c2 Week 1 Lecture 1

Being a Teacher
Dr Dennis Francis
Commonwealth Education Trust
Foundations of Teaching for Learning
Course 2: Being a Teacher

Week 1: What is a Teacher?
Lecture 1.1: What does a Teacher Do?
What is Teaching?
“All teachers have some theory of what

teaching is when they are doing it, even if
they are not explicitly aware of that
theory...”
Gow and Kember, 1993 cited in Biggs and Tang, 2007, p.15.
What is the Role of a Teacher?
 Teaching is a process intended to support learning

by inducing a change in the person taught.
 Teaching is an art of communicating a message that
will have impact on your audience.
 Pedagogy is the art or profession of teaching.
Connecting my Teaching to their Learning
I am teaching But he is
Spot to throw not
a frisbee. throwing it.
I said I am teaching
him, not that he’s If my students have not learned,
learning.
how can I call myself a teacher?
Good Teachers and Bad Teachers
What makes a teacher good

and what makes a teacher not
so good?
Students’ Perceptions of ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’
Teachers
‘Good’ teachers…
 Are helpful and supportive.
 Take time to explain material in depth.
 Are friendly.
 Understand and know the subject well.
 Use a variety of teaching style and innovative approaches.
 Are fair and have equal standards and expectations of pupils,
regardless of test scores.
Students’ Perceptions of ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’
Teachers
‘Bad’ teachers…
 Are mean and unfair.
 Are judgemental of pupils’ parents and siblings.
 Are unwilling to change their teaching methods.
 Are disrespectful of pupils.
 Are unsympathetic to pupils’ personal problems.
 Are intimidating and verbally abusive.
Gives interesting
lessons
What makes
Treat us with respect a good
And as individual teacher?
Believes in you
Helps us with our

Work even outside
Does not make fun of us
Lesson time
If we get things wrong
Explains things
clearly Shows an interest in us and
What we do outside school
Is approachable if
We have a problem
Helps us feel Is prepared to acknowledge
Part of the class He does not know everything
Is fair and consistent,
Treating everyone equally
Knows our name Is ready to be flexible and
Helps us if we Protects our rights acknowledge
make mistakes And prevents name Mistakes if he makes any
calling Has sense of humour
The Task of the Teacher:
Setting the Environment for Learning
The environment for learning is developed by:

 The way in which we set up the classroom.
 The way we ask questions.
 Our ability to find the teachable moment.
Teachable Moments
A teachable moment is an unplanned opportunity to recognise what is

happening within the class to make connections and to extend and enrich
learning.
Teachable moments can happen anywhere,
any time and occurs when the student:
 Is receptive
 Is open to learning
 Is actively seeking information
Examples of Teachable Moments
 When a student asks a question.
 When the student demonstrates knowledge that has been acquired formally.
 When the student makes a provocative statement, such as, “This always happens
to me.”
 When the student expresses misinformation or lack of information.
 When a student expresses a need for change.
 When you are performing a procedure or giving treatment.
When you have a teachable moment consider; the environment, who is

present, and your approach to the student’s openness.
Establishing a Classroom Environment
 How does it look and feel?
 Is it an inviting and stimulating
environment?
 What do you think of the décor, materials
on show, your desk, student’s desk and
student and other pictures on the wall?
 Is it well laid out?
 Could it be improved?
 What is good about it?
 What is lacking?
The Task of the Teacher Clarifying Objectives
Clarifying Objectives
Setting realistic goals.
Identification and clarification of associated objectives:
 knowledge
 skills Teachers
BRING
 dispositions DREAMS
TO LIFE
Motivating Students
 Creating materials and activities to
arouse interest.
 Engaging in goal setting with the
students.
 Using rewards and (sometimes)
competition.
 Providing students with knowledge of
their progress.
Sequencing Subject Matter
 Organizing what will happen in the year, in the term,

each week.
 Organizing different classes during the day.
 Organizing activities of each class in a way that will
encourage students’ learning.
 Connecting new knowledge to the outside world.
Understanding Individual Differences
Considering Individual Differences means:
Being able to recognise and understand differences in your classroom such as:
Gender, race, culture,

language, social class.
Providing for Individual Differences
Doing something about individual differences means:

 Taking account of ways in which students’ background impact
on how they learn.
 Trying to group students in ways that will maximize their

learning.
 Using resources that are appropriate to the range and

What Next?
Make a list of all the things that you have

do as a teacher. Ask your colleagues to
add to your list.
Out of your long list pick what you think

are the ten most important things that
teachers do. Think about how you might
get better at doing these things.
Foundations of Teaching and Learning
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Week 1, Lecture 1
Slides © Commonwealth Education Trust. All Rights Reserved.

1, 2, Images: © schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org
5, 17, 19, Images: © Microsoft Clip Art
11 Image: Courtesy of Professor Dennis Francis

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Being a Teacher

Course 2: Being a Teacher

“All teachers have some theory of what

 Teaching is a process intended to support learning

What makes a teacher good

Helps us with our

The environment for learning is developed by:

A teachable moment is an unplanned opportunity to recognise what is

When you have a teachable moment consider; the environment, who is

 Organizing what will happen in the year, in the term,

Gender, race, culture,

Doing something about individual differences means:

 Trying to group students in ways that will maximize their

 Using resources that are appropriate to the range and

Make a list of all the things that you have

Out of your long list pick what you think

Slides © Commonwealth Education Trust. All Rights Reserved.

5, 17, 19, Images: © Microsoft Clip Art

11 Image: Courtesy of Professor Dennis Francis

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