Teachers, buckle up! To boost student academic performance, you need to know the top research-backed teaching strategies. These strategies have proven success in promoting student learning, making student success more likely.
So, ditch the guesswork and embrace research-based strategies. This will not only improve student performance but also ensure that your teaching methods are on point. Here are ten of the most effective strategies according to research:
1
Explicit instruction: Explicit instruction is a research-based instructional strategy that provides clear and direct instruction to students. It involves breaking complex tasks into smaller steps and providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
Explicit instruction is often used to teach new skills or concepts, providing clear and structured lessons focusing on the key concepts and skills being taught. This approach can be especially helpful for struggling students or those who may benefit from more structured and explicit instruction.
During explicit instruction, teachers may use various instructional strategies, such as modeling, guided practice, and independent practice, to help students learn new skills or concepts. It is essential for teachers to provide clear explanations and demonstrations, allowing for plenty of opportunities for students to practice and apply their new skills.
2
Collaborative learning: Collaborative learning is a research-based instructional strategy that encourages students to work together to solve problems or complete tasks. This approach can effectively foster students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
During collaborative learning, students are typically organized into small groups and given a task or problem to solve. The group members work together to brainstorm ideas, discuss and evaluate different options, and come to a consensus on a solution.
There are several benefits to collaborative learning, including:
- Increased engagement and motivation: Collaborative learning can increase student engagement and motivation, as students are more likely to be interested in the task or problem when working with their peers.
- Improved communication and social skills: Collaborative learning can improve communication and social skills, as students must work together and communicate effectively to complete the task or solve the problem.
- Enhanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills: Collaborative learning can enhance problem-solving and critical thinking skills, as students must think creatively and evaluate different options to find a solution.
3
Inquiry-based learning: Inquiry-based learning is a research-based instructional strategy that allows students to explore and discover new concepts and ideas, encouraging them to ask questions and seek answers independently. This approach can be an effective way to promote student engagement and motivation and to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students.
During inquiry-based learning, students are typically given a problem or question to explore and are then encouraged to investigate and discover the answer independently. This may involve using various resources, such as books, websites, or experiments, to gather information and come to a conclusion.
There are several benefits to inquiry-based learning, including:
- Increased engagement and motivation: Inquiry-based learning can increase student engagement and motivation. Students are more likely to be interested in the task or problem when they can explore and discover the answer independently.
- Improved critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Inquiry-based learning can improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as students must evaluate and analyze information and conclude.
- Enhanced communication and collaboration skills: Inquiry-based learning can enhance communication and collaboration skills, as students must work together and communicate effectively to complete the task or solve the problem.
4
Differentiated instruction: Differentiated instruction is a research-based instructional strategy that tailors instruction to meet each student’s unique needs based on their abilities, interests, and learning styles. This approach can be an effective way to support student learning and improve student academic performance, as it allows teachers to meet the diverse needs of their students.
During differentiated instruction, teachers may use various strategies to meet their students’ needs, such as adjusting the difficulty level of tasks, providing different learning materials or resources, and using different teaching approaches. For example, a teacher may provide a student struggling with a particular concept with additional support and guidance. In contrast, a more advanced student may be given more challenging tasks.
There are several benefits to differentiated instruction, including:
- Improved student learning and achievement: Differentiated instruction can improve student learning and achievement, as students are more likely to be successful when they receive instruction tailored to their unique needs.
- Increased engagement and motivation: Differentiated instruction can increase student engagement and motivation, as students are more likely to be interested in the task or concept when it is presented in a way that meets their needs.
- Enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Differentiated instruction can enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as students can explore and apply new concepts and ideas in a meaningful way.
5
Project-based learning: Project-based learning is a research-based instructional strategy that involves having students complete a real-world project that requires them to apply their knowledge and skills to a real-world problem or challenge. This approach can effectively promote student engagement and motivation and foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills in students.
During project-based learning, students are typically given a problem or challenge to solve and are then asked to research, plan, and complete a project that addresses the problem or challenge. This may involve using various resources and materials and working independently or in small groups.
There are several benefits to project-based learning, including:
- Increased engagement and motivation: Project-based learning can increase student engagement and motivation, as students are more likely to be interested in the task or problem when it is presented in a real-world context.
- Improved critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Project-based learning can improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students must evaluate and analyze information and develop creative solutions to the problem or challenge.
- Enhanced communication and collaboration skills: Project-based learning can enhance communication and collaboration skills, as students must work together and communicate effectively to complete the project.
6
Problem-based learning: Problem-based learning is a research-based instructional strategy that involves presenting students with a real-world problem and having them work together to find a solution. This approach can effectively promote student engagement and motivation and foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills in students.
