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T A R G E T

1. PPST Domain:

• Demonstrate content knowledge and its application within and/or across curriculum teaching areas.

• Demonstrate knowledge of teaching strategies that promote literacy and numeracy skills.

• Apply teaching strategies that develop critical and

creative thinking, and/or other higher order thinking skills.

• Implement teaching strategies that are responsive to the learners

linguistic, cultural, socio-economic and religious background.

• Seek advice concerning strategies that can enrich teaching practices,

• Articulate a personal philosophy of teaching that is learner centered.

2. Program Outcomes: (from CMO)

• Articulate the rootedness of education in philosophical, socio-

cultural, historical, psychological, and political contexts.

• Facilitate learning using a wide range of teaching methodologies and

delivery modes appropriate to specific learners and their environments.

• Develop innovative curricula, instructional plans,

teaching approaches, and resources for diverse learners.

• Demonstrate a variety of thinking skills in planning, monitoring,

assessing, and reporting learning processes and outcomes.

3. Desired Learning Outcomes (Syllabus)

• Observed how a teacher apply a certain teaching strategy in teaching a topic

• Identified the steps used in the application of a certain teaching strategy

• Make a lesson plan reflecting the strategy chosen

• Write a reflection paper on teaching strategy

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E X P L O R E

How many years have you been in school since the time you started in basic education until now?
Do you have “best” teachers during these years? Why do you consider them your “best”
teachers? (Answers may include the way they deal with their learners, their teaching
practices, how these teachers make them feel inside and outside the classroom)

Teaching practices would include the strategies these teachers used in discussing
lessons. When can you say then that a teacher uses the “best” teaching strategy?

D E E P E N

No greater responsibility can rest upon any man (or woman) than to be a teacher of God’s
children.
- David O. McKay

The best education is not given to students; it is drawn out of them.

- Gerald Belcher

Teaching is a science, an art, and a craft. It is a science because there are strategies and
practices that a body of research has shown to be effective in enhancing learning. It is an art in
that teachers must bring themselves fully into their teaching. As a teacher you will need to find the
methods and strategies that work best for you and your students. It is also a craft because it is a
skill or set of skills learned through experience. Teaching is a complex, multi-dimensional endeavor;
not something that can be mastered through four years stay in a university. (Johnson, 2017).

A lot of teachers say that teaching is a tough job and as teachers they can
make the most impact in a person’s life. Teachers help in honing a learners thinking,
his skills, even his character and attitude towards life and other people around him.

Teaching, according to Mackenzie, refers to a system of actions involving an agent, a situation,

an end-in-view and two sets of factors in the situation-one set over which the agent has no control
and one set which the agent can modify with respect to the end in view. (studylecturenotes.com)
Teachers know that it is not an easy task to disseminate information to students
in a way that would be most interesting for them. Because of this, they must be
knowledgeable on the strategies that would help them draw the interests of their learners.

Teaching strategies, also known as instructional strategies, are methods that teachers use to
deliver course material in ways that keep students engaged and practicing different skill sets. (study.com)

Lawton (as cited in Sarode,2018, p. 58) defines teaching strategy as a generalized

plan for a lesson(s) which include structure desired learner behavior in terms of goals
of instructions and an outline of planned tactics necessary to implement the strategy.
B.O Smith, on the other hand, defined it as a pattern of acts that serves to attain
certain outcomes and to guard against certain others (studylectures.com).

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A teaching strategy is the method a teacher use to convey information, knowledge

and skills to students. There may be a particular strategy that works well with a particular
group of students one year that won’t work with another group of students the next year.
Or even a strategy that would work well with students of a particular teacher or subject that
won’t be that much effective with another teacher’ group of students or subject being taught.
Because of this, it’s important to have lots of teaching strategies in a teacher’s toolbox.

But why is it really important for a teacher to use teaching strategies?

According to studylectures.com, strategies help:
1. To ensure that learning will occur in as brief a time as possible;
2. To induce students to engage in exchange of ideas;
3. To minimize the chance of wrong
responses in learning concepts, principles or facts;
4. To ensure the attainment of defined instructional objective.

