PROMPT: what is direct instruction? how does this relate to my topic on basic nutrition and daily diets?

There are 5 approaches used in the learning environments: direct instruction, inquiry-based learning, cooperative learning, experiential learning, and open pedagogies.

I will be discussing Direct Instruction.

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Direct Instruction is a method of teaching in which the teacher stands at the front of the classroom to present a lesson and the students sit, listen, take notes, and ask questions. Direct Instruction follows a 6-step method in which the teacher presents material to their class. First, the teacher will ask students basic question about the topic to gain an understanding on the student’s previous knowledge, and then introduce the topic based on their previous knowledge. Second, the teacher will present new material through lecture or demonstration. Third, the teacher will use guided practice where they and their students will practice the new learned information together. The fourth step of this approach is feedback and corrections. This is where a teacher will ask questions and encourage their class to answer them, allowing for positive feedback/corrections. Fifth is independent practice. Independent practice is when students independently practice to understand new information/topics; usually this is practiced through repetition. By independently practicing, students use unitization and automaticity. Finally, teachers will provide evaluation and review for their students. When choosing an assessment style, the teacher must choose one suited to demonstrate the student’s gained knowledge and understanding of the topic; formative assessments are highly encouraged for this type of learning style.

See video below for a quick understanding of Direct Instruction.

Direct Teaching video posted by Teach For Life on Youtube

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Does this approach of Direct Instruction align well with my topic of Understanding Basic Nutrition Concepts in our Daily Diets?

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I believe that Direct Instruction aligns well with my topic of Understanding Basic Nutrition Concepts in our Daily Diets because the direct instruction methods are “well developed and carefully planned lessons designed around small learning increments and clearly defined and prescribed teaching tasks” (NIFDI, 2022). From this, if my group were to create lesson plans on each of our subtopics regarding nutrition, our learners will be able to identify a balanced diet and the importance of nutrition in our diet, including aspects of portion control.

I think for our topic, direct instruction will be extremely important to teach our learners about nutrition, but some of the other teaching methods will also be extremely valuable. Direct Instruction along with hands-on assignments, we believe our learnings will gain a good basic understanding of nutrition and a balanced diet.

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References

Direct instruction – A practical guide to effective teaching. BookWidgets. (2019, March 28). Retrieved June 7, 2022, from https://www.bookwidgets.com/blog/2019/03/direct-instruction-a-practical-guide-to-effective-teaching

YouTube. (2017, October 19). Direct teaching. YouTube. Retrieved June 7, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_HzrRBOU7I