Abstract:
Direct Instruction is based on over 5 decades of work. The curricular programs are
based on extensively formulated and carefully tested theoretical insights and are developed
through a painstaking process of research and testing. A great deal of research has shown
that they are highly effective in helping all students to increase their levels of achievement.
Research also shows that the programs are most effective when they are implemented as
designed.
This brief report summarizes some of that work. It has three major sections.The first
gives a brief overview of the development of Direct Instruction and its theoretical basis. The
second section gives examples of results from a variety of efficacy studies that document
the impact that DI has on students’ learning, and the third section discusses studies of the
implementation of the program and factors that can make it more or less effective. The
literature on Direct Instruction is very large. While this summary is believed to be
representative of the body of work, interested readers are urged to consult the entire
literature.