What's your style?

Before reading this module, please take a Teaching Style Inventory http://www.indstate.edu/cirt/id/pedagogies/styles/teaching_styles_inventory.htm Links to an external site.  (broken link)  from Indiana State University Center for Teaching and Learning to reflect on your teaching style. Please print out or otherwise save your results!

Four Basic Teaching Styles

Source: http://ets.tlt.psu.edu/learningdesign/audience/teachingstyles Links to an external site.

  1. Formal Authority: A instructor-centered approach where the instructor feels responsible for providing and controlling the flow of content which the student is to receive and assimilate. The formal authority figure does not concern himself with creating a relationship with the student nor is it important if the students build relationships with each other.
  2. Demonstrator or Personal Model: A instructor-centered approach where the instructor demonstrates and models what is expected (skills and processes) and then acts as a coach or guide to assist the students in applying the knowledge. This style encourages student participation and utilizes various learning styles.
  3. Facilitator: A student centered approach where the instructor facilitates and focuses on activities. Responsibility is placed on the students to take initiative to achieve results for the various tasks. Students who are independent, active, collaborative learners learners thrive in this environment. Instructors typically design group activities which necessitate active learning, student-to-student collaboration and problem solving.
  4. Delegator: A student-centered approach whereby the instructor delegates and places much control and responsibility for learning on individuals or groups of students. This type of instructor will often require students to design and implement a complex learning project and will act solely in a consultative role. Students are often asked to work independently or in groups and must be able to effectively work in group situations and manage various interpersonal roles.

They offer an interesting discussion of instructional design for different teaching styles, "teaching rhythms" for each of the four different teaching styles, and "planning a web site" template for each teaching style. Brainstorming with fellow faculty members who have taught online before can help determine ways to apply technology and create the teaching and learning experience you desire. Questions to think about:

  • When you teach in the classroom, how do you facilitate interaction between the students? Do you have whole class discussions, break the class into groups, etc.?
  • When you teach in the classroom, how do you deliver the content to the students? Do you use PowerPoint complete with audio and animation, black and white overheads, a chalkboard or video?
  • When you teach in the classroom, what sorts of interactive things do you use in the course? Do you have the students move their desks around to set up the classroom the way they want it?