Welcome!

Welcome to Ashley and Sara’s Project 2: Direct Instruction blog. There are a few things you will need to do for this project:

Step 1: Take the short survey on Survey Monkey to see what you already know about Direct Instruction (see next entry). The survey does not open in a new window, so you will need to come back to the Blog when you are done with the survey.

Step 2: Read each entry and reply to the questions by posting a comment. You should comment on each section.

Step 3: In the discussion section on Blackboard, please answer the following Discussion Question: “What are some experiences you have had with Direct Instruction in an online environment? Do you feel they were positive or negative? Why?” In the subject of your post use your last name and Direct Instruction.

**All posts should be submitted by 11:00 pm on Saturday July 3, 2010.

What Do You Know About Direct Instruction?

Click here to take survey

This survey will test your prior knowledge of direct instruction. Please be advised, you will need to come back to this blog after the survey. Thank you and good luck!

What is Direct Instruction?

Direct Instruction is one of the most commonly used methods for teaching. Using this strategy, teachers are able to provide information to students as well as provide step by step instruction. It can also be used to teach students other teaching methods. Direct Instruction often actively involves students in the learning process.

According to the Worksheet Library's site on Direct Instruction, there are six main procedures to follow when using Direct Instruction:

• Introduction/Review
  Topics or information to be learned is presented to the pupils or review of information sets the stage for learning.
• Development
  The teacher provides clear explanations, descriptions, examples, or models of what is to be learned while checking for pupils' understanding through questioning.
• Guided Practice
  Opportunities are provided to the pupils to practice what is expected to be learned while the teacher monitors the activities or tasks assigned.
• Closure
  Teachers conclude the lesson by wrapping up what was covered.
• Independent Practice
  Assignments are given to reinforce the learning without teacher assistance.
• Evaluation
  Assessment of pupil progress is conducted to determine levels of mastery.

Benefits of Direct Instruction

• Can be used to help ensure that all students are beginning a lesson with the same background knowledge
• A basic level of learning can be established for any desired content
• Allows a large amount of information to be delivered in a timely fashion The teacher has the central role for explaining, modeling, and giving feedback
• The teacher can diagnose student learning and provide help through remedial instruction The teacher has control of lesson timing
• Incorporates multiple steps such as demonstrations, questioning, dependent practice, independent practice and review

Disadvantages of Direct Instruction

• Based on the idea that you must learn simple tasks before you can learn complex ones
• Does not allow teachers to access prior knowledge
• Only works for a small percentage of students and depends on students' learning styles
• Content may be rapidly forgotten and attention span is often limited--especially in a lecture setting
• Can stifle teacher creativity
• Direct Instruction can allow for the teacher to be easily pulled off topic if students ask interesting off topic questions
• Requires a great deal of planning when presenting higher level thinking skills
• If a teacher does not monitor him or herself, repetitious explanations may take up much of the class time and/or materials

Methods and Tools for Direct Instruction

Structured Overviews

• Provides a written overview of topic or unit.
• Organizes and arranges materials to be presented.
• Simplifies ideas to present a bigger picture.

Lecture

• Presenter should be knowledgeable, engaging, motivating, and stimulating.
• Students should be engaged, have their curiosity stimulated, and begin to build inquiry.
• Be cautious that students may have limited attention spans and information may not be retained for long amounts of time

Explicit Teaching

• Useful for introducing topics and skills.
• Focuses on producing specific learning outcomes.
• Directs students attention through the use of a highly structured environment.
• Information is broken down into small parts and taught individually.
• Guidance and structure framework is provided and material is presented in a logical order, directed by the teacher.
• Skills, behaviors, and thinking is modeled by the teacher.

Drill and Practice

• Promotes the acquisition of skills through repeated practice.
• Uses small tasks that are needed for the building of larger skill sets.
• Helps learners to master materials in their own time.
• Used as a reinforcement tool.

Compare and Contrast

• Can be used with indirect instruction as well as direct instruction.
• Allow students to compare two or more categories.
• Most often presented in a written manner--text, graphic organizer, etc.

Didactic Questions

• Teachers can use this to structure the learning process.
• Questions that tend to have factual answers are used—begin with “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how.”
• Used mostly for recall and comprehension.
• Used to provide practice and review of material.

Tools Available to Assist with Assessment and Feedback

Teachers using direct instruction when teaching online classes have a wide range of tools available for assessment and feedback of their students' learning.

Discussion

• Teachers can set up and lead discussion in their online classroom.
• Tools are available for teachers to measure and evaluate student responses without having to read each and every post made be the students. One such tool is called the Discussion Analysis Tool, or ForumManager.

Rubrics

• Rubrics are used to define the performances expected from the student.
• Teachers can construct their own rubrics, listing each key element of the assignment and the criteria needed to earn specific credit.
• There are many websites available that allow teachers to create their own rubrics, including RubiStar and Rubrician.

Drill and Practice Software

• Students can play games online and other activities to practice skills. There are many different websites available to cover a wide range of skills including chemistry, math, and vocabulary.

Self-Reflection

• Reflection of one's own learning is a important part of the learning process.
• Journaling is one way students can reflect on their learning. Teachers have a wide range of choices when it comes to choosing how students submit a journal. Students can use a blog, wiki, word processing document, discussion questions, etc.

(Conrad & Donaldson, 2004)