Acts of Teaching 7: Four Instructional Alternatives, Presentation, Discussion, Independent Study

and Individual Instruction

Presentations: Teaching as Telling and Showing
What is a Presentation?
* Presentation is an informative talk a more knowledgeable person makes to less
knowledgeable.
Purpose of a Presentation
* To inform an audience of certain facts
* Ideas
* Conceptions
* Explanations
Characteristics of a Presentation
* Teacher or other person may present
* Presentation may be live or recorded
* Presentation may vary in length
* Presentation may be formal or informal
Good Presenters
* You must believe that your learners can best gain particular knowledge of skill by
attending, looking, and listening to you or another presenter.
* You should be friendly, humorous, enthusiastic, verbally fluent and clear.
Good Presentation
* Preparation. Getting ready for the presentation is the key.
* Delivery. When we are talking about delivery, we are talking about teaching
performance, about the presentation itself.
* Handouts. Presenter should give handouts containing an outline or related
information.
* Closure. This is when you check the understanding of the listeners and summarize
the important points.
Discussion: Learning through Informative Interaction
What is Discussion?
* Discussion is a situation wherein students, or students and teachers, converse to
share information, ideas, or opinions to resolve a problem.
Purpose of Discussion
* To ensure their mastery of a subject
* To have students examine their ideas or opinions
* To solve a problem
* To improve their face-to-face or interpersonal communication skills
Characteristics of Discussion
* Teacher-student or student-student interaction
* Whole or small group
* Homogenous or heterogeneous participants
Independent Study: teaching as Giving and Guiding
 What is Independent Study?
* Any assignment learners complete more or less on their own. (222)
Purpose of Independent Study
* To rehearse, practice
* To provide opportunity to learn how to learn
* To occupy students legitimately so the teacher can undertake another task
Characteristic of Independent Study
* Learning assignment is designated by teacher or selected by students
* Teacher serves as facilitator or guide
* Assignment is to be accomplished in school or at home