Common Teaching Methods and it’s Pro’s and Con’s

Below are the common types of teaching methods including their strength, weaknesses and how to prepare them.
Lecture
STRENGTHS:
– presents factual material in direct, logical manner
– contains experience which inspires
– stimulates thinking to open discussion
– useful for large groups
LIMITATIONS:
– experts are not always good teachers
– audience is passive
– learning is difficult to gauge
– communication in one way
PREPARATION:
– needs clear introduction and summary
– needs time and content limit to be effective
– should include examples, anecdotes

Lecture With Discussion
STRENGTHS:
– involves audience at least after the lecture
– audience can question, clarify & challenge
LIMITATIONS:
– time may limit discussion period
– quality is limited to quality of questions and discussion
PREPARATION:
– requires that questions be prepared prior to discussion

Brainstorming
STRENGTHS:
– listening exercise that allows creative thinking for new ideas
– encourages full participation because all ideas equally recorded
– draws on group’s knowledge and experience
– spirit of congeniality is created
– one idea can spark off other ideas
LIMITATIONS:
– can be unfocused
– needs to be limited to 5 – 7 minutes
– people may have difficulty getting away from known reality
– if not facilitated well, criticism and evaluation may occur
PREPARATION:
– facilitator selects issue
– must have some ideas if group needs to be stimulated

Videotapes
STRENGTHS:
– entertaining way of teaching content and raising issues
– keep group’s attention
– looks professional
– stimulates discussion
LIMITATIONS:
– can raise too many issues to have a focused discussion
– discussion may not have full participation
– only as effective as following discussion
PREPARATION:
– need to set up equipment
– effective only if facilitator prepares questions to discuss after the show

Group Discussion
STRENGTHS:
– allows participation of everyone
– people often more comfortable in small groups
– can reach group consensus
LIMITATIONS:
– needs careful thought as to purpose of group
– groups may get side tracked
PREPARATION:
– needs to prepare specific tasks or questions for group to answer

Source:
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/comteach.htm