Direct instruction=Peanuts cartoon?

Direct instruction is systematic instruction for mastery of basic skills, facts, and information. In other words, it is a lecture method: teacher talks, students listen. When I think about direct instruction, the first image that comes to my mind is the teacher from the Peanuts cartoons, “Wah wah, wah wah wah wah…” But does this mean that direct instruction is completely useless?
When it comes to basic facts, direct instruction actually is useful, to a certain extent. Basic facts are information that does not change. The Declaration of Independence was presented to the public on July 4, 1776. That date will never change. It is something that students ought to know about our country. Dates are bits of information that direct instruction is useful for. However, there is so much more to an event than a date, and that is where direct instruction should end.
Once the students know the basic events and dates of history, it is time for a history teacher to move beyond direct instruction. The impacts of events in history are far more important than rote memorization of exact dates. Once they know the sequence of events, a teacher can move into exploration. Have the students explore the impact of the Declaration of Independence. Why was it significant? These things can be taught by direct instruction, but should they? No. Your students will miss it, anyways. Most students will tune you out before you get to this part. Allowing them to discover things for themselves keeps them involved. They will get more out of a lesson than direct instruction can ever impart.
So, direct instruction does have a place – for a few minutes. After that, everyone has tuned you out, just like the teacher in a Peanuts cartoon.