What instructional strategy involves teaching specific skills in a structured way?

Direct instruction is an instructional strategy that involves explicitly teaching specific skills through a structured approach. In this method, the teacher clearly outlines objectives, presents material in a systematic manner, and directly engages students in practice and application of the skills being taught. This approach is characterized by its focus on teacher-led demonstrations, guided practice, and feedback, which helps ensure that all students understand the content and develop the necessary skills.

Direct instruction is particularly effective in special education settings where students may require additional support and clarity in learning specific skills. By following a structured framework, educators can tailor their teaching to meet the needs of individual learners, providing a clear path for mastery of the subject matter.

In contrast, collaborative learning emphasizes group work and peer interaction, discovery learning focuses on students exploring concepts independently or in groups, and inquiry-based learning encourages students to investigate and answer questions through exploration. While these methods have their own merits, they do not provide the same level of structured skill acquisition as direct instruction.