A Note About Teaching

Teaching is not merely the presentation of correct information. Teaching, in those cases where learning is also expected, requires a cycle of events:

- Initial presentation of a fact, concept, or skill
- Student’s attempt to utilize the information
- Teacher’s clarification, guidance, or affirmation in direct response* to the student’s attempt
- Monitoring, clarification, and reminders in direct response* to ongoing efforts by students

*In direct response: even correct information needs to be appropriate to the moment.

In teaching physical skills, intellectual understanding does not ensure that a student will demonstrate the skill correctly. They do not always understand that what they say and what they are doing are different. Without individual continuous monitoring a student can easily create poor physical habits. The student often incorrectly assumes that because they understand the explanation they are performing the task correctly.

I have observed classes where only one, two, or three of these steps were utilized. The best classes always utilize the entire cycle while listening to individual students as often as possible.