Meaning of Teacher Education
According to Monroe ’s Encyclopedia of Educational
Research, “Teacher Education refers to the total educative experiences which
contribute to the preparation of a person for teaching profession.
According
to Goods Dictionary of Education Teacher education means, ―all the formal and
non-formal activities and experiences that help to qualify a person to assume
responsibilities as a member of the educational profession or to discharge his
responsibilities more effectively.
Teacher
education encompasses teaching skills, sound pedagogical theory and
professional skills.
Teacher
Education = Teaching Skills + Pedagogical theory + Professional skills.
Teaching
skills would include providing training and practice in the different
techniques, approaches and strategies that would help the teachers to plan and
impart instruction, provide appropriate reinforcement and conduct effective
assessment. Pedagogical theory includes the philosophical, sociological and
psychological considerations that would enable the teachers to have a sound
basis for practicing the teaching skills in the classroom. Professional skills
include the techniques, strategies and approaches that would help teachers to
grow in their profession.
Nature of Teacher Education
1)
Teacher education is a continuous process and its
pre-service and in-service components are complimentary to each other.
2)
Teacher education is based on the theory that ―Teachers
are made, not born in contrary to the assumption, ―”Teachers are born, not
made.
3)
Teacher education is broad and comprehensive. Besides
pre-service and in-service programmes for teachers, it consists of various
community programmes and extension activities
4)
It is ever-evolving and dynamic. In order to prepare
teachers who are competent to face the challenges of the dynamic society,
Teacher education has to keep abreast of recent developments and trends.
5)
Teacher Education curriculum has a knowledge base and
comprises meaningful, conceptual blending of theoretical understanding
available in several related disciplines.
Need of Teacher Education
The
American Commission on Teacher Education rightly observes, “The quality of a
nation depends upon the quality of its citizens. The quality of its citizens
depends not exclusively, but in critical measure upon the quality of their
education, the quality of their education depends more than upon any single
factor, upon the quality of their teachers.”
1)
To impart thorough knowledge of theoretical and
practical aspects of the subject which a teacher has to teach.
2)
To impart knowledge of child psychology and enable
them to understand the process of child’s growth and development.
3)
To acquaint the child with the aims and purposes of
education.
4)
To impart the knowledge of adjustment process
which would help a teacher to understand the problems of students and help them
in making better adjustments.
5)
To enable the teachers to plan and use a number of
teaching devices, instructional materials and audio-visual aids.
6)
To enable the teachers to organize and supervise
extra curricular activities in the school.
7)
To train the teachers to plan their lessons
effectively.
8)
To impart the knowledge of evaluation methods.
9)
To make the teachers provide guidance and counseling
to students effectively.
Characteristics and demands of teaching profession
Teaching is the most vital and
strategic profession for national development. This is so because teaching is an
important activity which makes possible the acquisition of knowledge and skills
that brings about the mark of an educated and useful person in the society. The
characteristics and demands of teaching profession are as follows:
- Professional knowledge: Professional knowledge is vast in scope, begins with the pre-service aspect of a teacher preparation program, and expands with experience. Examples of experiential knowledge include an awareness of the climate, issues that affect the role of teaching, a passion for teaching, an ongoing curiosity about the world, the confidence to become a risk-taker and change agent, and a belief that all students can learn.
- Instructional Effectiveness: An effective teacher should teach well. This demands again a very high level of flexibility and a wide range of expertise from the teacher. Teachers should construct new knowledge on the basis of their experiences, observations and reflections and encourages their students to do the same.
- Good communicator: Teachers need to be highly skilled in the art of communication involving listening and speaking as well as reading and writing to excel in their profession. Proficient communicators make excellent teachers because they are able to transmit knowledge, skills and values at the same time they communicate their caring for their students.
- Critical Thinking: Teachers must practice critical thinking in all content areas; they must be able to ask appropriate questions, gather relevant information, reason logically from this information, and come to reliable and trustworthy conclusions. Additionally, the teacher should teach the process of critical thinking and inspire students to be responsible citizens who contribute to society.
- Interpersonal Skills: Effective interpersonal skills are also essential in the act of teaching. The capacity for empathy, a belief that every child can learn, attention to individual needs, sensitivity to home and community issues, ability to be at ease in the presence of children or young adults, and the ability to provide a positive, caring atmosphere for learning are examples of these skills. The teacher also must possess interpersonal skills that foster peer collaboration.
- Integration of Discipline: Knowing content is important for a teacher; however, broadening the context and applicability of content through integration of disciplines provides students with a richer academic experience. Integration fosters ongoing reinforcement of skills learned in one area of study and utilized in other areas.
- Technology Integration: Integrating technology into classroom instruction means the usage of technology to engage students and facilitate their thinking and construction of knowledge.
