MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TEACHING APPROACHES,

METHODS, TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGIES

In the learning-teaching process, we need to

understand some concepts that are very common.
These concepts can confuse the teachers if they do
not have a clear definition of them.
We are going to discuss the definition and establish
the main differences between some concepts that
are very important for the teachers. These
concepts are approach, method, technique and
strategy.
Approach: I would say that this is the personal
philosophy of teaching. What is the nature of
education? What is the role of the teacher, the
student, the administration, the parents? To be an
effective teacher, does one need to strive to be
authoritarian, to be autocratic, or is the best way to
engender a sense of trust and familiarity, to be a
'educating/leading friend' to your students. To
understand one's personal teaching approaches,
one must first look to answer these types of
questions. And of course, your opinion will change
as time goes on - and it may vary depending on
the students you're teaching.
Method: are the ways of presenting instructional
materials or conducting instructional activities. A

method comprises the principles and methods

used forinstruction. Commonly used teaching
methods may include class participation,
demonstration, recitation, memorization, or
combinations of these. The choice of teaching
method or methods to be used depends largely on
the information or skill that is being taught, and it
may also be influenced by the aptitude and
enthusiasm of the students.
Technique: These are the tricks we all know and
use to get the job done in the classroom. Teachers
have systems of rewards/punishments for students
who comply and exceed or defy and lag behind. If a
classroom is becoming distracted a teacher may
use the technique of silent reading or shared
reading to try to rope them in again. Another may
choose to use a quick physical activity to distract
their distraction and get them all to do the same
thing at the same time - then quickly direct them
back to work. This is really where someone with
loads of experience can help another teacher
improve her abilities. These are the tricks that can
be taught to another teacher. Also a lot of teachers
attend offer little tidbits of games, activites, and
actions that teachers can use to achieve certain
goals in the classroom. Everything from sending a
note home to mom and a trip to the principal's
office to giving out 'points' for good behaviour are
examples of teaching techniques.

Strategy: include all approaches that a teacher

may take to actively engage students in learning.
These strategies drive a teacher's instruction as
they work to meet specific learning objectives.