What defines deductive lessons in teaching?

Deductive lessons are characterized by a teaching approach that starts with a general principle or rule and then moves to specific examples or applications. This method allows students to first understand the overarching concept before they explore particular instances that illustrate that concept. For example, a teacher might introduce a general grammatical rule in a language lesson and then provide specific sentences that demonstrate how that rule is applied. This systematic approach helps students grasp the concept in a structured manner and can reinforce their understanding through specific instances that support the generalization.

In contrast, lessons that move from the specific to the general would exemplify an inductive approach, which emphasizes deriving general rules from specific observations. Lessons that are entirely student-directed would indicate a focus on student agency and exploration rather than instruction rooted in defined principles. Lastly, lessons that focus only on memorization would not allow for the application of concepts or deeper understanding that deductive lessons aim to cultivate. Thus, the defining feature of deductive lessons is the progression from general to specific.