Which term describes selecting techniques for classroom use from a range of different methods?

• A. Eclecticism
• B. Information gap activity
• C. Jigsaw reading
• D. Scanning

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is blending different teaching approaches by choosing techniques from a range of methods to fit the situation. This flexible approach is known as eclecticism in teaching. Eclecticism means not sticking to one single method, but selecting activities and strategies that best help achieve the learning goals, suit the learners, and suit the content at hand. It’s about judgment and adaptivity—pulling from different methods as needed to support understanding, practice, and communication.

This matters because real classrooms vary a lot: students have different strengths, interests, and challenges, and a single method may not address all of these. Using an eclectic mix lets you deploy activities that target different skills and outcomes, keeping lessons responsive and effective.

The alternatives describe specific tasks or strategies rather than the overarching practice of selecting techniques from multiple methods. An information gap activity is a particular type of communicative task, a jigsaw reading is a cooperative reading technique, and scanning is a reading skill used to locate information quickly. None of these capture the broader idea of choosing from a range of methods to suit the context.