Characteristics of Effective Teachers presented by Paul R. Vaughn, Associate Dean UMC College of Agriculture

A Pedagogical Package For the Neophyte

Teaching For Dummies

Before we start... “It’s a damn poor man who can’t think of at least two ways to spell the same word.” -- Mark Twain

Humor? Enthusiasm? Charisma? Speaking Ability? Knowledge? Effective Teachers

Investigators have known for years! Rosenshine & Furst – 1970’s Meta-Analysis (Summary) – Correlations between CHARACTERISTICS of TEACHERS and STUDENT PERFORMANCE – Personal experience has reinforced these findings

#1 -- Clarity Highest correlation with student achieve- ment scores Ability to explain concepts clearly Or to answer questions intelligently

How do you develop CLARITY? Start with organization and planning – Direct correlation between time spent on planning and effectiveness of lesson – Develop goals or objectives Use to develop major topics and subtopics Use to develop detailed course syllabus Share syllabus...refer to it often

Exhibiting CLARITY in your presentations Suggestions: – VISUALIZE! – Give preliminary outline of lecture – Outline major points...visually – Use headings/subheadings – Give concrete examples of concepts – Give multiple examples – Point out practical applications

Exhibiting CLARITY in your presentations More suggestions: – Stress important points – Repeat difficult ideas – Ask questions to ensure topic is understood – Signal transition to new topic – Explain how each topic fits

#2 -- Variability Variety in: – Teaching Method – Instructional Materials – Types of Teaching Devices – Tests Most Common Teaching Method? Variety more important than method

Variability “T” Approach Key Points Method/ Technique 1. PowerPoint Presentation 2. Case Study

#3. Enthusiasm! Vigor and power of instructor – Positively related to student performance – Alert better than apathetic; stimulating better than dull Measures of enthusiasm – Involvement – Excitement regarding subject matter

Exhibiting Enthusiasm Easiest characteristic to improve Start by acting enthusiastic! – Speak expressively or emphatically – Move about while lecturing – Use gestures with hands and arms – Show facial expressions – DON’T read lecture verbatim from notes!

IV. Task Oriented/Business- Like Behavior Businesslike means responsible, steady, systematic, poised – Take teaching seriously Task Oriented means: – Concerned about students attaining objectives – Encouraging class to work hard

Task Oriented.. State course objectives Proceed at rapid rate – Don’t drag on and on – Do not digress from theme of lecture Provide sample exam questions

V. Positive Reinforcement Doesn’t just work on students Easy to do! – Positive written comments – Positive spoken comments – Use of student ideas

VI. Student Opportunity to Learn Ridiculously simple: – Were students taught what they need in order to answer questions on test? – Did material on test match what was taught in class? – Often does not Study of 300,000 students Great variety

Student Opportunity... Correlations between student opportunity to learn and achievement are always: – Positive – Significant – Consistent Reason for writing objectives – Easy to check if objectives match test questions

VII. Humor Lowest relationship – Consistently positive – Believed to be a motivating factor Develops interest Shows professor is enjoying him/herself Makes learning fun!

Characteristics of Effective Teachers Clarity Variability Enthusiasm Task/Oriented-Businesslike Positive Reinforcement Student Opportunity to Learn Humor

Performance Vs. Evaluation Characteristics are related to student performance How about relationship with student evaluations? – Clarity, Enthusiasm Variability, Humor – VERY Strong Relationship (R 2 =.90) Student Ratings

What does this mean? Students learn best from teachers who exhibit: – Clarity – Variability – Enthusiasm – Humor

What else does this mean? Students give the highest ratings to teachers who exhibit: – Clarity – Variability – Enthusiasm – Humor