What is an effective way for instructors to help students acquire knowledge?

An effective way for instructors to help students acquire knowledge is to have them practice. This method emphasizes active engagement with the material, enabling students to apply what they have learned in a practical context. Practice allows for reinforcement of concepts, promotes retention, and aids in the development of skills that are essential for proficiency.

When students practice, they can identify areas of misunderstanding and receive immediate feedback, which is crucial for improvement. This hands-on approach supports experiential learning, which is highly effective in enhancing comprehension and retention of information. In aviation training, for instance, practicing maneuvers and procedures solidifies understanding and prepares students for real-world applications.

In contrast, lecturing exclusively might hinder student engagement, and students may struggle to retain information without the opportunity to apply what they have learned. Limiting questions can stifle curiosity and inhibit deeper understanding, while testing only at the end may not provide timely feedback that can enhance learning throughout the instructional process. Each of these alternatives fails to create the dynamic learning environment that practice fosters, making it the most effective choice for knowledge acquisition.