EXAMINATION ED2135 Question 1.

EXAMINATION ED2135
Question 1.
Describe how you would go about selecting and applying a range of instructional stategies and resources to a lesson in your main teaching area.

“What children learn depends not only on what they are taught but also how they are taught, their development level, and their interests and experiences.... These beliefs require that much closer attention be paid to the methods chosen for presenting material..."

Understanding the Common Essential Learnings,
Saskatchewan Education, 1988. (p.10)


Instructional methods advocate the approach a teacher may take to achieving learning objectives. Piaget is known as the grandfather of constructivism in education. Piaget said children construct their own knowledge through trial and error and that a good teacher engages students by finding their current understandings and then giving them the opportunity to gather more information and integrate it into their current scheme of understanding.

Instructional stategies are used by teachers to create learning environments and to specify the nature of the activity in which the teacher and learner will be involved during the lesson, including the resources that may be required.
When I am planning to teach an art lesson I choose the strategies I see as best able to motivate students and therefore engage them in deep learning, as outlined in Bloom’s taxonomy. When planning a lesson I am always thinking of various instructional methods that will best suit particular student’s learning styles, inspired by Gardener.
The selection of a particular strategy will be determined by a number of factors, including the purpose for instruction; student's prior knowledge ; procedures required to achieve the objectives for instruction; class size; lesson duration; necessary resources and available resources eg. access to ICT. Downes, Simmens postulated that open access to information, communication and technology resources is a great way for students to feel connected in their learning and not limited by mitigating factors like geographical location. Here it is also important to consider the school culture and the conventions of the learning environment. I am lucky to teach in a school that allows a large range of autonomy when choosing instructional methods and extensive access to resources. This is supported by the theorists Durkhiem and Bourdieu who talk about Habitus as a major factor in student motivation.I also work with the personal theory that students create their own resources, and that perfectly balanced constructivist lessons can be created with any amount of resorces.


The direct instruction strategy is effective for developing step-by-step instructions or providing specific information. It also works well for actively involving students in knowledge construction or introducing new teaching methods. I may wish to give a structured overview of the lesson or course content using guided and shared activities including reading, listening, viewing, thinking and a demonstration
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Similarly, instructional skills are the most specific category of teaching behaviours. They are necessary for indicating procedures and structuring appropriate learning experiences for students. A variety of instructional skills and processes exist, including explaining, questioning, demonstrating and wait time.

Both Glasser and Dreikurs tell us that teacher leadership is an essential component to learning environment, advocating the lead teacher model, using non- assertive discipline. In contrast, Cantor and Skinner promote the push reinforce model of teacher leadership, which in my opinion is to to be avoided at all times.

In contrast to the direct instruction strategy, I may activate indirect instruction that is mainly student-centered, seeking a high level of student involvement in observing, investigating, drawing information from various material, or forming hypotheses. Here the students' interest and curiosity are piqued, often encouraging problem solving, reflective discussion, concept formation and further enquiry.

Independent study may be required as purposefully provided instructions to foster the development individual student initiative, self-reliance, and self-improvement. Independent study may include learning in partnership with another individual or as part of a small group. It should always be planned independent study by students under the guidance or supervision of a classroom teacher. Here the students could create a blog or online journal, do extension correspondence lessons or seek mentorship from a practicing artist in our local community or the e-community. (Downes, Simmens)


A lot of students are motivated by interactive instruction. Students can learn from peers and teachers to develop social skills and abilities, through discussion and sharing ideas they learn to organize their thoughts, and to develop rational arguments. Vygotsky introduced us to the zone of proximal development, and provided research to indicate that students learn through social interaction.`



The interactive instruction strategy allows for a range of groupings and interactive methods, including Think, Pair, Share; Conferencing; Interviewing; Jigsaw and Grafetti Method. Here the teacher must outline the topic, set the amount of discussion time, specify the reporting or sharing techniques and most essentially the composition and size of the groups. The success of the interactive instruction strategy is heavily dependent upon the expertise of the teacher in structuring and developing the dynamics of the group. Interactive instruction requires the refinement of listening , observation, , interpersonal skills and abilities by both teacher and students.


Often in the art room practical lessons are build upon the experiential learning stategy. This method is learner centered, and activity oriented. The emphasis here is on the process of learning and not on the final product. The students participate in the activity, they share their experience with others and receive feedback, essential as a motivation for learning-Hattie; they then analyse and develop stategies to develop new practices.. One important aspect of this method is personalized reflection about their experience which we document in their Visual Arts Process Diary.

In summary it could be said that to manage a classroom effectively, a variety of instructional strategies is essential for teachers. Understanding human growth and development, as well as issues of students’ cognitive ability and cultural diversity, is essential for laying the foundation of an effective and positive learning environment. Students learn through different modalities, styles, and a variety of multiple intelligences, (Gardner). Following Hattie’s Principles of an expert teacher, positive reinforcement, deep knowledge of subject area and personal attention to each student are important . Using the critical reflection process to review lessons, instructional strategies will continually be refined and developed. Selection of resources will enhance a positive learning environment and compliment instructional stategies.


"The last decades of research in human learning have presented new insights into the ways that learners are active in constructing their own understanding. Constructivist learning theories have shown the limitations of viewing 'learning' as something we can 'give' to students that they will 'receive' or learn in exactly the same form, at exactly the given time."

Classroom Curriculum Connections: A Teacher's Handbook for Personal-Professional Growth
Saskatchewan Education, 2001. (p. 30)

References:
http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/index.html