7. Models of Teaching (Part II)

[Originally published in  ELT Chat  of  www.Free_esl.com]

Families of Models

Bruce Joyce and Marsha Weil have identified four main families of models

1.Information Processing Family

Main Focus: Help students  in the mastery  of methods of  inquiry; mastery of academic concepts and facts; development of general  intellectual skills such as the ability to think more logically .

Eg:   Concept Attainment Model

        Advance Organizer   Model

        Biological Science Inquiry Training Model

        Cognitive Development Model

        Synectics Model ( to develop  creativity)

2.Behaviour Systems Family

Main Focus:  To change the behaviour of the learner; to transmit culture by teaching skills and knowledge

Eg.  Direct   Instruction   Model

       Contingency Management Model

       Mastery Learning

       Learning from Simulations

       Model to develop the six varieties of performances identified

          by  Gagne

3.Social Family

Main Focus :  To help  students work together to identify and solve problems; to develop skills in human relations,: to become aware of personal and social values

Eg:  Jurisprudential Inquiry Model (learning to think about  social policy)

       Cooperative learning

       Group Investigation

       Role Playing

4. Personal Family

Main Focus: To  increase the students’ sense of self-worth; to help students understand  themselves more fully; to help students recognize their emotions and become more aware of the way emotions affect other aspects of their behaviour; to help them develop goals for learning; to help students develop plans for increasing their competence ; to increase the students’ creativity and playfulness and to increase the students’ openness to new experience.

Eg: Awareness  Training    Model

     Classroom Meeting       Model

     Non-directive Teaching Model

Tips for classroom transaction

1.However difficult you may find it , read Bruce Joyce and Marsha Weil’s Models of Teaching atleast  once

2.Identify the Focus, Syntax, Principles of reaction, Social system , Support system, Application and Instructional and Nurturant effect of the model prescribed.

3. Identify  a suitable topic/theme and develop a lesson plan  following Step 2 mentioned  above

4.Acquaint  your learners with the purpose of using a specific model.

5.Practice the model in relatively short teaching episodes until it becomes familiar.

6. Patience should be your watch word.

7.With optimism, time , practice, and support from one’s peers teaching using models will  become easy.

Wishing you a delightful and richer pattern of interaction through models of teaching!

Good Luck