors for being a successful teacher is having an organized lesson plan and effective teaching strategies for the students. Most of the modern teachers have short and long range lesson plans. As they progress in teaching, they may come to realize that mental planning is very crucial in planning and making strategic methods in their teaching. Mental planning or reflective thought is very important in cultivating the minds, as well as the behavioral skills of the students. Furthermore, there are many universities and colleges that respond readily to political, economic, social and technological issues. And, it has proven, that being more socially responsive educators to students’ needs and concerns oh how to prepare their students in shaping their future roles in the society at large. And, to make learning environments more interactive and informative, as in to integrate technological side into the learning process and experience; the essential use of collaborative learning strategies is appropriate approach.
For many years, more prominent and effective pedagogical methods have been used by the educators in order to go with the innovation of teaching and learning process. In this connection, lecture method has been the most widely used instructional strategy in college classrooms. It is reported, that about 80% of all U.S. universities during 1970s were using lecture method to teach students. And, until now, the effectiveness of this instructional strategy is still used by most of the colleges and universities worldwide, as a very essential approach in promoting interactive communication and disseminating information effectively. Moreover, the advantages of the lecture approach; which absolutely provide a way to communicate a large amount of information to huge number of listeners. It optimizes the instructor control of the professor or educator without threatening the students. In contrast, there are few advantages that lecture approach has to students as well. More often, there is unrealistic level of understanding and comprehension among other students. Relatively, to be able to maximize the lecture strategy in a more effective way; there is following helpful recommendations from Cashin 1990.
First, the topic of the lecture must be suited to the audience, and focus the topic in one lecture; in order to get the attention of the students. And, a systematic outline that includes 5-9 major points on the lecture must be prepared beforehand. A well organized outline will make a clearer lecture. Similarly, giving a concrete examples or illustrations can make the discussion clearer and understandable to the students. In the same manner, presentation of both sides of any issue is better understood by them. Repeating important points is necessary for audience’s retention. Equally important is the educator must be enthusiastic and excited by his or her topic; the more enthusiastic the speaker, is the more interested the audience will be in the class lecture. More than that, getting feedback from the audience after the discussion is very crucial, in order to determine if the information shared are well absorbed by them. The other effective teaching strategy is through case method, this provides the students the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-life activities and experiences. This is considered by many scholars as effective approach in disseminating and integrating information and knowledge to students through their own application. Next, is a case study approach, this is very effective in maximizing the ability of the students to think critically based on their learning experiences. Aside from those, discussion is also a vital form of teaching strategy. This is enables the whole class to refresh their memories with the assigned readings or articles. This too is very helpful in putting the students aware and interacts effectively on the current issues by throwing them relevant questions from their assignments. Discussion strategy can be used as well in focus group discussions.
Correspondingly, active learning reflects the students to talk and listen, read, write and analyze the given teaching method in problem solving exercises, informal small group discussions, simulations, case studies, role playing and other related activities ; that all require the students to apply what they have learned in the classroom. By using various teaching strategies, it must always align with the teaching objectives of a specific lesson. Additionally, information technology has already broadened the concept of learning among the students today. It is a strong indication that learning process at the present time does not confine entirely in the four corners of the classroom. In view of this, distance learning technologies have many forms of simulations, interactive collaboration or discussion; as well as the virtual learning tools which connect different regions across the world.