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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.
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CharacteristicsofEffective Teachers presented byPaul R. Vaughn, Associate DeanUMC 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
Effective Teachers • Humor? • Enthusiasm? • Charisma? • Speaking Ability? • Knowledge?
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 1. ---------- 2. ----------- 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 (R2 = .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