Characteristics of Effective Teachers

Five components that are perceived by students as effective teaching

1. Analytic/Synthetic Approach
- Discusses more recent developments in related fields
- Gives references for more interesting and involved points
- Presents origins of ideas and concepts

2. Organization/ Clarity
- Is well prepared
- States objectives for each lesson session
- Summarizes major points

3. Instructor - Group Interaction
- Encourages class discussion
- Invites students to share their knowledge and experiences

4. Instructor - Individual Student Interaction
- Is friendly toward students
- Relates to students as individuals
- Recognizes and greets students out of class
- Respect students as persons

5. Dynamism/ Enthusiasm
- Seems to enjoy teaching
- Varies the speed and tone of his/her voice
- Has a sense of humor


Characteristics of effective teachers most often mentioned
- Competent, subject mastery
- Well prepared, orderly
- Related to life
- Approachable
- Concerns for students' progress
- Has a sense of humor
- Warm
- Effective use of teaching aids


Characteristics of GREAT teachers
- Non verbal behavior such as

• Uses gestures frequently
• Walk around as they talk
• Extensive use of eye-contact

- Provide a warm classroom climate

• Students free to interrupt at any time
• Spontaneous introduction of humor

- Interact with the students

• Give immediate response to student question or answer
• Provide corrective feedback
• Use probing questions
• Praise correct answers with an observation based on the answer (i.e. explanation of why the answer is correct)

- Have command of their classes (Refer to another blog entry on "classroom management")
- Use humor
- Use variety of instructional strategies


A Checklist for Good Teaching
- Get feedback via
..... Non accountable Quizzes
..... Discussions with students
..... Class tests
..... Non verbal messages:

• Drop in attendance
• Students sleeping
• Students reading newspaper

- Provides feedback to the students (E.g. progress, missed assignments, attendance, etc)
- Flexible
- Motivating
- Clear and well-organized

=> Checklist of teaching skills

Reference:
http://www.utexas.edu/academic/cte/sourcebook/