Teaching Methods

To achieve the goal of teaching, the teacher must adopt effective teaching methods in education. The teacher has many options to choose from different teaching methods designed specifically for teaching and learning.

Writing lesson plans is a foremost thing that a teacher must do before executing any teaching strategy in the class. The teaching method should be adopted on the basis of certain criteria like the knowledge of the students, the environment and the set of learning goals decided in the academic curriculum.

Students respond differently to different methods of teaching. Also, the students have their unique way of demonstrating the knowledge acquired and absorbing the information that is imparted. So, to aid this process of demonstrating the knowledge, the teacher has to adopt a technique that assists the students in retaining the information and increasing their understanding. There are many teaching methods for children like questioning. modeling, demonstrating, collaborating and explaining that have been discussed here.

Teaching Methods and Strategies

We all know about the importance of higher education, so now let us learn some methods of teaching as well. Here are some of the basic teaching methods for higher education as well as for the middle education.

Questioning
Testing and questioning are always known to be effective teaching methods due to its interactive nature. The questions are asked by the teacher with an intention to know what the student has learned from earlier discussions and what it helps in deciding what should be taught further.

This can be even vice-verse, students questioning the teachers to clarify the doubts that would enhance their understanding of the subject. The inquisitive instinct of the students evoke them to ask questions and satiate their query.

The teacher should encourage this in a positive way so that the student's critical thinking is developed. Testing differs in one aspect from questioning. Test is done in order to know about the previous knowledge and already taught things to the student.

Explaining
Explaining is one of the very important teaching methods in education. It has taken a form of lectures in teaching methods for higher education where the teacher presents the factual information in a direct and a logical way.

Sometimes the experiences can also be shared as a part of knowledge that would work as a source of inspiration for the students. While adopting this method the teacher should give an introduction and a proper summary. Make sure that the information is specific to the audience.

The explanation should be accompanied with suitable examples for the better understanding of the students. It is like a discourse on a particular subject or topic that is for the entire class or public. Explaining can be clubbed with the modeling process to be more effective and to have a long-lasting effect on the pupils.

Modeling
Modeling is a type of visual aid for teaching as well as learning. It is a known fact that human brain absorbs more and understands better when visual aid facilitates explanation. This method works on three criteria - observing, retaining and replicating. The students learn more by observing the things and acquire it by imitating it time and again.

This is also known as reinforced behavior. This type of learning has very important role to play in the learning process especially during the childhood, though it can happen in any stage of life. This helps the students to visualize the things and, then hypothesize the solution.

Demonstrating
With the help of demonstrative teaching methods in education students get an opportunity to explore the various aspects and understand the theory from a different perspective. Demonstration is a step-by-step explanation along with their reasons and significance for the better understanding of the student. It enhances the student's understanding by practically applying the knowledge and sharpen their skills and hence, they become capable of identifying and organizing the subject matter in a more efficient way. Practical experimentation is a very good method used for demonstrating the subject.

Collaborating
Teamwork is a contemporary form of collaboration. The students are taught to work in a group that makes the instructing easier for the teacher. This method of teaching promotes a sense of mutual responsibility among the students. They learn to put in more effort to research for the topic and apply effective techniques to get the result.

This inculcates patience and develops an ability to critically analyze a subject. It gives an opportunity to the students to solve the problem by a healthy discussion and co-operation. This is what we call 'group discussions' which motivates the students to perform in a team, show leadership skills and enhances the presentation capabilities as well. This is one of the best direct instructional methods.

The teaching methods for special education is a little different from the teaching methods and theories for others. The education is imparted to these students based on their strengths and weaknesses. The teachers cater to the special needs of the students like modification in the regular teaching program, use of supplementary aids that allows students to participate in the learning process. Different effective teaching strategies are adopted on the basis of the disabilities. Four kinds of provisions are adopted in special education and they are inclusion, mainstream, segregation and exclusion.

Apart from these defined methods, nowadays many other teaching methods in education are being adopted to give quality education. The methods like role-play, story or games, seminars, presentations, workshops, conferences, brainstorming, case study, educational trips and modern audio-visual aids like documentary films, computers, internet, etc have been introduced in education. These new methods have increased the pace of learning and understanding. This also enhances the capability of the students to research and logically think for a given problem.

Student Teacher Relationship

Student teacher relationship is certainly objectionable if it is there between a major and a minor.

But what about it, taking place between a major and another?

What does it mean being a major?

Doesn't it mean that you are matured enough to take the decisions of your life with a responsible independence on your own of your own?

In that case if an adult student decides to have sexual relations with her/his teacher, what is so wrong with it?

