General Pedagogy

Description

General Pedagogy: A Guide to Effective Teaching demystifies the scientific art of teaching by providing facts, principles and concrete examples in real life situations such that neither the novice teacher who peruses it will stutter in front of students on the first day of school, nor will the experienced teacher write and execute the same old lesson plans on that day. “The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see,” is a popular quote attributed to Alexandra K. Trenfor, which aptly summarises the kind of teachers this book intends to produce when used as a teacher training resource. Real teachers facilitate learning; they do not simply tell learners the answers to their questions and concerns. Accordingly, the authors take the readers through well-researched themes in the academic discipline of teaching wherein they present, analyse and discuss pertinent issues. Although they provide useful suggestions for teaching success, the authors encourage teachers to interpret facts, ideas and suggestions presented against the sociocultural contexts of their practice. The materials are presented creatively while adding a personal touch, intended to facilitate effective and efficient learning.

For coherence and better comprehension, the book has been carefully crafted in eighteen chapters lodged in six parts. The first part introduces the reader to the concepts of teaching and teaching effectiveness. The theoretical underpinnings of these concepts are brought out in the second part which paves the way for the third part that describes generic teaching approaches, strategies and methods. Part four and five comprise essential teaching skills and teaching tools for the 21^st century while part six wraps up with the transition from teacher training laboratories to classrooms in the real world. The last two chapters intentionally prepare the teacher to overcome challenges of professional work in contemporary African classrooms.

Praise for “General Pedagogy”

“This book is a treasure to teachers at all levels as well as to teacher educators. Based on decades of teaching experience and profound academic insight, the authors have effortlessly linked the theories of teaching to practice, through a wide range of pedagogic approaches, culminating in suggestions for innovative strategies in a 21st century classroom.”

—Ebok Rachael Eta, PhD (Curriculum Studies and Teaching); Coordinating Inspector of Guidance and Counselling and School Life, Southwest Regional Delegation for Secondary Education, Cameroon

“The book provides a comprehensive account of theories of teaching and its implications in the classroom. It is an excellent handbook for educational practitioners all over the world. It also captures peculiarities of the third world classrooms which hitherto have not been paid much attention, thus broadening perspectives in teaching practices. In addition to its rich content, it makes provision for self-directed learning with exercises at the end of each chapter to monitor learning.”

—Michael N. Nkwenti, Associate Professor of Instructional Design and Technology, Higher Teacher Training College, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon

Contents

PART ONE SETTING THE STAGE
CHAPTER 1 The Concept of Teaching 2
CHAPTER 2 Teacher and Teaching Effectiveness 20
PART TWO THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF TEACHING
CHAPTER 3 Theories of Learning and Teaching 36
CHAPTER 4 Psychological Factors in Teaching and Learning 72
PART THREE TEACHING APPROACHES
CHAPTER 5 Teaching Approaches and Their Levels of Operation 94
CHAPTER 6 Teacher-Centred Strategies and Methods of Teaching 114
CHAPTER 7 Learner-Centred Strategies and Methods of Teaching 126
CHAPTER 8 Innovative Teaching Strategies and Methods 150
PART FOUR TEACHING SKILLS
CHAPTER 9 Lesson Planning 164
CHAPTER 10 Lesson Delivery Skills 188
CHAPTER 11 The Art Of Questioning 200
CHAPTER 12 Classroom Management 214
CHAPTER 13 Assessment and Evaluation in the Classroom 232
PART FIVE TEACHING TOOLS
CHAPTER 14 Basic Instructional Materials and Resources 254
CHAPTER 15 Advanced Instructional Materials and Resources 266
PART SIX TOWARDS PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
CHAPTER 16 Microteaching, Teaching Practice And Reflective Teaching 284
CHAPTER 17 Constraints and Possibilities in African Classrooms 304
CHAPTER 18 Appropriate Pedagogies for Classrooms Today 314

Appendix A 341
Glossary 345
Bibliography 355
Index 365