TRADITIONAL
TEACHING
METHOD
Health Education Methods/Strategies
still widely used in schools
all about recitation
Back-to-basics students were rewarded for their efforts
Traditional
Education Method
(Conventional Education) used class periods efficiently
exercised clear rules to manage students’
behavior
teachers communicated the knowledge and
enforced standards of behaviour
who typically send content and
facts to their students and then
hope the learner will understand
the information.
Traditional
they test these students on how
Teachers well they understand.
focus pedagogy toward the
needs of the instructor—not the
needs of the student or of
learning
it is convenient, easy, and
thought to be more
objective
Traditional
Teachers
forget there is a whole
person attending their
classes and this person may
have even greater insights
Educators created this form of teaching through years of
practice and now call it traditional classroom teaching. Some have
called it an instruction paradigm in contrast to their desire to see
more of a learner paradigm (Barr, 1998). Freire (1970/2009), a
leading international educator of the 20th century, named this form
of teaching a banking teaching theory.
In the banking concept of education, knowledge
is a gift bestowed by those who consider themselves
knowledgeable upon those who they consider to
know nothing. Projecting an absolute ignorance onto
others.
The banking method of teaching provides the student
with deposits of knowledge like money in a bank. The
process is teacher-focused and reinforces the power
differential between teacher and student, which in turn
encourages oppressive behaviors on the part of the
student.
There are several additional factors that keep traditional teaching alive,
including what some students want. These are:
Having one Using one Not adjusting the
teacher per course classroom classroom setting
Failing to provide Following
Accepting the 50- opportunities for curriculum designs
minute class reflection and that are not always
period other affective focused on
pedagogy learning
Freire suggests a deeper and often unconscious reason
for keeping this traditional instructional teaching method
alive. He states, “Education as the exercise of domination
stimulates the credulity of students, with the ideological
intent (often not perceived by educators) of indoctrinating
them to adapt to the world of oppression”.
Topic Traditional approach Alternate approaches
Teacher-center instruction:
Student-center instruction:
Person Educational essentialism
Educational progressivism
Educational perennialism
Learning, retention,
High test scores, grades,
Main Objective accumulation of valuable
graduation
knowledge & skills
Topic Traditional approach Alternate approaches
Students dynamically grouped by
Students matched by age, and interest or ability for each project or
possibly also by ability. All students subject, with the possibility of
Classroom
in a classroom are taught the same different groups each hour of the
material. day. Multi-age classrooms or open
classrooms.
Traditional education emphasizes: Progressive education emphasizes:
Direct instruction and lectures Hands-on activities
Teaching methods Seatwork
Student-led discovery
Students learn through listening
and observation Group activities
Topic Traditional approach Alternate approaches
Instruction based on Project-based instruction
textbooks, lectures, and using any available resources
Materials
individual written assignments including internet, library and
outside experts.
• Individual, independent Integrated, interdisciplinary
subjects. subjects or theme-based units,
Subjects • Little connection between such as reading a story about
topics cooking a meal and calculating
the cost of the food.
Topic Traditional approach Alternate approaches
• Memorization of facts, Understanding the facts,
objective information; Application of facts, Analysis,
Content Correct knowledge is Evaluation, Innovation;
paramount Critical thinking is paramount
• Little or no attention to • Significant attention to
social development. social development,
including teamwork,
• Focus on independent
interpersonal relationships,
Social aspects learning. Socializing largely
and self-awareness.
discouraged except for
extracurricular activities
and teamwork-based
projects.
Topic Traditional approach Alternate approaches
• A single, unified curriculum for
all students, regardless of ability • Students choose (or are steered
or interest. towards) different kinds of
classes according to their
Diverse class offerings without
perceived abilities or career
tracking, so that students receive
plans. Decisions made early in
a custom-tailored education.
Multiple tracks education may preclude changes
With School to work, later, as a student on a vo-
academically weak students must tech track may not have
take some advanced classes, completed necessary pre-
while the college bound may requisite classes to switch to a
have to spend half-days job university-preparation program.
shadowing at local businesses.
Topic Traditional approach Alternate approaches
Context learning integrates
Presentation and testing personal knowledge within
methods favor students the school environment.
who have prior exposure to Individualized expectations
the material or exposure in simplifies individual
Equity multiple contexts. supports and keeps focus
Requirements to study or student based.
memorize outside school Community study settings
inadvertently tests homes include multiple cultures
not students. and expose all students to
diversity.
Topic Traditional approach Alternate approaches
Students often address
teachers formally by their last
names. The teacher is In alternative schools,
considered a respected role students may be allowed to
Student and teacher model in the community. call teachers by their first
relationship Students should obey the names. Students and teachers
teacher. Proper behavior for may work together as
the university or professional collaborators
work community is
emphasized.
“
Traditional teaching is something
that is given to you. Personalized
learning is something you seek.
”
END
