Pedagogy and Assessment

Pedagogy is the art and science of teaching - it entails how teachers behave, think, speak and plan to produce learning in students.

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them." James Baldwin

I believe the most crucial skill a teacher can pass onto their students is that of social skills. This can be achieved through the way a teacher behaves and speaks, as well as how they plan the lesson.

Communication

Communication is "the sharing of messages or attitudes that produce a degree of understanding between a sender and a receiver." (Marsh, pp. 152, 2004) Communication can be categoried into three sets of skill: language, social and cognitive. Messages are not only communicated through what we say, but also through the way that we say it.

Student learning is not always the result of verbal communication by the teacher. An effective teacher utilises non-verbal communication to support his/her verbal communication. There are four different forms of non-verbal communication a teacher may use within the classroom environment:

1. classroom setting
2. curriculum material
3. non-verbal behaviours
4. combinations

It is important for teachers to make sure that these non-verbal forms of communication do not conflict with their verbal communication.

EVIDENCE 1: Language as a Social Practice Essay Plan
This essay allowed me to explore the different causes for language variation within the community. Language and culture variation within the school environment is one which teachers must be sensitive to. I have included this because I feel that it has provided me with a deeper amount of understanding about the school context and how the language has a great impact. With a strong link to the pedagogical concept of communication, as without knowledge of how language is used in a variety of ways and in a variety of different dialects and languages, successful communication is not always possible.

Instructional modes

In order to cater for all the different learning needs and style of each individual student in the class, it is optimal that a teacher uses a number of different modes of instruction.

Constructivist learning
Co-operative learning
Debates
Demonstrations
Direct instruction
Discussion
Field work
Independent study
Inquiry Learning centres
Lectures and presentations
Mastery learning
Oral reports
Practice drills
Project learning
Questioning
Simulations and role plays
Small group brainstorming
(Marsh, pp. 167, 2004)

"Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time."Rabbinical Saying

Assessment

Assessment is the term typically used to describe the activities undertaken by a teacher to obtain information about the knowledge, skills and attitudes of students. Assessments can take may forms and this range is certainly much wider than the traditions tests and essays. It is important never to forget that assessments have a dramatic effect on the lives of students. Where ever possible, assessment should be used as opportunity to raise student's self-esteem. (Marsh, pp. 275, 2004)

"Too often we give our children answers to remember rather than problems to solve." Roger Lewin

Assessment may be undertaken for a number of reason:
diagnosis of learning and monitoring of progress
grading students
predicting future achievements
motivating students
diagnosis of teaching
Also possible audiences for assessment include:
Learners
Teachers
Parents
Tertiary institutions
Employers
(Marsh, pp. 276-277, 2004)

As a beginning teacher I believe the most important form of assessment is that of diagnosis of teaching. I have practiced this form of assessment during my first practicum experience where I observed a lesson within each KLA and then wrote a reflection on each of these.

English observation
Mathematics observation
Science and Technology observation
Human Society in its Environment observation
Creative Arts observation
Personal Development / Health and Physical Education observation

The above are examples of realist tales. This is only one type of observational writing, two others include confessionalist tales and impressionist tales.

Description of each form of observational writing.

EVIDENCE 2: Child Development Journal
I have included this journal as it outlines the ideas and concepts I have developed each week throughout the subject of child development. It is these ideas and concept that I feel will greatly affect my pedagogical activities as a teacher. As the child development course has allowed me to develop a more complex understanding of children’s development, their learning and how that impacts on teaching.