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Teaching And Learning Strategies: A Classroom Guide

Updated: Mar 22, 2023

What are teaching and learning strategies?

Teacher strategies involve techniques and methods used to enhance student learning. To determine the best teaching strategy, teachers consider the knowledge level of the students, the concept being discussed, and the stage of the student's learning journey.


Learning strategies are a learner's ways to organize and use a specific range of skills in a classroom and non-academic setting to learn curriculum content more effectively.


The most effective teachers are innovative and creative in teaching academic concepts and meeting the individual needs of students. Despite this, educators often stick to their preferred teaching methods due to the demands of an ever-expanding curriculum. While we all have our preferred teaching methodologies, it is important to explore evidence-based pedagogical ideas that can broaden our horizons in the classroom.


Teacher Strategies

Listed below are some common teaching strategies.


Visualization:

The use of visualization is an effective way to process or summarize classroom knowledge. When students receive information visually, they are more likely to retain both previous and newly acquired information.  Low-achieving learners benefit from visualization by receiving information in a simpler, clearer, and more systematic manner. The use of visual tools such as flow charts, graphic organizers, concept maps, and Venn diagrams allows students to grasp information more effectively.


Teamwork: 

A very effective teaching strategy is to divide a class into groups to complete a task. Providing learners of mixed abilities with opportunities to work together is recommended. This allows those who know more about the topic to share that knowledge and assist others in understanding it. Classroom studies suggest that teachers can promote cooperative learning by dividing students into small groups and assigning them different tasks.


Wedge British Made Magnetic White boards are perfect for group work because they are portable. Group work in the classroom gives children the opportunity to collaborate with one another and expand their knowledge and understanding of a subject. 





KS2 group learning in Glos primary school classroom using an A2 double sided Wedge whiteboard, giving children the chance to collaborate with one another and expand their knowledge.
Children using a Red A2 Wedge Whiteboard for collaborative group work.




Working as a team has numerous benefits, it allows children to develop different perspectives, draw connections and build on each other's ideas, it teaches them how to develop social and communication skills, and it also teaches them how to resolve conflicts. Collaboration enhances the learning of children, promotes their overall development, and helps to improve learning outcomes.


Inquiry-Based Teaching:

A teaching strategy that encourages learners to ask a lot of questions will not only motivate them to think more practically but also help them become independent learners. Inquiry-based learning motivates students to solve problems by asking questions and working together. Students tend to show more interest in learning through this strategy. Learning through inquiry allows students to work with each other as a class and allows them to revise their previous learning and retain new learning more effectively.


Learning strategies for students

Studies have shown that students process information through their senses. Typically, successful learners tend to favour one sense over another.


Visual Strategies: 

Students learn and retain knowledge better when presented with visual materials, such as diagrams, charts, arrows, and symbols. This approach has been refined through research into dual coding. A clear visual representation of information hierarchy in a teaching practice makes complex regular content more accessible. Teachers can use this approach to manage the classroom learning environment by applying the following principles:

  • Incorporate a wide variety of visual aids, such as charts, graphs, and illustrations

  • Provide handouts and outlines for teaching various academic concepts

  • Ensure distractions are removed

  • Show images and explain

  • Make presentations & illustrations colorful

  • When creating handouts, leave space for students to write notes


Auditory strategies:  Creating listening and speaking-based learning experiences.


The following instructional methods are necessary for successful teachers:

  • Begin Introducing a new topic by explaining the academic concepts that will be covered

  • Make use of discussion groups or brainstorming activities

  • Have learners read questions aloud

  • Place learners in groups where they can collaborate vocally

  • Summarize what has been taught


Kinaesthetic Learning

Kinaesthetic learning [or embodied cognition] is also referred to as tactile learning. Among all the learning styles, kinaesthetic learning is the most physical, as kinaesthetic, or tactile learners best grasp information through movement, movement, and touch. Students who are kinaesthetic learners can sense movement and body position in the learning environment.


Here are a few strategies for teaching kinaesthetic learners:

  • Include physical movement in the teaching methods

  • Employ the use of flashcards

  • Engage pupils in activities that involve physical materials

  • Provide practical hands-on experience to pupils


Creating universally accessible learning solutions can be challenging. According to educational researchers, the use of a combination of active learning strategies may help improve the learning outcomes of each student and motivate them to gain a deeper understanding of a subject. To encourage learners to learn faster and retain more information, a teacher should use a variety of teaching strategies.

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