- Organization and Classroom Management: This requires effective skills and supportive affective relationships. The teacher should adopt a proactive organizational and managerial style that involves interventions and strategies designed to include positive expectations, self-evaluation, and growth.
- True Compassion for Students: Teachers should have a sixth sense when a student needs extra attention. They should not expect their students to leave the thoughts of the outside world at the doors of the classroom. They should take time to discuss subjects outside their teaching and understand that sometimes lessons can be taught without following the textbooks. Teachers should be well-versed in providing guidance and counseling to students and help them to solve their problems.
Qualities of a Good Teacher
Good teaching is one of the best
ways to create and develop critical thinking among students. Enthusiastic,
intelligent and well educated teachers inspire and prepare students for the
technological world. A teacher should first and foremost possess the following basic
qualities:
T – Truthfulness / Tolerance
E – Enthusiasm
A-
Accuracy / Aptitude
C
– Confidence / Commitment
H
– Honesty / Hard work / Humour
E
– Empathy
R
– Rational Thinking
The common
important qualities of a good teacher are:
E Empathy:
Teachers should have the ability to bond with students, to understand and
resonate with their feelings and emotions. They should be able to communicate
on their level and be compassionate with them when they are down and celebrate
with them when they are up.
E Positive
mental attitude: A good teacher should think more on the positive and
little less on the negative. When things get tough, they should be able to keep
a smile on their face and see the bright side of things. They should strive io
seek positives in every negative situation.
E Open
to change: Teachers should be aware that the only real constant in life is
change. They should know that there is a place for tradition but there is also
a place for new ways, new ideas, new systems and new approaches. They should be
open and willing to listen to others’ ideas.
E Creative:
Good teachers should motivate students by using creative and inspirational
methods of teaching. They should follow innovative pedagogical practices that
make them stand out from the crowd.
E Sense
of Humour: Great sense of humour reduces barriers and lightens the
atmosphere. Good teachers should be able to make the students laugh which gains
them respect and increases their popularity.
E Presentation
skills: Body language is the main communicator so a good teacher should
keep it positive at all times. Teachers should create presentation styles for
visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners.
E Calmness:
Teachers should be able to control their emotions when they come across
students with negative attitude and aggressive behaviour. They should help
their students to distress.
E Respectful:
Teachers should know that everyone has a place in the world. They should
respect their peers and students.
E Inspirational:
Good teachers can change their students life helping them to realize their
potential and help them grow and find their talents, skills and abilities.
E
Sound Mental Health and Personality: The
teachers’ entire personality and mental health is a reflection on the minds of
the students. So they should have sound mental health and pleasing personality.
Professional Ethics
Professional ethics refers to the
basic values and conceptions of good practice that constitute guidelines for
professional conduct. It refers to the principles, guidelines or norms of
morality, which a teacher has to follow in teaching profession while dealing
with students, parents, community and higher authorities.
a. Ethical
Conduct towards Students
v
The teacher should treat their students kindly and
impartially and help them to resolve problems.
v
The teacher should not intentionally expose the
student to criticism.
v
The teacher should not reveal confidential
information concerning students, unless required by law.
v
The teacher should make a constructive effort to
protect the students from conditions harmful to learning, health, or safety.
v
The teacher should endeavor to present facts
without distortion, bias, or personal prejudice.
b. Ethical Conduct towards Practices and
Performance
v
The teacher should maintain sound mental health,
and physical stamina to perform the duties of any professional assignment.
v
The teacher should continue professional growth.
v
The teacher should not intentionally
misrepresent official policies of the school and clearly distinguishes those
views from his or her own personal opinions.
v
The teacher should honestly account for all
funds committed to his or her charge.
v
The teacher should not use institutional or
professional privileges for personal advantage.
c. Ethical Conduct towards Professional
Colleagues
v
The teacher should not reveal confidential
information concerning colleagues unless required by law.
v
The teacher should not willfully make false
statements about a colleague or the school system.
v
The teacher should not interfere with a
colleague's freedom of choice, and works.
d. Ethical
Conduct towards Parents and Community
The professional
teacher recognizes that quality education is the common goal of the public,
boards of education, and teachers, and that a cooperative effort is essential
among these groups to attain that goal.
v
The teacher should make concerted efforts to
communicate to parents all information that should be revealed in the interest
of the student.
v
The teacher should endeavor to understand and
respect the values and traditions of the diverse cultures represented in his or
her classroom.
v
The teacher should manifest a positive and
active role in school/community relations.
e. Ethical Conduct towards managing resources
Teachers
are placed in positions of trust. They
manage school resources. They have access to school information and they make
decisions that affect staff and students. The teachers exercise efficiency and
effectiveness in the use of school resources by:
1.
Avoiding waste and extravagance in using school
resources
2.
Using school property and resources appropriately
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