Didactic

Didactic is an adjective derived from the Greek didaktikos, meaning "skilled in teaching" or "intended for teaching." In broad use, didactic describes material that is intended to educate or instruct, often conveying moral, ethical, or practical lessons. In literary and artistic contexts, didactic works aim to teach as well as to entertain, and they may present explicit instruction or implicit guidance.

In literature, didactic works include fables, parables, religious tracts, and other texts that foreground instructive content. Classical exemplars include Aesop's fables and Biblical proverbs, which embed moral or practical lessons in narrative form. In modern criticism, the term can carry a negative connotation when a work is perceived as overly preaching or moralizing, potentially sacrificing artistic complexity for clarity of message.

In pedagogy, the didactic method refers to teacher-centered instruction that emphasizes clear objectives, direct explanation, and the transmission of knowledge. While effective for foundational learning and skill acquisition, many contemporary approaches favor student-centered and exploratory methods. Didactic design also appears in curricula and instructional materials that organize content around outcomes and assessments, while still acknowledging the need for engagement and critical thinking.