Which statement is least consistent with direct instruction?

• A. It is a form of instruction based on the behaviorist approach
• B. It uses explicit teaching of a skill set using lectures
• C. It emphasizes structured tasks and frequent practice
• D. It promotes student-led, unguided exploration as the primary method

Answer: (D)

Direct instruction centers on teacher-led, explicit teaching with modeling, guided practice, and structured activities. It uses clear objectives, immediate feedback, and repetitive, purposeful practice to build mastery. A statement describing teacher-directed, explicit teaching of a skill set, delivered through lectures, fits this approach. It also matches the idea of structured tasks and frequent practice, which are core to direct instruction. The statement about student-led, unguided exploration, however, runs counter to this method because it places learning in the hands of learners with little to no guidance, which is not how direct instruction operates.