instructional methods

1. TEACHING, LEARNING, TRAINING AND EDUCATION
Prof. J. Maundu
April, 2021
Teaching- A process of telling or showing someone or some people something. The something
could be a definition of a concept, a demonstration in an experiment or an entire lesson
presentation. A lesson presentation is in itself a system since it involves planning for teaching
and execution of the plan in form of content delivery. The planning will comprise consultation
of the syllabus to select teaching topic, selection of instructional resources, and preparation of
a lesson plan. This is then followed by lesson presentation or the teaching process.
Teacher’s role in content delivery
 Teacher as student –need to continually improve hi/her academic and professional
competencies. He /she should have adequate grip of the subject matter, understand
learners’ needs and societal/ministerial expectations.
 Teacher as a planner- Assembles all the requirements of a lesson, decides on learning
activities and instructional methods as well as designing an orderly manner of the
teaching process.
 Teacher as craftsman- skilled in handling learner needs, logical and lively presentation,
giving and correcting assignments, providing reinforcement and feedback to learners.
 Teacher as decision maker- many decisions have to be made e.g. about selection of
content and resources, statement of objectives, choice of instructional procedures,
assessment and provision of feedback among others.
Learning- A process of behavior change/modification as a result of some experience. The
change is about intellectual and emotional development i.e. one acquires knowledge, skills and
values that enable him/her to function differently from the previous status before receipt of
the experience. Thus, the change does not concern physical characteristics.
Examples of changes due to learning are: improved handwriting, competency in mathematical
calculations, getting better at interpersonal relations, using binomial nomenclature in
identifying animal/plant specimens, quitting drug abuse following counseling sessions,
understanding or discovering alternative ways in scientific investigation, competency in use of
language etc.
Theories of learning- Cognitive- how mental processes are influenced by internal and external
factors- growth of the brain results in increasingly interconnected networks which are
important in formation of memories that link new to previous ideas in both academic and social

2. dimensions.); Behaviourism- behaviours are learned from the instructional environment e.g.
the Pavlov experiment; Constructivism- learners do not merely take in information passively,
rather, they construct own meaning/knowledge which they incorporate into their pre-existing
schemas; Humanistic theory- Learner-centred philosophy whereby students choose what they
would like to pursue/focus on.
NOTE: Teaching and learning are continuous processes; Teaching promotes learning; the
teacher also learns (how to plan and deliver content better, engage learners more
meaningfully in subsequent lessons etc.)
Training- The focus in this process is skill development; Students are taught how to:
 plan for teaching
 manage a class to facilitate learning,
 select instructional resources
 select appropriate teaching methods
 Acquire content delivery behaviours-composure, eye contact, voice projection,
pronunciation, asking questions, reinforcement, writing on board etc.
 Assess and provide feedback to students (verbally or non-verbally)
 Conduct experiments- assembly, recording observations , report writing
 Keep record of work etc.
NOTE: A student on Teaching Practice who performs in accordance with the expectations of
the university is said to be trained. The performance includes both in-class and out-of-class
engagements that are institution related. The quality of adherence to the university and
school regulations serves as a measure of the degree of excellence in training.
Education- An educated person will demonstrate a reasonable to excellent measure of
acceptability in society. By using appropriate knowledge, skills and values, the individual is able
add value to self, others and the society at large. He/she can adjust in various physical and
social environments and pass on relevant and useful knowledge and skills to others. His/her
interaction with others is socially adjustable. Thus, a teacher who deliberately misguides a
student academically or socially is not an educated person. A learner who despite achieving
very high grades in Religious studies is notorious for stealing is learned but not educated.
There are three main forms of education: Formal-has structured curriculum, is run in
institutions, undertakes formal assessment; Non-formal- outside formal system, designed to
meet needs of specific groups e.g. Youth, farmers, Jua Kali artisans; breast-feeding mothers
etc.; Informal- Sub-consciously experienced/spontaneously acquired form of education among
peers, at home in sport clubs etc.

3. NB: Our desire as teachers it to produce educated learners who can competently serve society
in a variety of desirable ways.