Oh, there are more models of teaching, aren't there?

                All of my high school teachers taught me and my classmates with the same way. No different method or different way of teaching. The things that differentiated them from each other were just their sense of humor and the way they talked to us. I also thought that the way they taught us was the only way of teaching that existed in the world. I had no idea if there are some other ways or models of teaching. Those things above used to be my thought before I attended the third session of PETA class on October 4^th, 2011.

Add chttp://www.cs.virginia.edu/~kns6r/pages/uTeaching.shtmlaption

                On the third session, Ms. Ine taught me and my classmates about the models of instruction. Based on Ms. Ine’s explanation, I assumed that models of instruction are the procedural steps that the teachers or lecturers use to attain their learning objectives. There are four models of instruction that I have learned from this session.

                First is direct instruction. This model is appropriate to teach students about the concept and skills. In this model, the teachers play a big role in the classroom. They have a great control in the classroom, but it doesn’t mean that they control the students in authoritarian way. They give explanation to the students and then let the students to learn by themselves but still with the teacher’s guidance, the teachers keep monitoring them and the students are free to ask. Does it mean that the students don’t have any chance to do independent learning? My answer is no. Based on the text that Ms. Ine gave to me and my friends about this method, I found out that the teachers usually give homework for the students as their independent learning.

                Second is lecture discussion. This model is developed to balance between lecturing and discussions in the classroom. Based on my understanding from one of my friends’ explanation on jigsaw learning, I know that this model is easy to be planned and also simple enough to be implemented. The teachers give a brief explanation and then give the students some cases to be solved. It triggers the students to link the lesson to their prior knowledge. It is said that this model is easy to be planned and simple enough to be implemented in the classroom.

                The third is guided discovery. I am interested in this model because it creates an active learning in the classroom. The students are free to explore the knowledge. The teachers act as the facilitators who have less time of lecturing. This model also helps the students to apply their knowledge that they get from school into a real-life situation.

                Last but not least is group interaction. This model, which are developed based on Vygotsky’s socio cultural theory, focuses on group discussions. Still, the teachers act as the facilitators who monitor the discussions. This model makes the students able to share their perspectives and ideas with their peers. It also encourages the students to verbalize their thoughts and enhance their collaborative skills.

                From the last session, I finally realize that the way of teaching that my high school teachers used is not the only model of teaching in the world. This knowledge is really helpful for me as the teacher candidate to help me in teaching later on. Thanks PETA class, I get another resources to help me attaining my learning objectives and fulfilling my students’ needs when I become a real teacher on the near future. J