ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN EDUCATION

CYRIL POTTER COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

SCIENCE 155

YEAR TWO (2)

SEMESTER ONE (1)

LECTURER: MR. B.KHAN

TRAINEE TEACHER:
RAVIN RAGBEER
IMPLICATIONS TO JOHN. R. STAVER’S PRINCIPLES
ON TEACHING SCIENCE.

 Respect and Accept the unique perception of individual learners : (i) In order to make
student interaction effective and safe for participants, teaching staff must create an environment in
which people treat each other with dignity, courtesy and respect, while also promoting open and critical
exchange of ideas. By creating such an environment, learners can be able to portray their opinions on a
particular matter, leading to a diverse accumulated array of perception/understanding.
(ii) Provide different options for individual students to demonstrate their learning.
If a group is teaching a topic to the class, provide options for visual learners, auditory learners, and kines
thetic learners to choose from. For example, visual learners may create charts and graphs, while kinesthe
tic learners may create a hands‐on demonstration.
 Reflect on and consider learners’ prior knowledge and interests when selecting and
using specific teaching strategies and techniques : (i) As students bring prior knowledge and
interest to bear in our classrooms, it influences how they filter and interpret what they are learning. If
students’ prior knowledge is robust and accurate and activated at the appropriate time, it provides a
strong foundation for building new knowledge. (ii) Students come into our courses with knowledge,
beliefs, and attitudes gained in other courses and through daily life. However, when knowledge is inert,
insufficient for the task, activated inappropriately, or inaccurate, it can interfere with or impede new
learning. Teaching techniques can be adopted to counter these inappropriate insert: Example, Administer
a diagnostic assessment or have students assess their own prior knowledge.
 Believe that all students can and will learn : (i) Teachers should be knowledgeable, flexible,
and compassionate. Teachers must be able to adapt to the everyday changes in life to create a smooth
transition for their students. Knowledge is necessary for any teacher to ensure a quality education for all
children. A teacher's compassion can only improve their teaching. Caring for students and their
education is an essential ingredient for any effective teacher. (ii) Every child can learn and has the right
to a solid education. It is believed that students learn best when they are a part of the educational process
and feel safe while learning. They should have enjoyment and power, to some extent, in their
educational experience. Giving children some control of their learning makes the process more
personable and meaningful. A good learning environment should be friendly, discussion oriented, and
have discipline. Children need to be challenged to grow and prosper.
 Create a challenging, but non-threatening, learning environment : (i) Make a
conscientious effort to promote confidence and self-esteem among every student in the
classroom. Give praise and positive reinforcement that is real and deserved often. The more that
students feel good about themselves, the better they will be toward themselves and others. Students can
intimidate, because embarrassment and discomfort, even totally shake the confidence of seasoned
classroom veterans. The first step is to recognize that there is a problem and take action as soon as it
occurs. If not, it will almost certainly get worse. (ii) As classroom environment issues emerge, they can
be approached proactively. As teachers, it is recommended to request student’s feedback anonymously
on threat levels and triggers, and if appropriate discussing that feedback in class. Some issues
threatening the learning security of a classroom can be dealt with privately, such as an overbearing
 student who needs counseling, but others must be confronted as a class, such as an endemic trend toward
sarcasm in discussions.
 Commit to the learning and intellectual growth of all learners : (i) Showing commitment
to student learning can be an important factor in motivating students. Committed teachers recognize and
endeavor to fulfill their responsibilities to their students. The degree of loyalty of committed teachers
have, toward their profession is one of their distinguished characters. Teachers, who are engaged in their
profession and committed to students and their learning, play a crucial role in development of students.
If students know that teachers get immersed in their subjects and sets high standards for students, they
take their studies more seriously. At this point, teaching ceases to be a job done by force, and turns into
an inspiration for students. (ii) Passionate teachers are distinguished by their commitment to
achievement of their students. Commitment is an essential element of successful teaching. Committed
teachers are concerned with the development of their students and they profoundly struggle how to keep
students’ learning. They cultivate students’ curiosity and interest in learning.
 View oneself as capable, dependable, and generally positive : (i) Believing in the worth,
ability and potential of themselves. Having an established self-concept that is fundamentally positive
and provides an overall sense of self-adequacy. Sees himself/herself as essentially dependable and
capable and thus is accepting of inadequacies. (ii) Commits to growth for all learners in mental, physical
and spiritual realms through a sense of “mission” in education. Seeks to identify, clarify and intensify
knowledge and personal beliefs about what is really most important. Sees herself/himself generally but
not exclusively in positive ways—with a positive, abiding and trustworthy sense of actual and potential
worth, ability and capacity for growth. Honors the internal dignity and integrity of self and holds
positive expectations for his/her own actions.
 Believe that one can teach effectively and that effective teaching will lead to positive
learning outcomes : (i) Effective teachers strive to motivate and engage all their students in learning
rather than simply accepting that some students cannot be engaged and are destined to do poorly. Once
teachers believe that their teaching is effective, then they will observe that every student is capable of
achieving success at school and they can to find ways of making each student successful. (ii) Effective
teachers are in the habit of constantly reflecting on how well they are getting through to their students
and searching for better ways of teaching those who are not responding as well as extending those who
are achieving well. Effective teachers understand the standards their students are expected to achieve
and use a range of assessment methods to determine the extent to which those standards are being met
and to plan the next steps.