The Command teaching style is the closest approximation to the traditional system of education under the progressive teaching technology, Student-Directed Teaching.
As part of the five distinct teaching styles developed by Don Green, Command is the most readily understood by students, as it is most similar to what they are used to from the public system. As Don Green describes it,
The Command teaching style is for those students whose learning characteristics require formal instruction and a specific assignment for the practice to be appropriate for the student to master the objective. These students need to be directed as to what they will do during the class time allocated to the specific subject being studied.
Under the Command teaching style, the teacher will:
Provide a unit plan consisting of the objectives for several days, written in a language that students can understandProvide formal instructionLimit formal instruction to 25% of the timeProvide an instruction areaAssign an appropriate amount of practice related to the instructionProvide a checking station with answer keysUse good questioning techniques and negotiation to help steer the students to becoming more independentSpend approximately 60% of the total class time with the students whose choice is CommandProvide perception checks and final tests as indicated in the unit planProvide a second evaluative activity, if required by an individual studentAlternatively, the student will:
Listen to the instructionDo the assigned workDeclare the mark expected on each perception checkDo more than one perception check if the declared mark is not reached within the flexibility factorStudents who choose Command traditionally exhibit the following characteristics:
Lack self-motivationLack the ability to make good decisions about their learningLack the ability to focus on a task for any extended length of timeLack the skills necessary to be successful in the subject being studied without teacher interventionUnderachieve according to some external standardAre, traditionally, not risk takers