Meaning of education and approaches to teaching.

The term education: Signifies the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits.

A teaching approaches comprises the principles and methods used for instruction to be implemented by teachers to achieve the desired learning in students. These strategies are determined partly on subject matter to be taught and partly by the nature of the learner. For a particular teaching method to be appropriate and efficient it has to be in relation with the characteristic of the learner and the type of learning it is supposed to bring about.

The author believes that teaching must include two major components sending and receiving information. Although, there are different teaching strategies that promotes active learning and effective communication during teaching and learning activities, however, any communication methods that serve this purpose without destroying the objective of education could be considered as innovative methods of teaching.

Teaching approaches 

Storytelling:

Storytelling, the art of narrating a tale from memory rather than reading is one of the oldest of all art forms, reaching back to prehistoric times. Storytelling involves two elements – selection and delivery. Teachers particularly those in primary are interested in storytelling as a resource in teaching. A successful storyteller chooses adequate stories and must be a good performer, for the delivery is crucial and requires both preparation and rehearsal. Storytelling is the original form of teaching and has the potential of fostering emotional intelligence and help the child gain insight into human behavior.

 Importance of storytelling as a teaching approach

•  Storytelling promotes language learning

• Improves learners’ vocabulary and acquiring new language structures 

• Storytelling provide a motivating and low anxiety context for language learning.

Discussion

Discussion is an effective way to facilitate learning. Discussion can provide the instructor with an opportunity to assess student understanding of course material. In addition, by introducing their own observations and questions, students can explore ideas thoroughly.

Importance of discussion as a teaching approach

• Discussions allow students to actively participate in the learning proces

• Learning is more interesting and students are often more motivated when they are actively involved in using the course material.

Note: Teacher/Educators/Instructors must remember that some students are uncomfortable with the discussion approach and, therefore, a number of different teaching strategies must be used to encourage students to trust their own opinions.

Lecture approach

Lecture is one of the reaching strategy which is oldest one and is used by the teacher to teach.

Importance

Lecture strategy maintains proper channel of motivation, enthusiasm and interest in the classroom.

Directed research

Directed research is a powerful and an extraordinary strategy that provides great opportunity for students to research problems in any field. The final product must be embodied in a paper or other form of written work involving a substantial independent effort on the part of the student.

However, education frequently takes place under the guidance of educators, but learners may also educate themselves. Education can take place in formal or informal settings and any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational. The methodology of teaching is called pedagogy.

References

Dujmović, M. (2006). Storytelling as a method of EFL teaching. Metodički obzori,

 1(1), 75-87.

Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2014). Approaches and methods in language teaching.

 Cambridge University Press.