Teaching Styles - Your Guide to Effective Teaching

"When planning and developing instructional material, strive for a balance of teaching styles to match the various learning styles." - Felder & Soloman, 1992

Four Basic Teaching Styles

1.Formal Authority: A instructor-centered approach where the instructor feels responsible for providing and controlling the flow of content which the student is to receive and assimilate. The formal authority figure does not concern himself with creating a relationship with the student nor is it important if the students build relationships with each other.

2.Demonstrator or Personal Model: A instructor-centered approach where the instructor demonstrates and models what is expected (skills and processes) and then acts as a coach or guide to assist the students in applying the knowledge. This style encourages student participation and utilizes various learning styles.

3.Facilitator: A student centered approach where the instructor facilitates and focuses on activities. Responsibility is placed on the students to take initiative to achieve results for the various tasks. Students who are independent, active, collaborative learners learners thrive in this environment. Instructors typically design group activities which necessitate active learning, student-to-student collaboration and problem solving.

4.Delegator: A student-centered approach whereby the instructor delegates and places much control and responsibility for learning on individuals or groups of students. This type of instructor will often require students to design and implement a complex learning project and will act solely in a consultative role. Students are often asked to work independently or in groups and must be able to effectively work in group situations and manage various interpersonal roles.

Consider these questions on teaching style
What teaching style do you mainly use?
Does your style facilitate achievement of course goals?
Should you consider new styles or continuations of teaching styles?

What is a Teacher?

A teacher's purpose is not to create students in his own image, but to develop students who can create their own image.

The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book.

A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.

Teachers who inspire know that teaching is like cultivating a garden and those who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers.

Teachers touch hearts and change lives without lifting a finger. They simply inspire young minds – making them a better somebody someday.

Teachers who inspire realize there will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how we use them.

To teach is to touch lives forever.

Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.

Teaching should be full of ideas instead of stuffed with facts.

Well, if you can read this, thank your teachers.