Self instructional strategies

Self instructional strategies (individualised instruction)

Self instruction in is to make each child's learning selfie associated and self directed. Individual instruction implies that attention is given to to individual student and not to class as a whole.

Programmed learning

Program instruction involves controlled, carefully specified and skillfully arranged learning experiences. 

programmed learning applies the principles of psychology and technology in the learning process. The main objective of program learning is to provide individualized instruction . 

Programmed learning is a self instructional and self corrective technique in which all the learning material is presented to the learner stage by stage through sequentially arranged smaller units called frames. 

The frames are graded according to the level of difficulty as well as logical sequence. It is presented in such an order that it results in the best understanding and retention.

A programme

A program is the subject matter to be learnt by students. It is an instructional sequence designed to help the students at a certain specific objective

Programming

Programming is the process of arranging the subject matter with a view to facilitate effective learning .The matter is arranged into a sequence of steps in a logical or psychological sequence based on the principle of reinforcement.

Student picks up quickly and retains long due to the satisfaction of knowing immediately. 

He has succeeded in mastering a learning material even in the absence of a teacher. Instruction can proceed profitably. Programmed material can be made available in the form of books cards or machines

Characteristics of programmed learning

• Subject matter is broken into smaller units or frame.
• Subject matter is presented in the sequential order.
• Frequent or continuous response from the student is ensured.
• Immediate feedback of right answers and wrong answers are made possible.
• Each student progress at his own pace without any thread of being exposed to any humiliation.
• subject matter and sequence are subjected to frequent revision by the programmer on the basis of feedback that gathered from the students.

Principles of programmed learning

1. Goal oriented learning.
2. Logical sequence
3. Optimum step size.
4. Active participation and responding.
5. Maximum attention.
6. Self Pacing that is, each student have his son progress based on his individual ability and interest
7. Immediate feedback and reinforcement.
8. Student testing.

Advantages of programmed learning

• Instruction is individualized.
• Each student can work at his own convenience.
• Student is always kept active and alert.
• Emotional problems can be solved.
• Instruction in complex subject matters made easy.
• it can be utilised supplementary process along with the study of regular textbooks.
• It helps in the improvement of the quality of teaching and learning.
• Teacher gets relief from continuous teaching.
• Shortage of teachers is compensated.

There are different types of programming 

• linear programming
• branched programming

Linear programming

• Linear programming was developed by b f Skinner it is called as Skinnerian in style of programming.
• According to him the best way to teach students is to break the subject matter into meaningful segments of information and write a small steps in such a way that only  the correct responses are likely to occur. This would lead to success. Students learn better when they are successful. The student should be provided immediate knowledge of result of his performance.

• Linear programmed material consist of carefully thought about questions and answers associated to each simple item. Questions are asked directly and the student is required to think and note down the answer.

• A linear program is called a straight line programme as the learner starts from his initial behaviour to the terminal behaviour following a straight direction. Linear programming can be presented in the following way.

• Subject matter broken down into very small steps and  is presented step by step in proper sequence. A student has to master step1, before proceeding to step 2 and so on. 

• Linear programming is called extrinsic programming because a learner has no choice of his own in following the path or sequence, it is decided by the programmer.

Characteristics of linear programming

• Linear arrangement- The learner starts from his initial behaviour to the terminal behaviour following the straight line sequence.

• The learner has no choice. The responses fixed by the controller or programmer.

• Response is emphasized- The learner must respond to each and every frame for learning to occur

• Immediate feedback- As soon as the learner respond to the frames he can immediately compare his response with the response of the programme and gain knowledge of result.

• Prompting - A prompt given in the beginning in the form of clarification regarding the frame helps the learner to respond correctly. This will not only promote learning but also valid unnecessary wastage of time to be spent for finding out the correct answer.

• Active participation- It ensure active participation of the learner. He has to construct response for every frame.

• Self pacing - Every learner proceeds at his own speed.

• Simplicity - mechanism to work on a linear program is simple.
• Suitability- It is best  suited in subject areas where facts and information can be properly sequenced.

Limitations of linear programming

• Lack of motivation - learning becomes dull and monotonous and because it takes too much time to teach a few simple points.
• Limitation of serial order learning- frames are presented in serial order but learning in actual situation is not always serial
• New freedom of choice- the learner has no choice of his own to respond. His creative imagination and judgemental ability inhibited. Instead of discovering the students are forced to follow a rigid line prescribed by the writer.
• Limited scope of subject matter- it can be used only in limited areas where the subject matter can be properly sequenced.
• Absence of differentiation- it is not permit differentiation among response.

