THE ROLE OF DIRECT INSTRUCTION IN ENHANCING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES

Does this scenario sound familiar?

You decided — perhaps as a New Year’s resolution! — you want to do more hands-on activities with students. So you pair them up and give each pair the materials to build a simple circuit. “Connect the battery, light bulb, light bulb holder, and wire so the bulb lights up,” you tell them. Minutes later, students are frustrated, and none have created a successful circuit. Yet you hesitate to offer a demonstration or specific instructions (like “Use the wire stripper to remove one-quarter inch of insulation from the ends of the wire”), worrying that you might interfere with the students’ “hands-on learning.” In this situation, is providing guidance a “bright idea” or not?

John Hattie’s research, described in his well-known book Visible Learning, gives insights into what impacts student achievement. A key takeaway from this research is the benefit of direct instruction. Sometimes it’s not only a bright idea — it’s the right idea.

Understanding Direct Instruction

Direct instruction, as Hattie defines it, doesn’t necessarily mean lecturing to students as they sit passively in rows. It’s a structured approach that involves clearly stating learning objectives, explicitly teaching skills or content, and guiding students through practice and feedback. Sometimes this method is mistakenly seen as the opposite of experiential or hands-on learning, which emphasizes student-led exploration and discovery. 

The Connection Between Direct Instruction and Hands-On Learning

While direct instruction and hands-on learning might seem at odds, Hattie’s groundbreaking research on factors related to student achievement suggests that direct instruction can play an important role in student learning. For example, it can help students establish foundational knowledge and skills that they need to engage meaningfully in hands-on activities. By providing clear guidance and scaffolding, you can provide students the necessary support to explore and experiment confidently.

Key Benefits of Incorporating Direct Instruction

• Clarity and Focus: It helps to set the purpose of learning, processes, and expectations, which provide focus for students during hands-on learning activities.
• Structured Support: It offers a structured framework that can support students as they navigate more open-ended tasks, reducing frustration and increasing engagement.
• Feedback and Assessment: It allows for continuous feedback, which helps students to correct misconceptions, implement suggestions, and refine their understanding in real-time.
• Metacognition: It makes students more aware of their own thinking and problem-solving processes, which can help them develop strategies to improve their learning.

Practical Application in Out-of-School Time

STEM activities (like the circuit-building activity described earlier) offer many opportunities for hands-on learning in OST programs. Here are some tips for integrating direct instruction into such activities:

• Start Small: Begin with a brief, focused activity to capture students’ interest and introduce key concepts and skills. Before the circuit-building activity, for example, you might demonstrate how to use a wire stripper to remove insulation from a wire, let them try, and ask, “Why do you think someone might want to do that?”
• Provide Opportunities for Guiding Practice: Provide opportunities for students to practice under supervision before moving to independent work for individuals or groups. For example, you might guide students step-by-step by demonstrating and then let them practice how to strip wires, connect components, and troubleshoot issues.
• Provide Feedback: Use ongoing assessments and timely feedback to guide students during hands-on tasks. For example, you could assess whether the wires are properly stripped and connected, then offer specific suggestions to improve technique and ensure a functional circuit.

Remember, hands-on learning is also minds-on learning. Providing opportunities for students to problem-solve on their own can foster creativity and critical thinking. But incorporating direct instruction, guided practice, and feedback — at the right times and in the right ways — can provide the support and structure students need for success. It can also help bridge the gap between abstract concepts (like “circuits”) and their practical, real-world applications.