UNIT ONE
Introduction to Instructional Methods
1.1 Teaching and learning
• Teaching?
Any form of interpersonal influence aimed at
changing the ways in which other persons can or
will behave" (Gagne: 1963a)
•An interactive process, primarily involving
classroom talk, which takes place between teacher
and pupils & occurs during certain definable
activities"(Amidon& Hunter: 1967)
•Teaching denotes action undertaken with the
intention of bringing about learning in another"
(Robertson: 1987
Teaching…
• Teaching denotes:
• An activity or action: You can see teaching taking
place
• A process : It involves a series of actions and
decisions of the teacher
• An interpersonal activity: Interpersonal refers to the
fact that teaching involves interactions between a
teacher and one or more students
• Intentional: There is some purpose or set of purposes
for which teaching occurs.
• This purpose is bringing about learning on the part of
the learner.
Characteristics of Effective Teaching
• Clarity of the teacher’s explanations and directions.
• Establishing a task-oriented classroom climate.
• Making use of a variety of learning activities.
• Establishing and maintaining momentum and pace for the
lesson.
• Encouraging students’ participation and getting all of them
involved.
• Monitoring pupils’ progress and attending quickly to
pupils’ needs.
• Delivering a well-structured and well organized lesson.
• Providing pupils with positive and constructive feedback.
• Ensuring coverage of the educational objectives.
• Making good use of questioning techniques
Learning ?
• 1. A persisting change in human performance or
performance potential . . . (brought) about as a result
of the learner’s interaction with the environment
(Driscoll, 1994)
• 2. The relatively permanent change in a person’s
knowledge or behavior due to experience (Mayer,
1982, p. 1040).
• 3. An enduring changes in behavior or in the capacity
to behave in a given fashion, which results from
practice or other forms of experience (Shuell, 1986,
p. 412).
• 4. It is the lifelong process of transforming
information into knowledge, skills, behaviors and
attitudes.
Discussion Questions
[Link] scholars define both teaching and
learning differently. Why?
2. What common elements can you find in those
different definitions given by different scholars for
both teaching and learning?
[Link] you find teaching with out learning and
vice-versa? Discuss why.
Characteristics of Effective Learning
• It is meaningful to the students
• Students can: use it, connect it to their lives, or
actively participate in it
• It allows students to move further than memorization
of facts and bits of knowledge
• It prepares the students to understand and participate
in a complex world.
• It encourage students to investigate, to understand
the world around them, to analyze, to draw
conclusions & to communicate – in other words, TO
THINK.
Teaching as a profession?
• Profession?
• A form of employment or occupation, especially, one that
• respected in society as honorable and is
• only possible for educated person after training in some
special branch of knowledge (long man dictionary of
contemporary Eng.)
• A body that provides a special service to the community
based on accumulated kge, skill and
wisdom(Farment,1994)
Teaching as a profession…
• Characteristics of a profession
i/A profession involves a body of k/ge and a system of skills
Ii/ It is organized- formed associations
iii/It performs specific functions for personal and social
purpose
Iv/It is practicable-freedom with out no restrictions
v/It has unique literature and language- to communicate
among members
VI/ respected in society as honorable
Teaching Principles
Principles?
• are fundamental norms, rules, or values that
represent what is desirable and positive for a
person, group, organization, or community and
• that help in determining the rightfulness or
wrongfulness of an action,
• are more basic than policy and objectives, and are
meant to govern both
• are re beliefs accepted as reason for acting or
thinking in a particular way-strong belief that
influence your thought and action
Teaching Principles…
• General statements/guide lines shaping the class
room instructional process
• They can make the instructional process effective,
efficient and inspirational if they are properly
utilized
FOR DETAILS PLEASE READ THE NOTE YOU HAVE GIVEN
Major characteristics of Principles of Teaching
[Link]: valid to all subjects and all levels
[Link]: determine the instructional process
[Link]: must be followed so that they help
teachers to be effective(attain objectives) and efficient(use
resources wisely)
[Link] determined: focus to meet the needs of
students and the society
Duties and Responsibilities of Teachers
• Responsibilities? Are obligations or duties
expected from individuals to be performed as
intended to be.
• Some of the responsibilities of teachers:
perform the class room instructional
Activities
Participate in curriculum development
Measuring &evaluating students’ progress
Participate in extra-curricular activities
Duties and Responsibilities of Teachers…
Provide guidance &counseling services
Use research findings &local resource
Participate in community affairs
Acquaint/ familiarize with the rules and
regulations of the school and act accordingly.
Qualities of Effective Teacher
• Effective Teachers?
They are academically able: well understand the subject
matter they teach and methods of teaching.
Expert in her/his subject
Well prepared before entering class(plan organize)
Confident, flexible and approachable
Consistent in treating very student
Know students & care about them
Provide feedback with appropriate time
Code of Ethics of teaching profession
• Codes? In this context, codes are set of accepted
moral principles or rules of behaviors
• They are written rules stating how people should
behave (in institution, among professionals etc.).
• Thus, Ethiopian teachers a(s professionals) have their
own principles to follow
• These codes of ethics are related to commitment to:
students
Parents &the community
colleagues
The profession
• End of Unit one