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Friday, June 11, 2010

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.


17 comments:

  1. Write a one sentence definition that summarizes what you feel Direct Instruction in an Online Course looks like.

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  2. Direct instruction in an online course looks like an assignment that involves some reading material, a discussion board topic to react to the reading, examples of what the instructor considers to be good work, and a rubric that gives the student detailed information about what is to be included.

    Jennifer Schmidt

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  3. Direct instruction (DI) is a tool or process that an instructor can use to teach his or her students skills, ideas or process in an independent way. Utilizing DI, instructors can teach simple to complex concepts in chunked modules that teach, assess, provide remedial guidance and conclusions to give the students a packaged learning experience.

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  4. It should begin with the introduction/expectations. The students could complete a series of steps working toward a larger finished project. The insturctor could provide comments along the way. A rubric should be provided. Finish with a reflection of what was gained from the exercise.

    Josh Earls

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  5. Jennifer and Chris, you both have a great understanding of what DI is. I was wondering though if the two definitions could be combined? Together the two might say, DI teaches students skills, ideas or process from simple to complex, through teachings, assessing, and remedial guidance while utilizing reading materials, discussion boards, and rubrics. Just a thought since you both had really good definitions!

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  6. Josh thats a great description of Direct Instruction.

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  7. I agree with what Jennifer, Chris, and Josh have said. Direct Instruction in an online course would be when the instructor provides a set of resources (discussions, activities, chats, rubrics, etc.) that are used to teach students a specific concept. Part of the process includes feedback so the student can improve upon their skills in the next topic.

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  8. Whitney, I agree that feedback is an important part of the DI process. Without the feedback, a learner isn't able to judge how he or she is doing.

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  9. Direct Instruction is a series of steps that clarifies a concept. It can be presented in multiple ways: video, audio, power point, reading the text, or reading documents. After teaching the concept, students need to demonstrate the concept through activities like discussions, group work, or completing a series of practice problems. Finally, the concept could be tested using an online quiz such as www.proprofs.com or in Vista.

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  10. I agree with the definitions here. I don't know what I can input without repeating what is already written. :)

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  11. Direct instruction is method of teaching new skills or concepts through a series of explicit steps each of which must be completed until moving onto the next step until mastery of the task is demonstrated with a final product. Ideally, the instruction should be scaffolded using examples, practice, and feedback.

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  12. Mary, great job with the definition. I really appreciate that you identified some of the teaching methods which can be incorporated within Direct Instruction.

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  13. Will, great job. I like how you state that it requires mastery of a task which is what the teacher has created the instruction to demonstrate the "how to". This is one nice thing about Direct Instruction, it allows the teacher to pace the lesson according to the need of the student.

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  14. I like the definitions that were posted so far; I would add that Direct Instruction is exactly what you would do when teaching a new skill face to face, allowing students the opportunity to sequentially build on concepts and practice skills learned except the expectations are carried over into an online environment. Instead of basically a "read and quiz" environment, the instruction requires interaction with the material for deeper mastery of skills, guided by the instructor.

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  15. I also think of it as what you would do if you were teaching face to face along with interaction. Those are good ways to describe Direct Instruction.

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  16. Direct instruction is a podcast, video, PPT, or other tool that tells the students what to or what they need to know do to achieve the desired result.

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  17. Chris I feel the exact same way that some of the easiest ways to create lessons that utilize Direct Instruction would be through podcasts, videos, and PPT's exspecially in an online class.

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