Thomas L. Friedman, author of The World Is Flat, (as cited by Sarode, 2018) refers to
a twenty-first century world that will be very different from the one in which we were educated.
To survive in a new, globally competitive world, today’s students will need creativity, problem-
solving abilities, a passion for learning, a dedicated work ethic and lifelong learning opportunities.
Students can develop these abilities through instruction based on best practice teaching strategies.

The following are the benefits of best practices teaching strategy:

1.
There is a joyful feeling of purposeful movement, industrious thinking and a vital and
vibrant atmosphere and environment.
2. Teachers often use collaborative and/or authentic
tasks that place students at the center of the learning process.
3. Teachers are actively engaged with different groups and students
are anxious to enlist visitors in their various tasks or assignments.
4. Students are engaged and focused on their career oriented work
5. Seating arrangements are clustered, varied and functional with multi-instructional
areas.
6. Project materials and books are numerous.
7. Classrooms are activity-based spaces as opposed to places to “sit and get” lectures.

Aside from these, it can also be noted that using effective teaching strategies can motivate
students and help them focus their attention on the task at hand. It can also help organize information for
understanding and remembering. These strategies will be helpful in monitoring and assessing learning.

What are some effective strategies that could be used inside the classroom:

From the website http://www.gmu.edu/resources/facstaff/part-time/strategy.html, the

following teaching strategies were discussed:

Lecture.

For many years, the lecture method was the most widely used instructional strategy in college
classrooms. Nearly 80% of all U.S. college classrooms in the late 1970s reported using some form of the
lecture method to teach students (Cashin,1990). Although the usefulness of other teaching strategies is
being widely examined today, the lecture still remains an important way to communicate information.

Used in conjunction with active learning teaching strategies, the traditional lecture can be

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an effective way to achieve instructional goals. The advantages of the lecture approach are that it
provides a way to communicate a large amount of information to many listeners, maximizes instructor
control and is non-threatening to students. The disadvantages are that lecturing minimizes feedback
from students, assumes an unrealistic level of student understanding and comprehension, and
often disengages students from the learning process causing information to be quickly forgotten.

The following recommendations can help make the lecture approach more effective (Cashin, 1990):

1. Fit the lecture to the audience

2. Focus your topic - remember you cannot cover everything in one
lecture
3. Prepare an outline that includes 5-9 major points you want to
cover in one lecture
4. Organize your points for clarity
5. Select appropriate examples or illustrations
6. Present more than one side of an issue and be sensitive to other
perspectives
7. Repeat points when necessary
8. Be aware of your audience - notice their feedback
9. Be enthusiastic - you don’t have to be an entertainer but you
should be excited by your topic.
(from Cashin, 1990, pp. 60-61)

Case Method.

Providing an opportunity for students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-life
experiences has proven to be an effective way of both disseminating and integrating knowledge.
The case method is an instructional strategy that engages students in active discussion about
issues and problems inherent in practical application. It can highlight fundamental dilemmas
or critical issues and provide a format for role playing ambiguous or controversial scenarios.

Course content cases can come from a variety of sources. Many faculty have
transformed current events or problems reported through print or broadcast media into
critical learning experiences that illuminate the complexity of finding solutions to critical
social problems. The case study approach works well in cooperative learning or role
playing environments to stimulate critical thinking and awareness of multiple perspectives.

Discussion.

There are a variety of ways to stimulate discussion. For example, some faculty begin a lesson with a
whole group discussion to refresh students’ memories about the assigned reading(s). Other faculty find it
helpful to have students list critical points or emerging issues, or generate a set of questions stemming from
the assigned reading(s). These strategies can also be used to help focus large and small group discussions.

Obviously, a successful class discussion involves planning on the part of the instructor and preparation
on the part of the students. Instructors should communicate this commitment to the students on the first
day of class by clearly articulating course expectations. Just as the instructor carefully plans the learning
experience, the students must comprehend the assigned reading and show up for class on time, ready to learn.

Active Learning.

