Page 39 - Teaching Principles and Methods Student Textbook short

The method used depends a lot on the content of the information you wish to impart. It also depends
on the size of the group of students and their age. Using an improper method may totally confuse your
students. So prayer and careful consideration should be made by the teacher in selecting a method.

Normally the size of the class will immediately rule out several methods which are called student-
engaging methods. These methods take more time but involve more student activities and involvement.
Students will tend to learn more using these methods because they are more involved in “doing” the
lesson rather than just “hearing” the lesson.

Here are 35 different methods you could employ as a teacher and this list is certainly not exhaustive.
You may be able to think of several more. Some of my personal comments in italics beside some
methods will help you understand where that method is best utilized.

1. Lecture by teacher. This is probably the most used among teachers, and as we noted, the Master
Teacher used this method, especially when teaching larger groups of people. It is an effective way to
share information quickly. However, if the teacher does not use illustrations and make the presentation
interesting, it can become boring for the learner. It is the least engaging method for the learner.
Remember, if you just tell people what they need to know, their retention rate will be around 10%. This
method can be utilized combining it with other methods at the same time to increase retention rates.

2. Class discussion conducted by teacher. Caution should be used in selecting this method. It can be
very effective when asking a class how to apply a Scriptural truth in their lives. But if a teacher shares a
verse and opens discussion with, “What do you think this verse means?”, he will ends up with a bunch of
ignorant people sharing their ignorance with one another. It accomplishes nothing! So use the discussion
method wisely and where appropriate.

3. Oral questions by teacher answered orally by students. This method engages the mind of those who
receive the question. If you ask an entire class a question, you will engage the minds of the entire class
and probably will obtain a variety of answers. You may want to first select a particular student and say,
“John, what do you think about…” While this method engages the minds of all the students in the class,
only John will be allowed to answer. This method was used extensively by the Master Teacher and will
result in bringing your students into direct relationship with the content. Use this method with others
listed.

4. Lecture-demonstration by another instructor(s) from a special field. Sometimes other people will
know a lot more about a subject matter than you. Students will tend to give a visitor greater attention
than their teacher. Once I invited an astronaut to our school as a guest lecturer. The response was
phenomenal.

5. Presentation by a panel of instructors or students. Again, visiting teachers to a class tend to draw
more attention and increase learning and excitement among your students.

6. Presentations by student panels from the class. Single or group projects launch the student into
research on a subject. The student will learn a much higher percentage of information, particularly if
they are required to do a presentation in front of the class. This method is extremely time consuming,
and those who were not engaged in the project will probably learn less by the presentation than other
methods of teaching.

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