Question

Why might a teacher’s use of a fast pace of instruction promote learning? Does a fast pace of instruction affect student attention? In what circumstances should a brisk pace be avoided? Please give examples.

Answer 1

A fast pace of instruction promotes learning as it increases student attention. When teachers discuss several concepts and ideas, students are motivated to attend to the lectures as the movement from one topic to the other would pique their interest. With a fast pace, howver, the possibility of students not being able to comprehend and follow the material exists. Thus when a fast pace of instruction is being used, students should be regularly asked questions about the topic and their feedback should assessed.

A brisk pace of instruction should be avoided when a complex topic is being taught to students. Sufficient time should be given to them to process the several elements of the concept along with how they interact with each other, allowing ample time for discussion and debate. For example, teaching long division in mathematics for the first time would require meticulous explanation and multiple practice sessions. Brisk pace should also be avoided when the class population is highly heterogeneous, that is, there are variations among students in terms of previous knowledge and/or intelligence.