Direct Instruction

Direct Instruction is a teacher-centered model. This model is one of the traditional method that we can consider. This model was sometimes called “Explicit Instruction”. In this model, the teacher is the authority figure in the classroom. Lessons were directly taught by using this method of teaching. The emphasis is on using the lecture technique-questioning. There is also strong emphasis on “drill-and-practice”. Students are essentially told what they need to learn and how they should learn it and it emphasizes both guided and independent practice.

This model has divided into different parts. The first part is the Presentation where the teacher directly presents the topic that he needs to discuss. It can be done with the use of short story or by just directly discussing the topic. It is followed by Modeling. In this part, the teacher usually give more examples to support the topic that he discussed. It can be also done by thinking aloud. It is the part where the teacher models the lesson through the use of examples. Next is the Guided Practice. This is the part where the students do an activity related to what they have discussed and learned. This is done with the guidance of the teacher. The last part is the Independent Practice where the students do the activity by themselves. It is the part where the teacher assess the students whether they have learned the topic or not.

Usually, to assess the learning of the students using this method is through paper-and-pencil test. Formative assessment are conducted by the teacher after the discussion of the topic. The teacher also uses recitation and throw questions to measure student’s learning.

Direct teaching is best for learning specific concepts or skills. The specificity of the objectives or learning targets also makes it easier for teachers to create assessment tests of high validity and high reliability. Students, for their part, do not suffer much confusion in determining which part of the lesson is important and which part is not. However, to take advantage of these benefits, the teacher must ensure that the contents of instruction are logically organized. The teacher must also ensure that the students already possess the prerequisite knowledge.

As a method of instruction in the classroom, direct teaching or direct instruction is probably the one that has the fewest flashes and sparkles. The students are not divided into groups. There are no experiments. And there is very little drama and student participation involved. Though this model has proven to have a high rate of student success, this approach should not be used all the time because it is not always appropriate in a comprehensive educational program. Also, learners can’t learn at their own pace. It is likely to become effective only with the guidance of the teacher.