Field Experience / Factors that Influence Teaching

Agenda Discuss Factors that Influence Teaching Introduce Field Experience Assignment

Objective The C&I 216 Students will understand the various factors that influence their teaching so that they can describe realistic actions they can take to control for the factors.

Field Experience Structure ◦Progressive Field Experience ◦11 Weeks (1/26- 4/21) Expectations ◦Professionalism ◦Communication Hours ◦53 hours  30 lab hours  15 hours of meetings / prep time  5 hours of school events  1 hour technology session

Factors that influence teaching From The Act of Teaching. Cruickshank, Jenkins, Metcalf

Personal Characteristics Gender Age and Experience Personality Beliefs How do these factors influence how we teach?

Personal Characteristics Activity ◦Think of a favorite and a least favorite teacher from middle or high school. ◦Reflect on the personal characteristics (gender, age and experience, personality, beliefs) of each teacher. ◦How did those characteristics impact their teaching (or at least your perception of their teaching)? ◦Were they similar to the descriptions in the book?

Personal Characteristics Gender ◦Male teachers: more dominant and authoritarian, teacher-controlled classrooms, better organized, fewer special education referrals. ◦Female teachers: “warmer” classrooms, more tolerant, students take more risks in answering questions, student learning is equal with men Age and Experience ◦Effectiveness peaks at 5 years ◦Younger and less experienced have higher satisfaction levels, will try new things more quickly, more authoritarian, have lower ability students, and are more concerned with personal and social dimensions of teaching

Personal Characteristics Personality ◦Students value teachers that “interact normally”, are friendly, enthusiastic, have a sense of humor, and let them talk as they work. Beliefs ◦Teachers who believe students can learn teach more content and insist on higher students performance, however the opposite is also true.

Personal Characteristics Which of your personal characteristics (gender, age, personality, and beliefs) will be beneficial as you enter the classroom? Are there personal characteristics that you will need to keep in mind as you teach?

Experience and Preparation The Way We Were Taught The Way We Prefer to Learn Way We Prefer to Teach Knowledge of Subject Matter Teaching Preparation How do these factors influence how we teach?

Experience and Preparation Activity ◦Your principal has asked your advice before he makes his recommendation for hiring a teacher. The candidates are:  a young woman who has just received her bachelor's degree from a prestigious university with an excellent reputation for preparing teachers in pedagogical practice. However, this university is infamous for its lack of attention to preparing teachers in subject matter.  an older woman who has been teaching in another state for the past twenty years. In interviews, this woman has demonstrated a great deal of subject matter expertise but is also very set in her ways with regard to teaching methods. ◦Learning Style inventory

Experience and Preparation How you were taught ◦Direct teaching (definite goals, structured learning materials, prescriptive methods, and use of corrective feedback) ◦Indirect teaching (general goals, varied learning materials, student choice in completing assignments, and serve as facilitators) How you prefer to be taught ◦Teachers teach as they like to learn ◦What is your learning style?

Experience and Preparation Your knowledge of subject matter ◦Knowing your subject well does not guarantee good teaching and student learning. ◦More likely to give more time to areas of the content that you know well, and vise versa. ◦More knowledgeable teachers are less dependent upon textbooks and more aware of other learning resources Your teaching preparation ◦The extent and quality of your teacher education will influence the quality and style of your teaching. ◦The more skill and knowledge you have in planning and delivering instruction, the better your students will learn.

Experience and Preparation How will your learning style impact your teaching? Think of your favorite teachers, how did they teach? Will you try to replicate that style of teaching? How are you being prepared to teach?

Context Learner Differences Class and Classroom Size Availability of Materials & Equipment Time Lesson Objectives Prevalent Views of Teaching How do these factors influence how we teach?

Activity ◦Think of a perfect lesson in your content area. ◦What changes would have to be made if the following things occurred:  You had 35 students in your class.  You had no computers.  You had a computer for each student.  You had 45 minute class periods.  You had 90 minute class periods.  You have a small classroom.  You have a large classroom.

Context Nature of Learners ◦Diversity – economic, cultural, gender, developmental, etc… ◦Accept and adapt to your students Class and classroom size ◦Crowded classrooms may lead to whole class or direct teaching and small class may lead to individual and small-group instruction. ◦Research supports smaller classes. Availability of materials and equipment ◦Limited resources generally lead to more lecture

Context Time ◦More time leads to more experimentation and discussion. ◦Time is valuable and can either be used to your advantage or wasted. Lesson Objectives ◦Consider the difference between “students will know that 6 sevens are 42” and “students will understand why 6 sevens are 42”. National Imperatives ◦No Child Left Behind and other standards movements

Context Have you had experiences with issues of class sizes? How would developmental diversity impact your teaching? How have you seen time wasted in classrooms?

Questions to ponder Which of your personal characteristics (gender, age, personality, and beliefs) will be beneficial? Are there personal characteristics that you will need to keep in mind as you teach? How will your learning style impact your teaching? Think of your favorite teachers, how did they teach? Will you try to replicate that style of teaching? How would developmental diversity impact your teaching? How have you seen time wasted in classrooms?

Big Picture The more aware you are of how personal characteristics, experience and preparation, and context impact your teaching, the better you will be able to guide your instruction by insight rather than relying on history, tradition, or compulsion.

Journal Activity Which factors do you think will most impact your teaching and which do you believe you will have to be most aware of? Factors ◦Gender ◦Age ◦Experience ◦Personality ◦Beliefs How you were taught Learning Style Subject Matter Knowledge Teacher Preparation Learners Class size Materials Objectives National imperatives

Assignment for next class Bring a high school textbook chapter from your content area. We will use this for planning tasks over the next few weeks. Bring a copy of several standards from your content area (could be national or state standards).