Characteristicsof

Effective Teachers

presented byPaul 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

Humor? Enthusiasm? Charisma? Speaking Ability? Knowledge?

Effective Teachers

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 CLARITYin 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

KeyPoints

1. ----------

2. -----------

Method/Technique1. 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 spokencomments

– 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

– Consistentlypositive

– Believed to be amotivating 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