Teaching

Content 

Introduction

Definition of Teaching

Concept of Teaching

Nature of Teaching

Introduction:

Teaching is an important part of the process of education. Its main function is to impart knowledge, develop understanding and skill.

According to John Dewey, teaching is a Tri-polar process. There are three poles in the process of teaching – the teacher, the student and the subject matter (or curriculum).

Teaching is the process by which teacher brings students and subject matter (or curriculum) together to facilitate meaningful learning of student. Both teachers and students are active in this process, where the former is teaching and the latter is learning.

For the teaching process to be effective, the teacher should not only have good content knowledge of the subject but also good planning, classroom management and organization, communication skills, confidence, empathy etc.

Definitions of Teaching

According to H.C. Morrison,

“Teaching is an intimate contact between the more mature personality and a less mature one, which is designed to further the education of latter.”

According to Burton,

“Teaching is the stimulation, guidance, direction, and encouragement of learning.”

According to Clarke,

“Teaching refers to activities that are designed and performed to produce change in student (pupil) behavior.”

According to Albert Einstein,

“The supreme art of teaching is to awaken joy in creative expression and understanding.”

According to W.R. Ryburn,

“Teaching includes the training of emotions of the child. It is one of the means of giving right feeling to the children.”

According to Jackson,

“Teaching is a face to face encounter between two or more persons, one of whom (teacher) intends to effect certain changes in the other participants.”

According to N.L. Gage,

“Teaching is a form of interpersonal influence.”

Concept of Teaching

The concept of teaching is seen in two forms : Traditional and Modern Concept.

Nature of Teaching

1. Teaching is a tri-polar process- the three interconnected poles are the teacher, the student and the subject matter (or curriculum.)
2. Teaching is an interactive process, where the teachers and students actively participate and interact to bring about desirable behavioral changes in students.
3. Teaching is a planned process in which the content and teaching material is selected and planned by the teacher in a systematic and organized manner to facilitate meaningful learning of students.
4. Teaching is the motivation to learn. As per Burton, “Teaching is the stimulation, guidance, direction, and encouragement of learning.”
5. Teaching is a formal as well as informal process. Teaching is formal process when it is done consciously in a well planned and structured way i.e. in schools, whereas teaching is informal process when it is done a unconsciously or consciously i.e. at home or outside school.
6. Teaching is a flexible process in which changes or modifications are made in the preplanned lesson during the teaching process to cater to the individual needs of the students.
7. Teaching takes place at multiple levels, which are:  
   
8. Teaching is a conscious as well as unconscious process.
9. Teaching is task oriented.