The document discusses various teaching methods and their advantages and disadvantages, including demonstrations, group inquiry, guided learning, and scenarios. Each method is evaluated based on its effectiveness, participant involvement, and requirements for prior knowledge. Strategies and pointers are provided for optimizing learning experiences and ensuring participant engagement.

1. Cone of Experience
People generally remember:
Read
Hear Words
Watch Still Picture
Watch Moving Picture
View Exhibit
Watch Demonstration
Do a Workshop Exercise
Role Play a Situation
Simulate a Real Experience
Go through the Real Experience
10% of what they read
20% of what they hear
30% of what they see
50% of what they see and hear
70% of what they say and write
90% of what they say as
they do a task
For more information on Dole’s cone of Experience, see Raymond T. Wimon. Educational Media, Charles Merril Co, 1969

2. Demonstration
 The presenter actually performs or simulates
the process, instead of only talking about a
concept, procedure, or set of facts.
Advantages:
• Excellent way to learn skills for
using equipment, instructional
materials, procedures, etc.
• Participants can immediately try
out what they learn
• Involves auditory, visual, and
often kinesthetic (movement)
sessions with a maximum
involvement
Disadvantages:
• Demonstration must be limited to
amounts of information at one
time
• Breaking demonstration into
learnable chunks can be difficult
• May be difficult to set up space for
viewing
• Not good for large groups unless all
can experience
• Need follow up opportunities to
apply
Pointers:
• Include a verbal
summary either
before or after demo
• Provide opportunity
to practice skills on
real problem
• Make sure in
advance all
materials are
available and
working
• Practice beforehand
to establish
timelines, possible
difficulties, and
anticipate

3. Group Discussion
 The presenter must first build interest before
starting a discussion. Open-ended questions can
guide participants into learning through dialogue.
Advantages:
• Permits maximum interchange of
ideas
• Permits clarification, sharing of
understanding, and review of main
points
• Allows participants to acquire and
practice interpersonal
competencies
• Participants choose level of
involvement based on own degree
of comfort
Disadvantages:
• Participants must have basic
information on which to build
discussion; trainer must lay out
content foundation
• Without focusing, discussions
can wander and not contain
much content
• May not be as inclusive (have to
facilitate)
• Can become very time
consuming
Pointers:
• Time limits and
goals should be
explicitly set
• Open-ended
questions trigger
better discussions
than close-ended
questions
• Use facilitation
techniques to
prevent domination
by one or few
viewpoints

4. Group Inquiry
 The presenter challenges participants to generate
their own questions or poses a problem for group to
solve. May need to provide prior knowledge first.
Advantages:
• Allows presenter to gear
teaching to participant needs
• Allows for group to apply own
knowledge or experience
• Encourages group interpersonal
skills
Disadvantages:
• Participants must have prior
knowledge of material or first
be presented with relevant
instructional materials and
information
• May require high level of
experience of presenter to guide
group towards intended
learning
Pointers:
• Present needed
frameworks and
information
beforehand
• Allow sufficient
time for the group to
form questions or
solve problem
• You can field
questions one at a
time or from the
entire group

5. Guided Learning
 Instead of presenting a lecture, or obtain
participants questions, the presenter asks a series
of questions. Ideas are recorded and then
discussed in light of intended learning content.
Advantages:
• Taps knowledge of group or
gets their beliefs and ideas
about questions
• Allows presenter to learn what
participants already know
before making instructional
points
• Encourages self discovery
• Nice break from
presentation
Disadvantages:
• Presenter must have extensive
knowledge of subject (built in)
• Presenter should be skilled at
encouraging and controlling
verbal input
• Presenter must establish safe
environment
• Verbal participants may
monopolize discussion or present
inappropriate views
Pointers:
• Maintain balance
between participant
and trainer input
• Record ideas and
compare to lecture
points presenter has
in mind
• If done in small
groups, reconvene
groups and share
learning
• Have examples to
use

6. Lecture / Talk
 The presenter verbally presents intended learning
in a thoughtfully designed manner. Lecturing can be
useful for large group settings, is low-cost, and can
include participation.
Advantages:
• Most efficient and low-cost
method for conveying information
in classroom setting
• Can convey basic info to large
group rapidly
• Can be used regardless of group
size
Disadvantages:
• Presenter needs to be dynamic,
knowledgeable, and energetic
• Can put participants into a position
of sustained, passive learning
• Too much information at one time
is “lost” unless supported by
experience, handouts
• Used by itself, does not lead to
learning
Pointers:
• Design carefully and
intentionally
• Work to involve
participants and
maximize retention
through participative
techniques
• Plan strategies to get
attention
• Outline key ideas at
outset to help
listeners recognize
relevant details
• Use visual backup
• Recap major points
• Time for debrief/
apply

