Which teacher-led traditional behaviorist teaching strategy is exemplified by scripted lessons and explicit instruction?

• A. Behaviorism
• B. Classical conditioning
• C. Reinforcement
• D. Direct instruction

Answer: (D)

Direct instruction is a teacher-led approach that uses scripted lessons and explicit instruction to deliver content. In this approach, learning goals are clear, the teacher models the target skill, and students engage in guided practice before working independently, with frequent checks for mastery and immediate feedback. The scripted lessons ensure consistent delivery and pacing, making it easy to model correct steps, provide prompts, and reinforce correct responses. This structure embodies behaviorist ideas like observable outcomes, reinforcement, and shaping toward mastery through clear, sequenced steps.

The other terms refer to broader or different concepts. Behaviorism is the overall learning theory that emphasizes changes in behavior due to stimuli and reinforcement; classical conditioning is about forming automatic associations between stimuli; reinforcement is a mechanism within behaviorism, not a complete instructional approach. Direct instruction, with its explicit, teacher-led, scripted format, is the instructional strategy that best matches the description given.