What is the difference between direct instruction and guided practice?

• A. Direct instruction is teacher-centered with modeling; guided practice moves toward learner independence with feedback.
• B. Direct instruction involves learner-led discovery.
• C. Guided practice eliminates feedback.
• D. Direct instruction relies on group projects.

Answer: (A)

Direct instruction centers the teacher, delivering a clear objective, explicit modeling of the skill, and a structured sequence of steps. After this modeling, students enter guided practice where they try the new skill with support from the teacher—prompts, prompts, cues, and immediate feedback—so they perform the steps correctly while the teacher helps correct errors. The aim is to move toward independence, gradually fading support as students gain mastery and continue to receive feedback to guide any needed adjustments.

This contrasts with learner-led discovery, where students explore and uncover methods on their own, not with explicit teacher demonstrations. It also notes that guided practice uses feedback (not eliminates it), and direct instruction isn’t about group projects or collaborative work.