The characteristics of effective teaching can be simply defined
as factors which help students to learn. Effective teaching can mean different
things in different environments. However, there are some factors that are
common to all effective teaching situations. Those factors can be roughly
divided into three areas: things that foster a good atmosphere for learning,
effective techniques or approaches and personal qualities of effective
teachers.
1. Atmosphere
o
Research on learning indicates that the learning
environment has a significant effect on the success of learners. Certainly an
efficient, comfortable, well-lit space is important, but the learning
atmosphere created by the instructor seems to have an equal or greater impact.
According to studies in the USA and Canada, teachers who create a serious, but
friendly and open study environment are seen as most effective by both students
and administrators. Generally, an effective learning atmosphere is positive,
free of stereotyping, and has an orderly yet varied structure.
2.Techniques
o
Approaches common to all types of effective
teaching include student involvement and interaction, clearly stating learning
objectives at the start of the lesson, using questions effectively, and using a
variety of instructional techniques, thereby varying the routine. Independent
reading combined with presentations and/or demonstrations is an example of
using a variety of techniques to handle one set of learning objectives. Another
often-used, yet effective, combination is the lecture followed by laboratory
work or small-group case studies.
3.Personal Qualities
o
There are numerous personal qualities
universally recognized as characteristic of effective teachers. Mastery of the
subject being taught and enthusiasm for sharing that knowledge tops the list.
Approachability and accessibility are keys to effective teaching, as is respect
for the students. While it is clear that teaching style is very individual and
certainly an extension of personality, some sort of sense of humor seems to be
an essential ingredient of teaching effectively. Willingness to seize
o
the teachable moment--taking advantage of a
student's question or observation, or some incident from the world at large,
and spinning it into the lesson at hand--is arguably an effective teacher's
greatest tool.
4.Instructional Formats
o
Not all techniques are effective in all
settings, nor with all groups. Since classes are collections of individuals,
effective teachers are those who can assess the needs of a given group of
students and adjust their instructional format if necessary. Formats that
provide opportunities for interaction on three levels are the most effective:
between the instructor and the class as a group, between the instructor and
students as individuals, and among students.
5.Feedback
Effective teaching
provides feedback for both the students and the teachers. Feedback in effective teaching is provided in a
variety of ways: through discussion, in writing and non-verbally, never solely through
testing. Most importantly, the feedback should serve to motivate both students and
teachers, promoting an active learning situation.
Comments
Post a Comment
any suggestion on my side