Effective Teaching Essays -- Education

Introduction â€Å"Those that can, do. Those that can’t, teach†. This simple proverb from George Bernard Shaw’s â€Å"Man and Superman† is often quoted in modern times, denigrating the hard work of teachers from preparatory grades right through to the highest academic institutions. While it is true that almost anyone can teach in the true definition of the word, being an effective teacher is a much harder proposition. A truly effective teacher has a wide pedagogical skill set, along with the knowledge of when to apply it, an awareness of their students in terms of their needs and abilities and an understanding of the curriculum and its aims. This essay will review some of the critical prerequisites of an effective teacher. Student Foundations The foundation of effective teaching comes from having an understanding of the â€Å"Facets of a Student† (Whitton, Barker, Nosworthy, Sinclair, Nanlohy, 2010 p.108) as these external factors play a major role in how a student learns. When planning an effective lesson, the content cannot be considered in academic isolation. The interpretation and implementation of the curriculum must take into account the unique combination of the class: their age, gender, socio-economic climate, cultural/religious beliefs and ideals. The teacher must also consider the overall student body in regards to the number of students, their learning styles and their abilities. Lyons refers to this as the â€Å"Ecological Perspective... to remind us that when dealing with children, the individual with his/her immediate environment is also influenced by a broader more complex environment† (Lyons, 2011 p.41). Failure to recognise critical facets can lead to a student having a negative net result from a lesson. An example ... ...ons are used towards the end of each activity, to help relate the activity to the student's everyday experiences and for social constructivism and scaffolding. Conclusion As outlined in this essay, there are a variety of skill sets that help make a teacher more effective. Each skill on its own provides new value to each lesson, but it is when these skills combine into a lesson that a teacher truly becomes effective and stands above those that meet the more literal definitions of a teacher. Works Cited Colburn, A. (2000). Constructivism: Science educations "grand unifying theory". The Clearing House, 74(1), 9-12. http://search.proquest.com/docview/196881181?accountid=10382 Davies, P. (Producer) & Whitehouse, K. (Presenter). (2012). Knowledge & understanding of the world [Video File]. Retrieved from: http://www.schoolsworld.tv/node/2065?terms=644