Teaching and Learning Strategies

Designing Effective Projects : Projects to Engage Learners

Project Design

Thinking Skills

Project Plan Index

Additional Resources

View some useful online and print resources on effective classroom strategies.

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Classroom Scenario
Imagine a classroom where . . .

A Grade 3 learner says, “I was really scared when I came to this new school for the first time. I bet that’s how the immigrants feel when they come to South Africa.”
A Grade 5 learner asks, “How many group meetings should we hold for our ecosystem report? I’ve already finished my K-W-L chart and am ready to get some ideas before I get started.”
A Grade 7 learner announces, “Can we meet with our groups for part of the period today? I’m having trouble changing fractions to percentages, and I think they can help me understand it.”
A Grade 11 learner suggests, “I think I have my biome newsletter for the Community Night ready. I want to add two more graphics, and then I’ll be ready to share my work!”

In a classroom where a variety of teaching and learning strategies are present every day, learners are deeply engaged, challenged, and learn at high levels. The teachers in these classrooms see the benefits of using these strategies to put their learners in charge of their own learning.

Multiple Teaching and Learning Strategies for Engaged Learning
Teaching and learning strategies that engage learners and involve them in the learning process are at the heart of what great teachers do. Research shows that certain strategies help learners achieve success and learn at higher levels.

Prior Knowledge >
Learn about the importance of tapping learners’ prior knowledge to help learners construct new understanding.

Graphic Organizers >
Find out about graphic organizers and how to effectively use them in the classroom.

Cooperative Learning >
Learn about different co-operative learning strategies and see how to embed them throughout the teaching and learning cycle.

Feedback >
Understand how teacher and peer feedback encourages learning and can be integrated in everyday teaching.

Recognition >
Find out how recognition affirms learners for the work they have created and supports their learning.

Questioning >
Read about different questioning techniques, including the Socratic Method of Questioning and view some examples.

Modelling >
See how teacher modeling can be a useful and effective strategy to demonstrate a new skill or concept.

Managing ICT >
Discover how to overcome ICT obstacles and how to use ICT resources to their fullest.