Instructional Approaches

Behaviorism #

Constructivism #

Humanism # #

Advantages

Teachers play an active role in shaping desired behavior

Behavior can be modified by adding or removing a stimuli/reinforcer

Disadvantage

Learning can become focused on the reward

Behavior needs to be reinforced or punished continually

Advantages

Disadvantages

Strengthened by social interactions

Can be enhanced with prior knowledge (positive transfer)

Previous learning/experience can negatively impact new learning (negative transfer) #

Is time-consuming

Advantages

Disadvantages

Best Teaching Practices

Teaching Practices to Avoid

Information Processing Theory # #

Disadvantages

Advantages

Posits that information is processed in fixed stages.

Encourage social interactions (frequent group work, discussions, etc)

Connect learning to students' personal experience and/or prior learning

Give students frequent opportunities for reflection

Provide rewards fairly and when appropriate

Reward all behavior indiscriminantly

Place emphasis on reward or punishment (i.e. emphasize the grade over the learning)

Supports extrinsically motivated students students

Supports students with high need for achivement

Does not support intrinsically motivated students

Does not support students with a low need for achivement

Supports reflective learners

Supports intrinsically motivated students

Does not support impulsive learners

Relies on students' desire to learn; does not support extrinsically motivated students

Supports reflective learners #

Teachers can use stages of the informaiton processing theory to help students organize & retrieve information.

Students can enhance learning through metacognition

Is greatly impacted by previously formed memory, or lackthereof

Effective learning requires time and reflection

Information needs to be accessed regularly or it will be forgotten

Is not as effective for impulsive learners #

Self-actualization cannot occur unless deficiency needs are met

Many deficiency needs fall outside the realm of the classroom

Teachers can help students grow by providing and encouraging appropriate choices #

Provide a safe, supportive environment for students to explore

Emphasize danger of failure

Teachers play an extremely important role in helping students develop self-esteem #

Teachers can increase self-efficacy in students

Can, theoretically, support all types of learners.

One class will have a wide range of needs that have to be met individually

Do my best to support programs that meet all students' needs including backpack programs, free breakfast, etc.