Pedagogic strategy

Definition[edit | edit source]

Pedagogic Strategies can be defined at 3 levels:

1. General instructional designs
2. Designs applied to a teaching/learning unit (e.g. a lesson or a course module)
3. Pedagogic methods that are part of a wider design (e.g. of a pedagogic strategy as defined here) and that we discuss elsewhere.

Effective course designs (or teachers) may make use of different teaching strategies or methods.

According to Dick et al. (2001:184) “instructional strategy is used generally to cover the various aspects of sequencing and organizing the content, specifying learning activities, and deciding how to deliver the content and activities.”

Important notice: DSchneider doesn't feel very sure how to distinguish pedagogic strategies from what he calls instructional design models. Here is a provisional distinction:

• Pedagogic strategies refer to a general abstract teaching method. They can influence instructional design models.
• Instructional design models refer to more precise instructional designs (based on some more explicit teaching and learning goals). A model can (but must not) implement several kinds of pedagogic strategies and methods.

Alternative entry points:

• Instructional design models (It might be good idea to merge at some point these articles, but then it's sometimes a good idea to look at a similar problem with different instrumentation ...)
• Teaching style (models that focus on the classroom teacher)

Types of pedagogic strategies[edit | edit source]

Definitions of pedagogic strategies draw often from several fields.

Firstly pedagogic strategies (at least the ones discussed in instructional design) are based on general learning theoretical concepts, e.g. Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructionism, Constructivism, Socio-constructivism, Situated learning, etc. Learning theorists often also address pedagogical issues . There is an overlap between theories that explain how people learn and how one could bring people to learn. This is particularly true regarding larger families of thought like constructivism.

Second, design of strategies draws a lot from general pedagogical theory, but also from specialized research (displinary didactics, school vs. vocational training etc.).

Third, educational technology has been a driving force to develop new strategies, with the basic assumption that educational technologies can facilitate pedagogical scenarios.

Ruth Clark four instructional architectures[edit | edit source]

According to Merril (2002), Ruth Clark (1998) suggests four different instructional architectures (receptive, directive, guided discovery, and exploratory) that he calls instructional style.

In the context of educational technology:

• Receptive instruction is characterized by a lecture or an Internet site where the student is merely provided with information.

• Directive instruction is characterized by a computer-based tutorial where information is presented, the student responds, feedback is provided and this tutorial learning cycle is repeated.

• Guided discovery is characterized by a computer simulation that allows the student to manipulate some device or environment.

• Exploratory instruction is characterized by an open learning environment in which the student is provided a rich, networked database of information, examples, demonstrations, and exercises from which the student can select whatever is appropriate to their current needs and mental models.

Weston & Cranton[edit | edit source]

Cynthia Weston and P. A. Cranton (1986:278) defined a still popular taxonomy that relates instructional strategies to different types of learning contents, i.e. domain content levels. Different strategies are viewed as useful for different types of contents and learning outcomes.

Baumgartner - Learning I-II-III[edit | edit source]

We expand Baumgartner's (2004) learning I-II-III typology with associated pedagogical strategies and instructional design models. The following table is based on Baumgartner et al. (2004) picture (up to row 6) and to which we made additions.

Schneider's modified learning I-I-III[edit | edit source]

• See the learning type article. The idea is to expand these learning types a bit in order to take into account levels of complexity and also have a slot for orthogonal designs (e.g. that deal with motivation).

DSchneider is not yet very sure of this ...

Greeno, Collins and Resnick[edit | edit source]

Greeno, Collins and Resnick (1996), based on learning psychological reflection, distinguish between behaviorist, cognitive and situative approaches and formulate first principles as defined by Brown and Campione (1994). Johri and Olds (2011), in a article on bridging learning sciences and engineering education, created the following table summarizing the headings of the Greeno et al. article and that we reproduce in turn with slight modifications. Numbers of design principles are taken from the original Greeno et al. article.

Joyce[edit | edit source]

Joyce, Weil and Calhoun (2000) defined 4 major families of models for teaching, i.e. strategies that are used in schooling.

1. Behavioral systems family of models
2. Information-processing family of models
3. Personal family of models
4. Social family of models

Update (2015): This book is now in it's 9th edition and includes additions. Joyce, B., Weil, M., Calhoun, E. (2014). Models of Teaching (9th Edition) Hardcover, 9th edition, Pearson, ISBN 0133749304 .

