Direct Instruction

What is direct instruction?

• Direct instruction uses a variety of techniques designed to keep students continually and actively engaged in learning and applying classroom subject matter. It requires learners to make frequent overt responses and provides immediate reinforcement of correct responses through teacher feedback.
• Direct instruction involves many opportunities to practice new skills, often with considerable teacher guidance.

When does direct instruction work best?

• When the objective of the lesson is to learn a well-defined body of knowledge and skills
• The lesson provides critical information or skills needed for later lessons
• When students are likely to need considerable guidance and practice in order to learn successfully.
• Because of a high degree of teacher-student interaction, direct instruction is often more easily implemented with small groups of students rather than an entire classroom.
• Structured teacher directed approaches such as direct instruction are most appropriate for students that know little or nothing about the subject matter.
• Students that have already mastered basic knowledge and skills and particularly those who are self-regulated learners, should begin directing some of their own learning perhaps in-group discussions.

Elements of a lesson that uses direct instruction

1. Review of previously learned material - The teacher reviews relevant content from previous lessons
2. Statement of the goals of the lesson - The teacher describes one or more objectives that students should accomplish during the new lesson
3. Presentation of new material in small, carefully sequenced steps - The teacher presents a small amount of information or a special skill using an expository approach - perhaps through a verbal explanation, modeling and by using examples. Throughout this, the teacher will ask frequent questions as a way to encourage the students to process and remember the material.
4. Guided student practice and assessment after each step - Students have frequent opportunities to practice what they are learning, perhaps by answering questions, solving problems or by modeling procedures. The teacher gives hints during the student’s early responses, provides immediate feedback about their performance, and makes suggestions about how to improve their work.
5. Assessment of student progress - After students have completed guided practice, the teacher checks t be sure that they have mastered the information or skill, perhaps by having them answer a series of follow-up questions or summarize what they have learned.
6. Independent practice - Once students have acquired some mastery, they engage in further practice either independently or in small, cooperative groups.
7. Frequent follow-up reviews - The teacher provides many opportunities for students to review previously learned material over the course of the school year - perhaps through homework assignments, writing assignments, or quizzes.

Example lesson plans informed by Direct Instruction Methods

• Introduction to Geography
• Prepositions
• Computer Architecture Lesson