Expanding Your Instructional Strategies

The internet’s expanding collection of useful materials for education has just become richer. Take a look at Instructional Strategies Online that includes information across:

• Direct Instruction
• Interactive Instruction
• Indirect Instruction
• Independent Study
• Experiential Learning
• Instructional Skills

The sections are instructional, helpful and include actionable classroom insight. For example, see below for a snippet from the page on narratives:

What are Narratives?

Narrative essays are told from a defined point of view, often the author’s, so there is feeling as well as specific and often sensory details provided to get the reader involved in the elements and sequence of the story.

What is its purpose?

Since a narrative relies on personal experiences, it often is in the form of a story. When the writer uses this technique, he or she must be sure to include all the conventions of storytelling: plot, character, setting, climax, and ending. It is usually filled with details that are carefully selected to explain, support, or enhance the story. All of the details relate to the main point the writer is attempting to make.

How do I do it?

Students can “tell what happened” by introducing the situation (who, where, and when); relaying events in a logical order (firstly, after that, next, etc.); and concluding by giving the last important event (e.g., at last …).

These are definitely useful classroom strategies regardless of your field or level of education. Please share any stories of using any of these or additional internet resources rich in content.