The most effective teaching methods for you can often depend on the material you are presenting and the way you may naturally be inclined to teach. The students in your class can also dictate which methods might work best, and you should evaluate your students to better understand which methods to use. In general, however, multiple methods should usually be used to ensure lessons are fully understood and to adapt the information you are presenting to the needs of your students. Some examples of effective teaching methods include group discussions, small group discussions, and even lectures.
Effective teaching methods are generally those methods that work well for a particular teacher in a specific learning environment. The methods that work well for one teacher in one classroom may not work as well for the same teacher with another group of students or for a different teacher working with other students. This means it can be a bit difficult to determine which teaching methods you should use, and you might consider using different methods to find the ones that work best for you. Effective teaching methods should allow you to present important information while also ensuring understanding and meaning-making for your students.
There are several effective teaching methods that can be used in a classroom, and you should generally be familiar with multiple methods. Group discussions, for example, can often work well in small or moderately-sized classrooms. You usually act as a moderator for this type of lesson, so you might start the discussion but then pass the learning process onto your students. This can be one of the most effective methods for students who want to be involved in their own learning but may be less effective in other contexts.
Small group discussions are similar to full group discussions, but often work better for larger classrooms. Thirty or more students all trying to speak at once can become chaotic, but six groups of five students are often easier to monitor and control. Students may also find it easier to be heard and express their opinions more freely in smaller groups. These types of small groups can be effective if you want your students to discuss a particular reading or work together on complex math problems, although they are often less effective if you want your students to demonstrate individual effort or understanding.
Although many teachers may not consider lectures as one of the most effective teaching methods, there are still some settings in which lectures can work well. Presenting new information in a concise and informative manner can often be important in a classroom. Lectures can work well in such a case, although you should generally pair such lectures with time for group discussions or other types of work that more effectively engage your students and keep them active.
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