UNIT 4 UNDERSTANDING SELF 4.1

Self-Critical Awareness of Teaching Competency

Introduction

Teaching competency refers to "the right way of conveying knowledge, application, and skills to students." It depends on the teaching context, cultural values, and classroom environment.

Dimensions of Teaching Competency

• Content Knowledge

  Understanding the subject thoroughly.

• Student Motivation

  Encouraging students to engage and perform better.

• Evaluation

  Using assessments to measure student progress effectively.

• Classroom Management

  Maintaining a productive and positive learning environment.

Common Teaching Competencies

• The teacher should communicate effectively.
• The teacher must work efficiently with community resources.
• The teacher should always be ready to learn from experience.
• The teacher must plan lessons thoughtfully and systematically.
• The teacher should have adequate knowledge of pedagogical sciences and child psychology.

Developing Self-Critical Awareness in Key Areas

a) Adequacy of Subject Matter Knowledge

Definition: Knowledge is the familiarity, awareness, or understanding of facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education.

Forms of Subject Knowledge (as per Shulman):

• Curricular Knowledge: Understanding the formally defined curriculum for a specific age group.
• Context Knowledge: General knowledge derived from textbooks, reference materials, and other resources.
• Pedagogic Subject Knowledge: Skills that enable teachers to effectively teach and support students as they develop their personal understanding of the subject.

b) Professional Skill

Definition: The ability to use teaching techniques, strategies, and methods to effectively engage students in the learning process.

How to Develop:

• Attend professional development workshops.
• Regularly reflect on your teaching methods and seek feedback from peers.
• Experiment with new teaching strategies to find the most effective ones for your classroom.

c) Effective Communication

Definition: The ability to convey ideas, instructions, and feedback clearly and effectively to students.

How to Develop:

• Use clear and simple language suitable for the students’ level of understanding.
• Incorporate visual aids, stories, and examples to make lessons engaging.
• Actively listen to students' questions and concerns.