Meaning of Demonstration Method of Teaching
Demonstration method of teaching is a traditional classroom strategy used in technical and training colleges and in teacher education.
Focus, Structure and Principles
Demonstration Strategy focus to achieve psychomotor and cognitive objectives. If we talk about its structure, it is given in three successive steps:
- Introduction: In this step objectives of the lesson are stated. The teacher may be called demonstrator. He demonstrates the activity before the student that is to be developed.
- Development. Students try to initiate the demonstrated activity. If there is any query the teacher tries to satisfy them by further demonstration and illustrations.
- Integration. At this step, the teacher integrates all the activities and then these activities are rehearsed revised and evaluated.
Principles
This teaching strategy is based on the following principles
- Learning by doing maxim is followed
- Skills can be developed by limitation
- The perception helps in imitation
Application
This strategy is applied mainly in technical or training institutes. In teacher education programs it is used to develop skills in the student teacher. At school level, a teacher applies it in teaching science, biology, nature study arts and crafts.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Demonstration Method of Teaching
Advantages of Demonstration Method
- It helps in involving various sense to make learning permanent
- Though, teacher behavior is autocratic, he invites the cooperation of pupils in teaching learning process
- It develops interest in the learners and motivates them for their active participation
- It helps in achieving psychomotor objectives
- Any simple or complex sill becomes easy to understand
Also Read: Question and Answer Method Lecture Method of Teaching
Disadvantages of Demonstration Method
- It can be used only for skills subjects
- Only the attention of the learners is invited towards the activity demonstrated. They are not free to discuss about it
- Due to poor economic conditions of the government schools, there is scarcity of audio-visual aids and equipment and the teachers are not so creative to produce handmade models for demonstration
- There is a general lack of sincerity and diligence among teachers who wish to complete the syllabus or syllabi at the earliest without putting sincere efforts
Suggestions
- The teacher should be a sincere, diligent and skilled person
- Teacher should himself prepare the models for demonstrations and encourage the learners too
- Demonstration should be followed by discussion
- A teacher must have the ability to use audio-visual aids with expertise
