Different Teaching Methods in Education

Since 2007 Singapore’s Ministry of Education has espoused a teaching method commonly known as Teach Less, Learn More. The positive impact of embracing this teaching method has been profound. Currently Singapore spends an average of $11,000 annually on each student. In contrast the U.S. spends about $16,000 annually per child. In even starker contrast Kenya spends only $153 per year. Singapore’s results achieved by their method of Teach Less, Learn More is a shining example of a positive deviant from normal and previously accepted teaching methods. The economic benefits to programs such as Singapore Math, which embrace the Teach Less, Learn More education method, are certainly being realized as Singapore continues to advance as a global competitor along with many other Asian countries over the past 25 years.

Across the world there are several types of formal teaching methods and this article explores several of them along with the pros and cons.

Curriculum

All formal education methods have some sort of curriculum. The curriculum will set the terms by which content and courses are offered at the school. A curriculum based education focuses on the topics, or syllabus, which must be understood to achieve a particular standard of education. Additionally the curriculum will have a goal of what level of knowledge must be achieved in order to receive a passing grade. There are also varying academic disciplines which define the area that may be the focal point of education for a particular school. Examples include mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, applied sciences, social sciences, or even humanities. Additionally there are many fine arts curriculums and disciplines available today.

Methods of Education

Vocational

In a vocational educational method the training will strictly focus on practical and direct training towards a specific trade, or craft. Several industries require internships or apprenticeships and a vocational education usually lends itself to providing these as a part of their overall curriculum and certification requirement. Some examples of vocational training are engineering, architecture, medicine, and even carpentry.

Autodidactism

Autodidactism is characterized as learning on your own. It is a self-directed learning method that typically falls into an informal learning category. However, some advanced classes may engage in allowing a subset of students to go through the course materials at their own pace in order to allow them to feed their thirst for knowledge and as such keep them from getting bored. This allows them to learn at their own, often much faster, pace then the rest of their classmates. Research shows that many highly intelligent students will end up being dubbed as troublemakers simply because they are bored by the class not moving at the same speed they are. Instituting autodidactism in certain environments can be very beneficial to encouraging and fostering genius.

Alternative

Non-traditional education or alternative education is a term that typically defines any and all forms of education that exist outside of traditional education methods. Frequently classes are not structured by age or level and instead courses such as math, science, and language are taught in groups that include students of varying ages together. This is an amazingly effective teaching method for ‘troubled’ students because class sizes are frequently smaller and the interaction between students is much less competitive in nature.

Special Education

Children with disabilities are sometimes not able to participate in a public education environment. Although more and more parents and educators are finding flexibility with including children that have certain disabilities in the mainstream education system. Still, some children do require a special educational method so that they can have focused, individualized instruction. Depending on the school system, special education can be greatly beneficial in helping the student learn the basics to prepare them for transitioning into the public education system. But some children may always require special education, depending on the severity of their disability.

Conclusion

Secondary public schools across the world are now, since the very early 1900’s, focusing primarily on curriculums that teach practical job skills necessary for what is considered white collar work. Math and science education, as well as anything in the technology or computer science area, are the keys to helping our students excel in an ever-changing world. To ensure that a nation can compete on a global scale, finding education methods that reinforce learning of these core skills is critical.

There are many different teaching methods, and many may say that there is no right way and no wrong way to teach. That may certainly be true for the traditional goal of simply learning a core set of skills or courses to get a passing grade. However, the Singapore method of Teach Less, Learn More as exhibited in the Singapore Math program, definitely shows this as an excellent method of achieving the goal of not just having a basic understanding of the information, but rather of building a core foundation of success as the student becomes a young adult and then a leader of a nation or of the world.