MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TEACHING APPROACHES, METHODS, TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES

In the learning-teaching process, we need to understand some concepts that are very common. These concepts can confuse the teachers if they do not have a clear definition of them.

We are going to discuss the definition and establish the main differences between some concepts that are very important for the teachers. These concepts are approach, method, technique and strategy.

Approach: I would say that this is the personal philosophy of teaching. What is the nature of education? What is the role of the teacher, the student, the administration, the parents? To be an effective teacher, does one need to strive to be authoritarian, to be autocratic, or is the best way to engender a sense of trust and familiarity, to be a 'educating/leading friend' to your students. To understand one's personal teaching approaches, one must first look to answer these types of questions. And of course, your opinion will change as time goes on - and it may vary depending on the students you're teaching.

Method: are the ways of presenting instructional materials or conducting instructional activities. A method comprises the principles and methods used forinstruction. Commonly used teaching methods may include class participation, demonstration, recitation, memorization, or combinations of these. The choice of teaching method or methods to be used depends largely on the information or skill that is being taught, and it may also be influenced by the aptitude and enthusiasm of the students.

Technique: These are the tricks we all know and use to get the job done in the classroom. Teachers have systems of rewards/punishments for students who comply and exceed or defy and lag behind. If a classroom is becoming distracted a teacher may use the technique of silent reading or shared reading to try to rope them in again. Another may choose to use a quick physical activity to distract their distraction and get them all to do the same thing at the same time - then quickly direct them back to work. This is really where someone with loads of experience can help another teacher improve her abilities. These are the tricks that can be taught to another teacher. Also a lot of teachers attend offer little tidbits of games, activites, and actions that teachers can use to achieve certain goals in the classroom. Everything from sending a note home to mom and a trip to the principal's office to giving out 'points' for good behaviour are examples of teaching techniques.

Strategy: include all approaches that a teacher may take to actively engage students in learning. These strategies drive a teacher's instruction as they work to meet specific learning objectives.