TEACHING PROCEDURE

one another. Sight and hearing together produce a more vivid and lasting impression than either sight or hearing alone could produce. The other senses are effective to a lesser degree. Figure 7-1 is a graphic comparison of the amount of learning an individual would normally acquire through each of the five senses. TEACHING PROCEDURE There are several methods that may be employed by RE instructors in teaching a lesson. Those most frequently used are the lecture, the discussion, and the demonstration. Occasion- ally, only one of these methods is best suited for an entire lesson. In most cases, however, a com- bination of the three methods will prove most effective. Effective teaching follows a definite, well- established procedure that has proved effective for most training programs. This procedure con- sists of four major steps. First, it is necessary to prepare students to a degree where they are ready to learn. This is called the WARMUP step. Second, the new material is presented to the students: this constitutes the PRESENTA- TION step. The third step, APPLICATION, provides students an opportunity to practice what they have learned. The fourth and final step, TESTING, enables the instructor to evaluate the results of his instruction. Warmup The first of four steps in teaching (warmup) serves a dual purpose. It prepares the minds of 243.57 Figure 7-1.—Graph of the learning process. students to receive the new information and it arouses interest in the subject. The skill of an RE instructor is tested in this step. The instructor must be able to determine whether or not students have knowledge on which the new information may be built. The instructor must also create an interest and a desire on the part of the students to learn the new material. Students can interpret new information only in terms of past experiences. In a well-organized program, each lesson forms a foundation on which to build succeeding lessons. However, in introducing new subject matter, it may be necessary to build on experience that students have acquired prior to the course of instruction. In introducing the new lesson and correlating it with previous lessons, the RE instructor must try to arouse the students’ interest. It is useless to attempt to teach until the teacher has cap- tured the interest and attention of the students. Remember that the purpose of the warmup is to motivate the trainees to learn. The RE instructor may use a variety of techniques to create interest and capture the students’ attention. Presentation In the warmup, students are being prepared to receive new ideas and information and to have their interest aroused in the subject. They receive very little, if any, new information. The presentation step, as the name implies, consists of presenting the lesson in a clear, concise, and logical manner so that maximum learning takes place. Various methods and devices have been developed for carrying out this instructional procedure. In choosing teaching tools, the RE instructor must decide whether to use the TELLING, SHOWING, or DOING method, or a combina- tion of these methods. In general, the method of instruction to be followed in the presentation step is determined by the subject, the aim of the lesson, the equipment available, and the qualifications of the students. Following the presentation of each major point in the assignment, the RE instructor should check to make sure that the students 7-2