Reeves' pedagogical dimensions of computer-based education[edit | edit source]

Reeves (and Reeves) proposed several variants of a multi-dimensional model that allows categorization of various computer-based pedagogical designs. Identified pedagogical dimensions can be used to compare one form of Computer-based-education (CBE) with another or to compare different implementations of the same form of CBE. Reeves' motivation was the claim that “Systematic evaluation of computer-based education (CBE) in all its various forms (including integrated learning systems, interactive multimedia, interactive learning environments, and microworlds) often lags behind development efforts (Flagg, 1990).” (Reeves, 1997). The authors identifies frour reasons: (1) Technological innovations advertized as beeing effective are taken to be effective. This is reinforced by industry spending more money on marketing than on evaluation. (2) Decision makers are more interested in numbers dealing with technology investements, spread and quantitative use of CBE in the school system. (3) Evaluation formats are indadequate, e.g. “evaluation reports are usually presented in the format of social science research reports, a format that "is almost useless for most clients and audiences" (Scriven, 1993, p. 77)” (Reeves, 1997). (4) Evaluators often compare the incomparable. “A major weakness in traditional empirical approaches to evaluation is that the treatments being compared (e.g., interactive multimedia versus classroom instruction) are often assumed to be cohesive, holistic entities with meaningful differences.”(Reeves, 1997).

“Berman and McLaughlin (1978) and other implementation researchers (Cooley and Lohnes, 1976) have illustrated the fallacy of assuming that meaningful differences exist between two programs just because they have different names. It is imperative to open up the "black boxes" of instructional alternatives and reveal the relevant pedagogical dimensions they express if evaluations are to be meaningful and have utility. Pedagogical dimensions are the keys to unlocking the black boxes of various forms of CBE.” (Reeves, 1997).

While these dimensions rather represent a framework for comparative analysis, this table also can be use to think about the design of a pedagogical scenario.

Bates choosing[edit | edit source]

Tony Bates his free online book on Teaching in a Digital Age: Guidelines for Designing Teaching and Learning presented a short table that is based on five criteria: Epistemological basis, industrial vs. digital skills (20st vs. 21st century ones), academic quality, and flexibility.

Bates (2015) Choosing design models (CC BY NC SA license)

According to learning style[edit | edit source]

The idea is that different pedagogies are better adapted to individuals preferences for given learning styles.

See the learning style article.

Major families according to learning theoretical considerations[edit | edit source]

This needs to be completed, my plan is make short summaries for each and then point to instructional design models (as shown with a few examples below) - DSchneider 19:32, 22 May 2006 (MEST)

Behaviorist strategies[edit | edit source]

• Direct instruction
• Programmed instruction
• Mastery learning

Cognitivist strategies[edit | edit source]

• Nine events of instruction

Cognitivist/Constructivist strategies[edit | edit source]

• Microworlds
• Problem-based learning

Constructivist/Situated strategies[edit | edit source]

• Inquiry-based learning
• Project-based learning

Links[edit | edit source]

• Allen (1996), Instructional Models Key, HTML.

• Conaway, J. (1997) Educational technologies effect on models of instruction. University of Delaware. HTML, retrieved 15:45, 11 August 2007 (MEST). A good and short overview of instructional models.

• Huitt, W. (2003). Classroom instruction. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. Retrieved 19:24, 22 May 2006 (MEST), from http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/instruct/instruct.html. (This is an excellent resource for classroom instruction / direct instruction).

• Models of Teaching, College of Education and Human Development, UTSA. (Good resources for educators who are interested in approaches to and models of teaching)

• Cynthia A Gray/Portfolio 2006, Reflections on Teaching Models. This is a nice matrix of nine teaching/learning models.

• Instructional Methods Information by Bob Kizlik (creator of ADPRIMA)
• Table of Instructional Methods (Center for Positive Practices)

• DC Education Application Profile: Candidate Vocabularies for Instructional Method and Type. A Nice table summarizing vocabularies describing instructional method and types (for use in metadata descriptions)

References[edit | edit source]

• Baumgartner, P., I. Bergner und L. Pullich (2004). Weblogs in Education - A Means for Organisational Change. In: Multimedia Applications in Education Conference (MApEC) Proceedings 2004. L. Zimmermann. Graz: 155-166. PDF

• Baumgartner, P. (2004). The Zen Art of Teaching - Communication and Interactions in eEducation. Proceedings of the International Workshop ICL2004, Villach / Austria 29 September-1 October 2004, Villach, Kassel University Press. CD-ROM, ISBN: 3-89958-089-3. PDF

• Berman, P., and McLaughlin, M. (1978). Federal programs supporting education change. A model of education change, Vol. VIII: Implementing and sustaining innovations. Santa Monica, CA: Rand.

