Toward a PracticalConception of Teaching
Some Conceptual Problems
Teaching & Teacher Functions
Teaching & Educational Development
Teaching & Teaching Technique
Teaching, Learning, & Coming-to-Know
Five Propositions of Model Teaching
Personal Teaching Philosophy
Is this your concept of teaching?
TEACHING =
CONTENT +
METHOD
Some Conceptual Problems
Before teaching can be assessed, and before teaching can be improved, it first must be accurately described.
Improvement requires more than:
a statement of personal preference.
the inclusion of the latest organizational fad.
the inclusion of the latest technological fad.
the inclusion of the latest educational trend.
Improvement requires a normative concept.
not only what is to be done,
but how it is done.
Some Conceptual Problems
Developing a practical concept of teaching
allows for adequate description of "teaching"
allows for assessment
allows for improvement
Teaching is more than what teachers do.
distinguish teaching activities from generic activities
distinguish "teaching" from techniques used
distinguish "teaching" from related activities
Teaching & Teacher Functions
non-teaching functions:
keeping records
supervision
management
teaching functions:
help students to come to know
help students acquire subject matter skills
help students develop better dispositions
* attitudes
* behaviors
Teaching & Educational Development
The goal of teaching can be said to be the intentional development of human potential.
There is a general agreement to bring about changes in students,
but there is little consensus about what these changes should be.
Some changes can be anticipated on the basis of our society.
Teaching & Teaching Technique
There are a host of classroom techniques:
illustrated lectures / lecture demonstrations
laboratory exercises
discussion / recitation
role playing / simulations
research projects / research papers
forums / panel discussions
"divergent" questioning / examinations
field trips / videos / readings
projects /
Employing a technique or a "tricks of the trade" does not imply that one is teaching.
Teaching,...
How does one define teaching?
definition all to frequently based on relation to learning
teaching is something that may bring about learning
teaching is something more than just what teachers "do"
Teaching does not necessarily result in learning.
learning is something students do
learning can occur with or without the teacher
learning may not occur in spite of teacher
Teaching is an ethical activity the intention of which is to induce learning.
Teaching,...
Teaching is an activity with distinctive tasks and activities.
Teaching is much more than the sum of its parts.
Teaching is not just applied learning theory.
Educated students cannot be considered products of the teacher.
Students acquire knowledge on their own sometimes with the aid of the teacher, sometimes in spite of the teacher.
...Learning, & Coming-to-Know
We shouldn't define teaching in relation to learning.
teaching is something which intervenes between the task of the teacher and the student
teaching is a set of activities which result in a student "coming to know"
doing so is a no-win situation (If students learn everything, you're not teaching well; if students don't learn enough, you're not teaching well.)
Students come to know only after they:
learn how (watch as I solve a problem)
learn how to (now you try to solve a problem)
learn to (solve problems encountered daily)
Five Propositions of Model Teaching
Teachers are committed to students and their learning.
Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students.
Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning.
Teachers think systematically about their practices and learn from experience.
Teachers are members of learning communities.
Personal Teaching Philosophy
Values
Belief Statements
Are you a Teacher or a Preacher?