Meyers and Jones (1993) define active learning as learning environments that allow students
to talk and listen, read, write, and reflect as they approach course content through problem-solving

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exercises, informal small groups, simulations, case studies, role playing, and other activities -- all of
which require students to apply what they are learning (p. xi). Many studies show that learning is
enhanced when students become actively involved in the learning process. Instructional strategies
that engage students in the learning process stimulate critical thinking and a greater awareness
of other perspectives. Although there are times when lecturing is the most appropriate method
for disseminating information, current thinking in college teaching and learning suggests that
the use of a variety of instructional strategies can positively enhance student learning. Obviously,
teaching strategies should be carefully matched to the teaching objectives of a particular lesson.

Assessing or grading students’ contributions in active learning

environments is somewhat problematic. It is extremely important that the course
syllabus explicitly outlines the evaluation criteria for each assignment whether
individual or group. Students need and want to know what is expected of them.

Cooperative Learning.

Cooperative Learning is a systematic pedagogical strategy that encourages small groups

of students to work together for the achievement of a common goal. The term ‘Collaborative
Learning’ is often used as a synonym for cooperative learning when, in fact, it is a separate strategy
that encompasses a broader range of group interactions such as developing learning communities,
stimulating student/faculty discussions, and encouraging electronic exchanges (Bruffee, 1993).
Both approaches stress the importance of faculty and student involvement in the learning process.

When integrating cooperative or collaborative learning strategies into a course,

careful planning and preparation are essential. Understanding how to form groups, ensure
positive interdependence, maintain individual accountability, resolve group conflict,
develop appropriate assignments and grading criteria, and manage active learning
environments are critical to the achievement of a successful cooperative learning experience.

Integrating Technology.

Today, educators realize that computer literacy is an important part of a student’s

education. Integrating technology into a course curriculum when appropriate is proving to
be valuable for enhancing and extending the learning experience for faculty and students.
Many faculty have found electronic mail to be a useful way to promote student-student or
faculty-student communication between class meetings. Others use list serves or on-line
notes to extend topic discussions and explore critical issues with students and colleagues,
or discipline- specific software to increase student understanding of difficult concepts.

Distance Learning.

Distance learning is not a new concept. We have all experienced learning outside of a
structured classroom setting through television, correspondence courses, etc. Distance learning
or distance education as a teaching pedagogy, however, is an important topic of discussion
on college campuses today. Distance learning is defined as ‘any form of teaching and learning
in which the teacher and learner are not in the same place at the same time’ (Gilbert, 1995).

Obviously, information technology has broadened our concept of the learning

environment. It has made it possible for learning experiences to be extended beyond the
confines of the traditional classroom. Distance learning technologies take many forms such
as computer simulations, interactive collaboration/discussion, and the creation of virtual
learning environments connecting regions or nations. Components of distance learning such
as email, and interactive software have also been useful additions to the educational setting.

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Aside from these strategies mentioned, there are others that could be quiet helpful
in the teaching and learning process especially in basic education. It is noted from the
website https://www.quizalize.com/blog/2018/02/23/teaching-strategies/ the following
strategies. The website calls these the seven effective teaching strategies for the classroom:

1. Visualization. Bring dull academic concepts to life with visual and practical learning
experiences, helping students to understand how their schooling applies in the real-world.
Examples include using the interactive whiteboard to display photos, audio clips and videos, as well
as encouraging students to get out of their seats with classroom experiments and local field trips.

2. Cooperative learning. Encourage students of mixed abilities to work together

by promoting small group or whole class activities. Through verbally expressing their
ideas and responding to others students will develop their self-confidence, as well as
enhance their communication and critical thinking skills which are vital throughout life.

Solving mathematical puzzles, conducting scientific experiments and acting out short drama sketches
are just a few examples of how cooperative learning can be incorporated into classroom lessons.

3. Inquiry-based instruction. Pose thought-provoking questions which inspire students

to think for themselves and become more independent learners. Encouraging students to ask
questions and investigate their own ideas helps improve their problem-solving skills as well
as gain a deeper understanding of academic concepts. Both of which are important life skills.