• Cooley, W. W., and Lohnes, P. R. (1976). Evaluation research in education. New York: Irvington.

• Chamberland, G., L. Lavoie et D. Marquis (1995). 20 formules pédagogiques, Sainte-Foy: Presses universitaires du Québec.

• Clark, Ruth (1998). Building Expertise: Cognitive Methods for Training and Performance Improvement. Washington D.C.: International Society for Performance Improvement.

• Derry, S. J., & Steinkuehler, C. A. (2003). Cognitive and situative theories of learning and instruction. In L. Nadel (Ed.), Encyclopedia of cognitive science (pp. 800–805). London, UK: Nature Publishing Group.

• Dillon, J.T. Using diverse styles of teaching, HTML (retrieved 19:24, 22 May 2006 (MEST))

• Flagg, B. N. (1990). Formative evaluation for educational technologies. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

• Greeno, J., Collins, A., & Resnick, L. (1996). Cognition and learning. In R. Calfee & D. Berliner (Eds.), Handbook of educational psychology (pp. 15–46). New York, NY: MacMillan.

• Johri, A., & Olds, B. M. (2011). Situated engineering learning: Bridging engineering education research and the learning sciences. Journal of Engineering Education, 100(1), 151-185. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/j.2168-9830.2011.tb00007.x

• Kahn, Badrul H. A Framework for Web-Based Learning, in Khan, B.H. (ed) Web-Based Training ISBN 0-87778-303-9
• Mafune, Patricia, Teaching and Learning Models HTML (retrieved 19:24, 22 May 2006 (MEST) ).

• Hassard, Jack, 2004, The Art of Teaching Science, Oxford Univesity Press.

• Hassard, Jack, 2005, The Art of Teaching Science, Syllabus Helpers and Agenda Strategies to support the "Art of Teaching Science" book. HTML

• Hassard, Jack, 2000, Minds ON Science Online, A Web Course on Teaching Science, Georgia State, [1] (this is a very nice on-line open access book on learning theory and models of science teaching).

• Hassard, Jack, Using the Internet As An Effective Science Teaching Tool, HTML

• Honebein, P. C., & Honebein, C. H. (2014). The influence of cognitive domain content levels and gender on designer judgments regarding useful instructional methods. Educational Technology Research and Development, 62(1), 53-69. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11423-013-9322-5

• Merrill, M. D. (2002). Instructional strategies and learning styles: which takes precedence? In R. A. Reiser & J. V. Dempsey (Eds.), Trends and Issues in Instructional Technology. (pp. 99-106). Columbus, OH: Prentice Hall. PDF Preprint

• Molenda, M. (2005). A New Typology of Instructional Methods Communication, paper presented at the 18th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning. http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference/resource_library/proceedings/02_45.pdf

• Séminaire sur les méthodes d'enseignement (1999) La didactique internationale en management public [2]

• Joyce, B., Weil, M., Calhoun, E. : (2000). Models of teaching, 6th edition, Allyn & Bacon, 2000. ISBN 0205389279

• Joyce, B., & Weil, M., & Calhoun, E. (2003). Models of teaching (7th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

• Philips, Rob (1998). Models of learning appropriate to educational applications of information technology, eaching and Learning Forum, held at the University of Western Australia. HTML

• Reeves, Tom, C. (1997). Evaluating What Really Matters in Computer-Based Education HTML, HTML - HTML copy

• Reeves, T. C. (1993). Pseudoscience in computer-based instruction: The case of learner control research. Journal of Computer-Based Instruction, 20(2), 39-46.

• Reeves, T. C. (1992a). Evaluating schools infused with technology. Education and Urban Society Journal, 24(4), 519-534.

• Reeves, T. C. (1992b, September). Effective dimensions of interactive learning systems. Invited keynote paper presented at the Information Technology for Training and Education (ITTE `92) Conference, Queensland, Australia.

• Reeves, T.C., Reeves, P.M., (1997b) Effective Dimensions of Interactive Learning on the World Wide Web, in B Khan (Ed.), Web-Based Instruction, Englewood Cliffs N.J. : Educational Technology Publications, 59-66).

• Scriven, M. (1993). Hard-won lessons in program evaluation. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

• Van Wart, Montgomery, N. Joseph Cayer, et Steeve Cook; Handbook of Training and Developement for the Public Sector; San Francisco, CA; Jossey-Bass; 1993

• Weston, C., & Cranton, P. A.. (1986). Selecting Instructional Strategies. The Journal of Higher Education, 57(3), 259–288. http://doi.org/10.2307/1981553

(need some more)