Principles of Education and Training Chapter 10: What Makes an Effective Teacher?

What makes an effective Teacher? Objectives: Major roles of teachers Professional qualities Ways to stay updated on subject-matter knowledge Professional written communication Conflict resolution and mediation

What Makes an Effective Teacher? Five KeyTeaching Roles: Information provider Facilitator Planner Learning evaluator Role model NOTE: A facilitator is someone who actively involves students in learning instead of just presenting information; a guide.

What Makes an Effective Teacher? Five Key Teaching Roles: Teachers provide information, so they must: know their subject well provide accurate, up-to-date information know how to present concepts at the right level Teachers facilitate learning by: actively involving students in learning guiding instead of telling them what and how to learn

What Makes an Effective Teacher? Five KeyTeaching Roles, contd.: Teachers plan for learning by choosing: what information will be learned how to present the information what the outcomes should be Teachers evaluate learning by: grading student work Assessment Teachers are role models Assessment involves determining how much a student or class has learned

What Makes an Effective Teacher? Developing Personal Qualities: Be dependable: Be a person others can rely on. Be responsible: Take responsibility for your actions and obligations Be committed to students: Work hard to understand your students and their individual abilities. Show respect: Treat everyone you encounter with respect, from students to staff.

What Makes an Effective Teacher? Developing Personal Qualities, contd.: Be a Team Player: work and collaborate positively with others See the Big Picture: focus on goals without getting bogged down in tiny details Develop a Positive Attitude: look for the positives in situations instead of the negatives To collaborate means to work cooperatively

What Makes An Effective Teacher? Working Effectively Within a School: Find out about the organizational culture: Observe the people and environment around you Find out if there is a manual for new teachers Look for a mission statement (purposes and goals of the school formally written out) Check out the chain of command (this is what tells you who reports to whom) Talk to a supervisor Ask questions of fellow teachers

What Makes An Effective Teacher? Communicating Effectively: Teaching is all about communicating! Communication involves being an effective sender (person sending the message) and receiver (person accepting and interpreting the message. Spoken words and nonverbal messages (body language) must match or a confusing mixed message results. Communication depends on: The context of positive relationships Specific, related skills

What Makes An Effective Teacher? Communicating Effectively, contd.: Create positive relationships: Take responsibility for your feelings instead of blaming others Be an active listener (give feedback, focus on the speaker) Be an assertive communicator (freely express your ideas in a respectful manner). Improve communication skills: Speaking—watch what you say in class and in public Writing—convey clear messages; use proper grammar Nonverbal communication—what do your actions say? Electronic communication—remember it may be forwarded to others; it may also be seen by your employer

What Makes An Effective Teacher? Resolving Conflicts: All relationships encounter conflict at times. Constructive conflict management can help. The steps are: Clarify the issue: Each party should state the problem in their words. Identify what each person wants Brainstorm possible solutions, keeping an open mind Decide how to negotiate a solution Choose the best alternative (a compromise both can accept) Solidify the solution—both parties agree to accept the solution Review and renegotiate if needed Mediation Sometimes a neutral third party is needed to resolve a conflict. This is called mediation. Teachers are often mediators in student disagreements

End of Chapter Ten Review Date: _____________ TEST Date: ______________