During problem-based learning, students are typically given a real-world problem to solve and are then asked to research and come up with a solution. This may involve working independently or in small groups and using various resources and materials.
There are several benefits to problem-based learning, including:
- Increased engagement and motivation: Problem-based learning can increase student engagement and motivation, as students are more likely to be interested in the task or problem when it is presented in a real-world context.
- Improved critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Problem-based learning can improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as students must evaluate and analyze information and develop creative solutions to the problem.
- Enhanced communication and collaboration skills: Problem-based learning can enhance communication and collaboration skills, as students must work together and communicate effectively to solve the problem.
7
Interactive lectures: Interactive lectures are a research-based instructional strategy involving interactive techniques, such as discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on activities, to engage students and promote active learning. This approach can effectively support student learning and improve student academic performance, allowing students to participate actively in the learning process.
During interactive lectures, teachers may use various techniques to engage students and promote active learning, such as asking questions, providing opportunities for students to ask questions, conducting demonstrations, and providing hands-on activities. These techniques can help students stay engaged and interested in the material and help them better understand and retain the information being taught.
There are several benefits to interactive lectures, including:
- Increased engagement and motivation: Interactive lectures can increase student engagement and motivation, as students are more likely to be interested in the material when actively participating in the learning process.
- Improved understanding and retention of information: Interactive lectures can improve understanding and retention of information. Students are more likely to remember and retain the material when actively participating in the learning process.
- Enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Interactive lectures can enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as students can apply and analyze the material.
8
Games and simulations: Games and simulations are a research-based instructional strategy that involves using games and simulations to engage students and provide hands-on learning experiences. This approach can effectively support student learning and improve student academic performance, as it allows students to learn through experiential and interactive activities.
Students typically participate in role-playing, problem-solving, and decision-making during games and simulations. These activities can help students better understand and retain the material being taught as they actively participate in the learning process.
There are several benefits to using games and simulations in the classroom, including:
- Increased engagement and motivation: Games and simulations can increase student engagement and motivation. Students are more likely to be interested in the material when actively participating in hands-on learning experiences.
- Improved understanding and retention of information: Games and simulations can improve understanding and retention of information. Students are more likely to remember and retain the material when actively participating in the learning process.
- Enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Games and simulations can enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as students can apply and analyze the material being taught in a hands-on and interactive way.
9
Inquiry-based assessments: Inquiry-based assessments are a research-based assessment strategy that involves using assessments that encourage students to think critically and creatively rather than simply recalling information. This approach can effectively assess student learning and understanding, as it allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a meaningful and authentic way.
During inquiry-based assessments, students may be asked to complete tasks or projects that require them to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems or challenges. This may involve researching, analyzing information, and coming up with creative solutions.
There are several benefits to inquiry-based assessments, including:
- Improved understanding and retention of information: Inquiry-based assessments can improve understanding and retention of information. Students are more likely to remember and retain the material when actively applying it to real-world problems or challenges.
- Enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Inquiry-based assessments can enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as students can apply and analyze the material being assessed in a meaningful and authentic way.
- Increased engagement and motivation: Inquiry-based assessments can increase student engagement and motivation, as students are more likely to be interested in the assessment when it is presented in a real-world context.
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Inquiry-Based Projects – are a research-based instructional strategy that involves having students complete projects that involve researching a topic, analyzing data, and presenting their findings. This approach can be an effective way to promote student engagement and motivation and to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills in students.
During inquiry-based projects, students are typically given a topic or problem to investigate and are then asked to research and analyze the topic or problem and present their findings in a report or presentation. This may involve using various resources and materials and working independently or in small groups.
There are several benefits to inquiry-based projects, including:
- Increased engagement and motivation: Inquiry-based projects can increase student engagement and motivation, as students are more likely to be interested in the task or problem when they can explore and discover the answer independently.
- Improved critical thinking and problem-solving skills: Inquiry-based projects can improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as students must evaluate and analyze information and conclude.
- Enhanced communication and collaboration skills: Inquiry-based projects can enhance communication and collaboration skills, as students must work together and communicate effectively to complete the project.
Conclusion
Overall, these instructional strategies may be effective in increasing student academic performance by promoting active and engaged learning, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving, and tailoring instruction to the unique needs of each student.
Share Your Thoughts About Using Researched Instructional Strategies
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https://www.dreamclass.io/2022/6-ways-to-improve-academic-performance-for-all-students/
https://www.educationcorner.com/improve-student-performance-conversations.html
https://oese.ed.gov/archived/oii/improving-student-achievement/