Chapter 11

Instructional Methods
 Instructional Methods

• Definition
– Techniques or approaches that
the teacher uses to bring the
learner in contact with the
content to be learned
 Instructional Methods

• Lecture • Demonstration
• Group Discussion • Return Demonstration
• One-to-One Instruction • Gaming
• Role-playing • Simulation
• Self-instruction • Role-modeling
Lecture

• Definition
– An instructional method in
which the teacher verbally
transmits information
directly to groups of
learners for the purpose of
education. It is highly
structured.
 Lecture

• Advantages • Limitations

– Cost effective – Not individualized

– Targets large groups – Passive learners
– Useful for cognitive
domain learning
Group Discussion

• Definition
– An instructional method in
which learners are together
to exchange information,
feelings, and opinions with
each other and the teacher
to achieve educational
objectives
 Group Discussion

• Advantages • Limitations

– Stimulates sharing of – Shy member does not

ideas and emotions participate
– Active learners – Dominant member
– Useful for cognitive overwhelms the group
and affective domains – Highly diverse groups
of learning may have difficulty
interacting
 One-to-One Instruction

• Definition
– An instructional method
in which the teacher
delivers personally
designed instruction to
a learner.
 One-to-One Instruction

• Advantages • Limitations

– Active learner – Can be expensive

– Tailored to individual’s because it is labor
needs and goals intensive
– Useful for all three – Isolates learner
learning domains
 Demonstration

• Definition
– An instructional method in
which the learner is
shown by the teacher
how to perform a
particular skill
 Demonstration

• Advantages • Limitations

– Previews exact skill – May be expensive

for the learner because all learners
– Useful for need to easily
psychomotor domain visualize skill. This
learning requires use of
technology or small
groups.
Return Demonstration

• Definition
– An instructional method
in which the learner
attempts to perform a
skill with cues from the
teacher as needed
 Return Demonstration

• Advantages • Limitations

– Active learner – Viewing individual

– Individual guidance performance is labor
– Useful for intensive
psychomotor domain
learning
Gaming

• Definition
– An instructional method
requiring the learner to
participate in a
competitive activity with
preset rules to achieve
an educational
objective
 Gaming

• Advantages • Limitations

– Active learner – Too competitive for

– Perceived as “fun” by some learners
many learners
– Useful for all three
domains of learning
 Simulation

• Definition
– An instructional method requiring
creation of a hypothetical or
artificial experience to engage the
learner in an activity that reflects
real-life conditions without the risk-
taking consequences of an actual
experience
 Simulation

• Advantages • Limitations

– Active learners – Labor intensive

– Practice “reality” in a – Costs of equipment
safe setting
– Useful for cognitive
and psychomotor
domains of learning
Role-Playing

• Definition
– An instructional method
where learners
participate in an
unrehearsed
dramatization to elicit
their feelings to achieve
affective domain
objectives
 Role-Playing

• Advantages • Limitations

– Active learner – Learner can

– Develops exaggerate or under-
“understanding” of develop the role
others
– Useful for affective
domain learning
 Role-Modeling

• Definition
– An instructional method in which the
teacher “models” or exhibits
behaviors that the learner may imitate
or adopt as he or she is socialized
into a role. Learning from role-
modeling is called identification and
emanates from socialization theories.
 Role-Modeling

• Advantages • Limitations

– Helps with – Requires rapport

socialization into role between teacher and
– Useful for affective learner
domain learning
Self-Instruction

• Definition
– An instructional method
to provide activities that
guide the learner in
independently achieving
the educational objectives
 Self-Instruction

• Advantages • Limitations

– Self-paced – Learner may

– Cost-effective procrastinate
– Consistent – Requires literacy
– Useful for cognitive
domain learning
 Factors in Selection of
Instructional Methods

• What are the predetermined objectives?

• What are the characteristics of the
targeted audience?
• What resources are available?
• What are the teacher’s strengths and
limitations?
 Evaluation of Instructional Methods

• Did learners achieve their objectives?

• Was the activity accessible to targeted
learners?
• Were available resources used efficiently?
• Did the method accommodate the
learner’s needs, abilities, and style?
• Was the approach cost-effective?
Creative Techniques to Enhance Verbal
Presentations
• Enthusiasm
• Humor
• Risk-taking
• Drama
• Problem-solving
• Role-modeling
• Anecdotes
• Technology
General Principles for All Teachers
• Give positive reinforcement.
• Project acceptance/sensitivity.
• Be organized, give direction.
• Elicit and provide feedback.
• Use questioning.
• Know your audience.
• Use repetition.
• Summarize key points.
 Instructional Settings

• Healthcare setting
• Health-related setting
• Nonhealthcare setting
 Sharing Resources

Nurses in each of the setting types

can establish a health education
committee to coordinate health
education programming, ensure
effective use of resources, and avoid
duplication of efforts.