STRATEGIES/APPROACHES TO TEACHING

Strategy: A strategy is a framework of action that forms a general plan or design

on how some task will be carried out.
A teaching strategy is the overall manner in which the process of instruction is
organized and executed.
A teaching strategy is an umbrella term for the preparation, planning,
organization, coordination and presentations used by a teacher to achieve the
objectives of the lesson at hand. It includes the nature, scope and sequence of
events to provide educational experiences.
Teaching Strategies/Approaches:
There are two main teaching approaches. These are
1. Expository
2. Heuristic
Expository Approach: (also known as ‘’transmission’’) In this approach, the
teacher provides direct instruction, where the teacher transfers facts and other
information to students through talking and talking, while students listen
passively and take down notes. They then memorize the facts and can later
reproduce them in an examination set up.
Students taught using this approach are only able to answer simple recall
questions, starting with ‘’What”, ‘’When’’, ‘’Where’’ and ‘’How’’. This approach
when used alone for long periods leads to ‘shallow’ learning. It is a Teacher-
centered strategy
Heuristic Approach:
In this approach instruction is indirect. The teacher does not spoon-feed the
student, rather, the teacher helps the student to find out and/or to create
information on his/her own. This is done by the teacher, who poses questions or
tasks. The students on the other hand are motivated to interact, carry out
investigations and experiments, visit places of educational interest, carry out
projects and discussions on possible answers/solutions. The students are active
participants in the teaching-learning process.
This strategy is learner-centered. The teacher plays the role of a facilitator, who
provides necessary resources, and guidance where needed, to enable the learners
achieve the desired objectives/skills/knowledge.
Students taught using this approach are able to answer questions like ‘’Why’’?
which require reasoning and higher order thinking abilities. Inevitably this
approach leads to ‘deep learning’
Note: No single approach can be used for all subjects/topics/lessons. At times a
mix may be necessary. The teacher should decide which approach to use, but with
the interests of the learner being paramount.
Question: In your subject area of specialization identify five topics/subtopics that
are best taught using:
i) Expository approach
ii) Heuristic approach
Defend your decision in each case