Inquiries can be science or math-based such as ‘why does my shadow change size?’ or ‘is the sum of
two odd numbers always an even number?’. However, they can also be subjective and encourage students
to express their unique views, e.g. ‘do poems have to rhyme?’ or ‘should all students wear uniform?’.

4. Differentiation. Differentiate teaching by allocating tasks

based on students’ abilities, to ensure no one gets left behind.

Assigning classroom activities according to students’ unique learning needs means individuals
with higher academic capabilities are stretched and those who are struggling get the appropriate support.

This can involve handing out worksheets that vary in complexity to

different groups of students, or setting up a range of work stations around the
classroom which contain an assortment of tasks for students to choose from.

5. Technology in the classroom. Incorporating technology into your teaching is a great way to
actively engage your students, especially as digital media surrounds young people in the 21st century.

Interactive whiteboards or mobile devices can be used to display images and videos, which helps
students visualize new academic concepts. Learning can become more interactive when technology
is used as students can physically engage during lessons as well as instantly research their ideas,
which develops autonomy.Mobile devices, such as iPads and/or tablets, can be used in the classroom
for students to record results, take photos/videos or simply as a behaviour management technique.

6. Behaviour management. Implementing an effective behaviour management strategy is crucial

to gain your students respect and ensure students have an equal chance of reaching their full potential.
Noisy, disruptive classrooms do not encourage a productive learning environment,
therefore developing an atmosphere of mutual respect through a combination
of discipline and reward can be beneficial for both you and your students.

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Examples include fun and interactive reward charts for younger students, where individuals move
up or down based on behaviour with the top student receiving a prize at the end of the week.

7. Professional development. Engaging in regular professional development programmes is

a great way to enhance teaching and learning in your classroom. With educational policies constantly
changing it is extremely useful to attend events where a teacher can gain inspiration from other teachers
and academics. It’s also a great excuse to get out of the classroom and work alongside other teachers.

Sessions can include learning about new educational

technologies, online safety training, and much more.

Learning environment along with teachers’ pedagogical skills is

important for quality education (Johnson, 2007 as cited by Jalbani, 2014).
Being an effective teacher is a challenge because every student is unique, however, using a
combination of teaching strategies can address students’ varying learning styles and academic
capabilities as well as make classroom a dynamic and motivational environment for students

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O B S E R V E A N D D O

Activity 3
Name of Observer: Date/ Time of Observation:

Name of Teacher: Grade Level:

My Task No. 03

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I. Observation of Classes

(The instructor will identify the classes to be assigned

to you. Conduct at least two observation for each class).

Accomplish the following activity:

A. What are the strategies used by the teacher in teaching the subject
matter? Can you identify the series of steps used of the strategy applied
in the class? Make use of the matrix below in answering these question.

Strategies used Subject Matter Steps used in the Strategy

Applied

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B. Is the strategy/ies used effective in drawing out the students

interests and participation to the topic being discussed? Explain your answer.

C. If you were to teach this certain subject matter, what strategy will you be
using? (take into consideration the students that you have observed, the learning
environment, among others. You can choose from the strategies discussed).

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D. Make a lesson plan reflecting the strategy you have chosen.

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II. Identify teachers who you think are very effective in teaching. You see them
making use of teaching strategies in their classes. Interview these teachers and ask
them about their best practices. Identify other strategies that they are applying in their
class. Know the way they choose the proper teaching strategy for a certain lesson.

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My Analysis

From the observations, interviews conducted, I found out that “Teaching Strategies are
important in an effective teaching and learning process?“

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My Reflection

Write a short essay reflecting on the following questions:

As a future teacher, how would I ensure that my students participate well in our classroom discussion?
What are the things that I must remember in choosing the right strategy for a certain subject matter?

Knowing that making use of an effective teaching strategy could very well help
me to successfully hurdle difficulties in teaching a certain topic, how would I compare
this to my personal life? What personal philosophy in life can I develop from this
comparison that would later help me in my role as a teacher and a mentor as well?

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My Learning Artifacts

Provide pictures of a teacher making use of a teaching strategy in class.

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