Will it disturb the equation of learning and teaching between the two?

I don't think it will, since such an equation depends not on their relationships but on the curiosity level of the personalities that both of them have.

Real strange people are we! We are not bothered about all the psychologically distorted sex between lesbians and gays, and are even making legislation's for them to get officially married for that matter; but when it comes to straight sex between two consenting majors, our morality gets hurt!

Relationship between students and teachers.

With the globalization and innovations in technology we keep learning about various relationships that have been developed between people. As a child goes to school now days, the first thing he learns is socialization. What ever he has learned from home is now polished at school.

Since human beings are social animals they build relationships with other human beings. A school going child first of all tries to build a relation with his/her teacher. A teacher’s character plays an important part on how good a relation a teacher can build with his/her students. If teachers understand every student and make an effort to bring in a positive change in each of the student then there is a strong relationship build between them.

A well developed student teacher relationship is the most beautiful and beneficial relation. Since a teacher can transfer his experiences of life and knowledge to his students by his/her relationship with them he can benefit the society.

They say if the pillars of a building are strong the building will be strong as well. Students’ i.e. young children are the pillars of a society and they can be made strong by building a healthy relationship with them. Gone are the days when parents and teachers could maintain a relationship of sanctity with the children, now they need to have a more friendly relationship with them.

With all the exposure children get because of the electronic media and the electronics around them they need to have a friendly relationship with their parents and specially the teacher otherwise they opt for learning through other means which will teach them wrong things probably. Because a good student teacher relation is one of the most beautiful relation two human beings can have. This relationship is intellectual and helpful for building a young ones mind and personality.

Teaching Philosophy

“ I have no question that students who learn, not professors who perform, is what teaching is all about…teachers possess the power to create conditions that can help students learn a great deal- or keep them from learning much at all. Teaching is the intentional act of creating those conditions, and good teaching requires that we understand the inner sources of both the intent and the act.” (Parker J. Palmer, The Courage to Teach)

The best teachers possess a unique ability to gently awaken and transform our assumptions and beliefs about the world around us. They awaken a sense of joy, creation and innovation. They challenge us; they make us believe; they inspire a sense of inquiry; and, they bring a sense of meaning and importance to our personal experiences. They inspire us to create positive change, and motivate us to be better and to do better.
From my work in instructional development, and through my own teaching experiences and attendance at a number of workshops and conferences focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning, I have learned that there are multiple approaches to improving teaching and learning in higher education; that a commitment to learner-centeredness is of utmost importance; and, at the same time, that context matters. Each teaching experience is unique – from instructor to instructor, semester to semester, discipline to discipline, course to course, and even from day to day.

I strive to implement an approach to teaching based upon a fundamental commitment to student engagement and active learning. Whether instructing a graduate research seminar in Landscape Architecture, or an interdisciplinary course on the theory and practice of university teaching, my teaching strategies are most informed by experiential and collaborative learning, peer development, critical inquiry and discussion, and a clear focus on student autonomy and responsibility for learning. My teaching strategies are informed by the simplicity of Kolb’s (1984) theory of experiential learning and the authenticity embedded within Mezirow’s (1990) theories of critical reflection and transformative learning. As such, course activities are intentionally designed to encourage learners to discover and apply new meaning, through a cycle of experience, awareness, reflection, practice and transformation.

I have found students are very receptive to learning strategies which establish a fundamental link between research, theory, and practice. As I continue to diversify and build my research agenda, I strive to bring these experiences into the classroom. I have used on-line learning journals to encourage a thoughtful integration of the course material, and am often inspired by the students’ learning progress and their ability to synthesize, critically examine, and transform the course material through their personal learning experiences. I have found that students appreciate being provided in-class opportunities that actively engage them in the learning process through critical inquiry, problem-solving, respectful debate and small-group discussion. I have learned the value of the peer review process, as students increase their knowledge of the course material, and discover the potential of providing effective feedback to others. I often incorporate both informal and formal peer review strategies as part of the assessment process.
 
From the first day of class, I encourage students to set clear learning goals. I develop mid-semester evaluations that encourage critical feedback regarding the design and delivery of the course, and also require learners to reflect upon their individual learning progress. I have found that students appreciate an instructor who is well-organized, approachable, enthusiastic and passionate about the subject matter. Throughout the semester, I do my best to learn and address each student by their name and to provide unstructured time to listen to their knowledge, ideas and concerns. I strive to intentionally align the course learning objectives, activities and assessment strategies, and to continually communicate this link to the students – in-class, on the course website, and in the objectives of each course assignment. I am aware that course assessment techniques have a strong influence on what, when, and how students structure their learning, and strive to ensure that there are sustained opportunities to receive and apply formative feedback throughout each semester, in order to foster a commitment to continuous improvement and learning.

