What is the primary focus of Direct Instruction as a teaching method?

The primary focus of Direct Instruction as a teaching method is immediate feedback and student response. This method is structured and teacher-centered, emphasizing clear, explicit instructions delivered in a systematic manner. The instructor provides precise guidelines on what students are expected to learn and continuously assesses understanding through immediate feedback. This allows for real-time corrections and reinforcement, ensuring that students achieve mastery of the material before moving on to more complex concepts.

Immediate feedback is crucial in this instructional approach because it helps students identify their mistakes quickly and learn from them, which enhances their understanding and retention of the subject matter.

The other options involve different educational focuses. Promoting social skills, encouraging student-led discussions, and developing emotional intelligence are important aspects of education but are not central to the Direct Instruction method, which prioritizes academic content delivery and mastery through structured practice and feedback.