Branched programming

Branched programing was developed by Norman a crowder. This programming is called crowder n style of programming. It is also known as intrinsic programming because in it the learner within himself makes the decision to adopt the instruction to his needs according to his background of the subject.

the underlying principle of branched programming is that different students need different instructional materials and the student can learn from his some errors.

In branched program the subject matter is not broken into small steps, instead it is presented in large steps. A question is asked at the end of each step the student has to select correct response out of 4/5 choices . The student is routed through the appropriate branches according to his response. This technique can be represented as follow.

If if the students chooses correctly he is taken to the next frame in the main teaching sequence. If his response is wrong he is taken to the remedial frame there is mistake as well as the topic are explained. after remedial Park he is directed to the original frame for making another attempt to choosing the right answer. Branching program anticipates errors of learners. Errors are diagnosed and remedial instruction is provided. Hence in a program of this type, all learners do not follow the same path, they branch off to different paths.

There are two types of branching they are forward branching and backward branching.

1. Forward branching:- in this type whether the learner is making correct response or wrong response he will always be going to the new frame. If the response is wrong he is directed to a remedial frame, where his mistakes are fully explained and followed by another question given in that frame. Then he proceeds from that frame to the next frame in the mainstream. Here he is never made to go back to the previous frame. Hence the name forward branching.
2. Backward branching:- the learner goes from the first frame of the mainstream to the 2nd only if he makes correct response. If he make an error, he is led to the remedial frame, where he is given some more help in understanding the concept. He will then be directed to the original frame number 1. He tries to response again in the light of remedial material received. In short, the learner might have to go through the same frame twice, one before remediation and the next after it . Hence the name backward branching.

Characteristics of branched programming

• , a frame is larger compared to the linear scheme and the more information is presented at each step
• Multiple choice questions- in branching branching, multiple choice questions are asked. If the learner select the correct response, his response is confirmed. If he selects you are wrong response, then he is root that to a frame that explains as to why he is wrong.
• Freedom to choose- the learner has freedom to choose his own path according to his background of the subject matter.
• Detection and correction- detection and correction of errors is emphasized.
• Contextual control- the material presented to each learner is controlled by his performance in answering questions.
• Scrambled textbook- when the material is presented in a book form, the book is said to be scrambled because the pages do not follow the normal sequence.

Limitations of branching programming

• Possibility for guessing-there is every possibility that the learner may the correct response without understanding the subject matter of the frame.
• Difficulty in providing branches- infinite number of branching cannot be provided. it is not catter to the needs of all individuals because it is very difficult to find out in advance the total number of branches that might become necessary for all the individual learners.
• Diagnostic questions may not suit the needs of individual learners- program are the product of a programmers imagination and it is he who decides diagnostic questions and not level of content. It may not suit the needs of individual learners.
• Branched programming cannot be used by small children- it is is more suited at a highest age because small children will find it difficult to follow its mechanism.
• Problem of coverage- it is very difficult to ask questions on the whole matter of a frame because frames are too large. Often some important subject matter may be left out.
• More expensive- it is more expensive because the cost of preparation is high.

Modular approach

The term" instructional module" has become the generic name for" a unique unit of study that has been well specified, structure, planned and designed in its totality for the purpose of instruction or learning.

And instructional module is a self contained, self-sufficient unit of instruction, for the learner to work on, for achieving a set of of predetermined objectives. Yah module contains 3 coordinated basic elements of instruction. These are objectives, learning activities and evaluation. A module can be defined as"a set of learning activities intended to facilitate the student's achievements on an objective or a set of objective.

Characteristics

• each module is developed for a specific target population of learners.
• moduls are based down learning objectives stated in behavioural terms.
• Module pocesses a sequence of key activities developed on the basis of the selected objective, content, learner characteristics and the nature of the discipline.
• Each module is  prepared based on a particular methodology that will be quite appropriate to the requirements of the learner.
• An in-built evaluation program will be attached to each module with a view to continuously assess the progress of each learner.

Advantages

• learner can learn the subject matter according to one's own pace of learning.
• simple and interesting activities can be incorporated in the module and it will enable the students to actively participate in learning process.
• Module helps the students to do independent thinking, which in turn will lead to the development of creativity among children.
• Monotony of routine instruction can be avoided.
• Remedial program can be effectively implemented for the benefit of individual learners.

Disadvantages

• lack of proper guidance in using the module may spoil the true spirit of the approach.
• the modular approach is likely to minimise the services given by teacher which may lead to different emotional problems among the children.
• Participation of effective module for all topics is a difficult task.