TOPIC 7 DEFINITION OF APPROACH, STRATEGY AND TECHNIQUE

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: At the end of this topic, students will be able to

1. Differentiate an approach, a strategy or method and a technique

INTRODUCTION

“ A thousand teachers,

A thousand methods, “

- Chinese Proverb

The teacher in the classroom plays a critical role. The teacher nowadays as compared to a
traditional teacher is a facilitator who guides, directs, counsels and assists the learners to alternative
delivery modes and learning paths of their choice.

Developing ones’ ability and competence in teaching is a thrilling and exciting experience for
students of teacher education. As future teachers, we should not only be contented on knowing the
subject matter but we must also have a repertoire of the different teaching methods in order to make
learning happen, which means that teacher have to discover the potentials of their students so that they
will develop their mental skills and form values and attitudes.

In this topic, you will learn the definition of an approach, method or strategy and technique. It
also discusses the differences of these concepts in order not to use them interchangeably. Thus, this
lesson will help you understand these three terms.

PRESENTATION OF CONTENT

The “How” Dimension of Teaching (Garcia, 1989)

In this topic, it describes the difference between approach, method or strategy, and technique. It is
imperative, for future teachers, to be well-informed about what exactly each of these terms means.
Learning these various terms would mean a lot in teaching. It must be noted that a good teacher needs a
well good strategies in handling and presenting the lesson.
Based on the diagram, it clearly shows that approach envelops the whole spectrum of teaching or it is
the broadest of the three. An approach refers to the enlightened viewpoint toward teaching. In
teaching, the term approach refers to the way a course is being taught in order to achieve long term
objectives. It is the teachers’ personal philosophy of teaching. In addition, approach sets the general
principle to make learning possible.

A method/strategy, on the other hand, is an organized, orderly, systematic, and well-planned procedure
aimed improving and enhancing students’ learning. It has been also viewed by Anthony (1963) and
Richards and Rodgers (1986) as a practical implementation of an approach. A theory is put into practice
at the level of a method. It includes decisions about:

1. The particular skills to be taught

2. The roles of the teacher and the learner in teaching and learning

3. The appropriate procedures and techniques

4. The content to be taught

5. And the order in which the content will be presented

As shown in the diagram, the method and technique are just parts and parcels of approach or is found in
between approach and technique and we employ method in order to meet specific aims of instructions.
However, to make it as an effective instrument, it should be used and presented with efficiency and
ease. Furthermore, the teaching method aims to achieve greater teaching and learning outcome, thus
saving time, money and effort on both the part of the teacher and learner.

The procedural variation of a method calls for the term technique. Technique refers to the teachers’
style in carrying out specific steps of the teaching process. Technique are steps to achieve certain goals.
Technique is implementation. It is an activity that is more specific than method. They could take the
form of an exercise that you have to do to complete a given task. For example, when using videos, the
teacher may use a technique called “silent viewing” that consist of playing the video without sound and
ask learners to figure out what the characters were saying. In order to make teaching method a success
a technique must be employed. It must be remembered that techniques must be consistent with
method and therefore in harmony with an approach.

In conclusion, learning the various terms presented and discussed earlier would mean so much in
teaching. Always remember that there is no such thing as best method. This means that there is no
single correct way to teach a class. Instead, there are several good ways and means of teaching the
learners.

APPLICATION

Directions: Explain in 3 sentences.

1. Why is it important to use different teaching strategies?

Applying the above three concepts. Identify the concept/s describe in the following examples. Write
your answer on the space provided before the number.

________________ 1. The teacher uses technology in presenting the lesson.

________________ 2. The teacher explains the topic while the students take notes.

________________ 3. The teacher is passionate in discussing the lesson.

________________ 4. The teacher chooses a word and work in several steps

________________ 5. The teacher gives an activity in discussing the concept.

FEEDBACK

Identification: Identify the concept/s describe below. You can use one concept three times in answering
the items. Write A- approach B- method/strategy C- Technique on the space provided before the
number.

______ 1. It is very general in nature.

______ 2. It explains why we teach a topic or lesson that way.

______ 3. These are the philosophies of teaching.

______ 4. It is the way we teach a topic or lesson

______ 5. It is a long term plan of action to meet a certain objective.

______ 6. It is a systematic way of doing things

______ 7. It is a well-defined procedure used to finish a given task.

______8. It is what actually takes place in the classroom

______ 9. It is a detailed list of rules or guidelines for a given activity.