7. Mental Imagery
 Uses the ability to visualize an object, person,
place or action not present. Can replace scenarios
such as role playing and stimulate discussion.
Advantages:
• Valuable way to help participants
mentally rehearse putting skills
into action and bring feelings and
events into focus
• Help participants work through
anxiety in safe setting
• Through visualization,
participants can be activated into
lively discussion
Disadvantages:
• Still requires a minimum
amount of role playing
• Participants may not have
enough experience to be able to
respond as directed by
facilitator
• Facilitator may not have
participated in imagery
exercises enough to feel
comfortable leading others
Pointers:
• Use to replace role
playing
• Held participants
clear mind first
with relaxation
exercises
• Give imagery
instructions slowly
and with enough
pauses
• Write out a script
and practice
• Invite participants to
share imagery in
voluntary manner
• Use journals

8. Observation
 Watching others without directly participating can
be an effective learning experience. This can be
reinforced through use of notes, checklists, and
questions.
Advantages:
• Can be a very effective way to
experience learning, especially
when combined with situations
• Observers can have strong feelings
if what they are observing has
personal impact
• Can use with groups of varying
sizes
Disadvantages:
• It may be difficult to make
observation session an
active experience
• There may not be enough
trust among participants to
provide meaningful
feedback
Pointers:
• Try to provide aids to
help participants
retain pertinent
aspects
• May want to provide
an overview of
important content
before observation
• Provide forms with
suggestions,
checklists,
questions, etc.
• Repeat or vary with
other methods and
rotations

9. Discussion w/ Reading
 Participants are asked to read a short, pertinent
handout covering main points and then continue
with small group discussion or other activities to
apply reading.
Advantages:
• Excellent way to cover new material
without lecturing
• Material in journals and articles can be
covered
• Works well for people who learn best
through reading
• Exposes participants to work of experts
• Good way to introduce vocabulary
• Participants can revisit later at own
pace
Disadvantages:
• Some participants may not
be able or feel comfortable
with reading on the spot
and digesting quickly
• Need to have adequate time
• Need to develop application
opportunities
Pointers:
• Choose materials
carefully to be
pertinent
• Allow sufficient
time for most
participants to
complete reading
before signaling
start of discussion
• Combine with brief
lecture or
presentation of main
points using visuals
or role plays or other
activities

10. Scenario / Case Study
 Uses a type of written or scripted demonstration
which is an account of a fictitious or real situation
with sufficient detail to allow participants to act out,
discuss, or analyze situation.
Advantages:
• Helps participants to experience feelings
and practice skills
• Helps participants identify with
viewpoints and roles other than their
own
• Encourages problem solving
• Time saving, allowing for learners to
grapple with complexity
• Feedback opportunities
• Embeds information
Disadvantages:
• Participants must be willing to
be involved
• Not all participants may get
opportunity to practice
• Takes time to plan and execute
• Follow-up activity is important
to summarizing experience and
make key points
• Can be difficult to provide
enough information or write
Pointers:
• At outset, clarify
purpose or issues to
be addressed
• Provide sufficient
information about
roles or
characteristics
• Encourage
observation across
roles or situations
• Include time for
processing and
debriefing
• Include relevant
information
• Presenter can model
role play

11. Small Group Activity
 Activities designed for small groups, including
creative dimensions, can create a more lively,
comfortable environment with opportunities for
interaction and exchange of ideas.
Advantages:
• Same advantages as large group
discussions, plus can be more
comfortable
• Provides participants with
opportunity to utilize own expertise
• Involves participants in active
communication
• Presenter can circulate among
groups and provide help
Disadvantages:
• Participants must have basic
information or approach;
trainer must lay out content
• Participants may not stay on
task
• Time consuming
• Must rely on participants to
facilitate and record own
activities
Pointers:
• Set out goals and
time limits
• Have a specific
approach or format
for all to follow
• Appoint facilitators,
time keepers, or
other roles
• Have prearranged
spaces and cueing
system for coming
together
• Try to limit groups
to 8 persons to
maximize
interaction and
reduce fears

12. Spot Challenge
 The presenter interrupts presentation or weaves in
the opportunity for participants to give examples of the
concepts or apply knowledge through role play.
Advantages:
• Can assess participants’
understanding of material before
proceeding
• Can include coaching
• Provides participants with
opportunity to test out or apply their
own learning
• Can be very effective for groups that
like high interaction and risks
(e.g., young people)
Disadvantages:
• If group is large or have
differing levels of
experience, not all will
participate
• If a person doesn’t
understand a concept or
know how to perform, can
hurt their self esteem
Pointers:
• Concepts or
questions may be
planned or
spontaneous; make
sure they support or
clarify what’s been
covered (through
lectures, readings,
role plays, etc.)
• Interweave with
situation studies and
other formats to
make interaction
more comfortable

13. Other Ideas
 Switch-Swatch
 Concentric Circles
 Skits
 Stand and Declare
 Fishbowl Discussions
 Artistic Metaphors
 Games (Jeopardy)
 Role Plays/”Freeze”
Pointers:
• Include a verbal summary
either before or after demo
• Provide opportunity to
practice skills on real problem
• Make sure in advance all
materials are available and
working
• Practice beforehand to
establish timelines, possible
difficulties, and anticipate
questions