In no way do I profess that I have succeeded in every teaching situation. However, I have learned from every teaching experience and am inspired to grow as an instructor. I am committed to a philosophy of continual improvement and am motivated to learn from: the advice offered by experienced instructors and colleagues; the scholarship of teaching and learning; my own reflective practice; and, most importantly, the feedback that I receive from students through informal mid-semester and end of the semester instructor evaluations.

My philosophy of teaching is certain to evolve as I discover the methods of teaching which enable me to effectively create a climate for learning that awakens a sense of joy, spirited curiosity, innovation and personal excellence. Like many, I am often challenged by an intrinsic fear of teaching – a fear which paradoxically drives my passion and commitment to university teaching and learning. In the end, it is the heart of teaching that embodies my passion for this profession. I simply could not imagine a more rewarding career.

References:
Kolb, D.A. 1984. Experiential Learning. Prentice-Hall Inc., New Jersey.
Palmer, P. J. 1998. The Courage to Teach. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA.
Mezirow, J. 1990. How critical reflection triggers transformative learning. In Mezirow, J. (Ed.) Fostering Critical Reflection in Adulthood (Pages 1-20). Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco.

Teacher Advocacy

Recently I was asked to join a panel discussion in San Fernando, Pampanga hosted by The College Board, as part of their annual AP conference. The topic was Teacher Advocacy. There were four of us on the panel and they were kind enough to give us some general questions ahead of time so that we could be prepared.
Since this event happened during our blog’s annual month-long hiatus, and since the topic is particularly germane to we’re all about on this site, it gave me a great excuse to review my own beliefs about teacher advocacy. Besides that, being on a panel usually means that you don’t get to answer all the questions, even the ones you really want to answer. So here they are, the questions I was prepared to answer, and the answers I was prepared to give:

What exactly is Teacher Advocacy?
 Teacher advocacy is simply speaking up in support of teaching and learning and promoting those policies that improve the teaching and learning conditions in our country.

Why do teachers need to be advocates?
Of all the stakeholders in our education system, teachers are uniquely positioned to know which policies work and which ones don’t. While teachers may not have all the answers, they do get to see what all the answers look like as they play out in classrooms. When teachers see what works and what doesn’t work in schools, they owe it to their students to speak up.

How has Teacher Advocacy changed over the years?

Until fairly recently, the principle means by which teachers could advocate for their profession was through their union. And while that channel still exists, and is still unmatched in terms of political leverage and resources, it does have a serious limitation. Unions, by their very nature, are democratic organizations. Policy direction is decided by a floor vote during annual assemblies. The consequence of this process is that those members who disagree with the final vote essentially have no voice. I have witnessed, for example, a two hour debate at an NEA convention on whether the Association should support charter schools. The answer was no, but it was far from unanimous, and the thousands of teachers who voted to support charter schools were basically ignored.

Things have changed. With the rise of social media, anyone can broadcast their opinion. It just as easy to open up this website as it is to go to nea.org.  On the other hand, information consumers have also become diversified. We don’t all read the same newspapers and watch the same newscasts like we used to. People tend to seek information that confirms what they already believe.

What are the barriers to Teacher Advocacy?
Time, poise and training. Teaching well takes a tremendous amount of time. So does advocacy. Trying to do both comes at a cost, and if you aren’t extremely good at time management, something important is bound to be compromised.

Advocacy takes poise. You have to believe in what you have to say and have the confidence to speak up at the right time. Not every teacher can do that. I hear a lot of very informed, passionate talk in the staff room, most of which never goes anywhere.

Advocacy also takes training. The skill set teachers use in their classrooms is not the same skill set needed to speak up for the profession. A lot of passionate teachers simply don’t know how to articulate their passion clearly and concisely. All it takes, though, is a little training.

What are the most important principles of effective Teacher Advocacy?
Understanding, respect and articulation. Advocacy starts with understanding the issues, and understanding them from both sides. Usually (but not always!) that leads to a softer, more nuanced position. When you’re ready to state your position, it needs to be done respectfully. No one likes a shrill, harsh voice.  Finally, effective articulation is extremely important. Teachers who don’t speak or write clearly and competently not only make themselves look foolish, but they bring shame on the whole profession.
With that in mind, then, welcome to year four of Stories from School! We are a community of Teacher Advocates. We’re passionate about education and try to present our views clearly and respectfully, from a place of understanding. (We also love reading and responding to comments!)