Teaching competencies include the key skills, knowledge and qualities required for effective teaching. They ensure that teachers can provide high quality education and facilitate students to learn efficiently.
Key teaching competencies include mastery of subject matter, effective communication skills, and the ability to design and implement engaging lesson plans. These competencies are important in creating a positive and inclusive learning environment, promoting student engagement, and fostering a culture of lifelong learning. Effective teaching competencies enable teachers to create positive learning environments, engage students, and foster a culture of learning.
teaching efficiency category
Teaching competencies can be classified into 3 categories which are as follows:
- basic learning skills
- specific teaching skills
- Target group-specific teaching skills
key learning skills
Core teaching skills include the essential abilities and competencies that teachers need to create an engaging learning environment, facilitate effective instruction, and support student learning and development.
question asking skills
- It refers to the teacher’s ability to ask thought-provoking and purposeful questions to engage students in active thinking and promote deeper understanding.
- Skillful questioning involves using a variety of questions, such as open-ended questions, probing questions, and higher-order thinking questions, to encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and participation in classroom discussions.
feedback management skills
- This skill includes techniques for maintaining an inclusive and respectful learning environment, managing student participation, providing equal opportunities for all students to contribute, and facilitating meaningful discussions.
- A skilled teacher can navigate the reactions of different students, redirect discussions when necessary, and ensure that all voices are heard.
reinforcement skills
- Reinforcement refers to the use of positive feedback, rewards, and recognition to encourage and reinforce desired student behavior and learning outcomes.
- Skilled teachers employ a variety of reinforcement strategies such as praise, encouragement, acknowledging progress, and providing incentives to motivate students, reinforce positive behavior, and increase student engagement and achievement.
skill of persuasion
- Persuasion skills involve the ability to convey information, concepts, and processes to students clearly and effectively.
- A skilled teacher can break down complex ideas into simpler, more understandable parts, use appropriate examples and analogies, and adapt explanations to match students’ prior knowledge and learning styles.
- Clear explanations help students understand new information and build a solid foundation for further learning.
drawing skills
- Illustration refers to the use of visual aids, demonstrations, and examples to enhance understanding and make abstract concepts more concrete and accessible to students.
- Skilled teachers use a variety of visual and sensory representations, such as diagrams, charts, models, real-world examples, and multimedia resources, to illustrate concepts, encourage curiosity, and help students understand and retain information.
skill of stimulus change
- Stimulus variation involves the intentional use of different teaching techniques, materials, and activities to maintain student interest, engagement, and attention during instruction.
- Skilled teachers use a variety of teaching strategies such as group work, discussions, practical activities, multimedia presentations and interactive techniques to provide a diverse and motivating learning experience.
specific teaching skills
Specific teaching skills refer to the special abilities and techniques that teachers have in a particular area, subject, or instructional context to effectively instruct, meet unique student needs, and enhance learning outcomes.
Specific teaching skills can be classified into two categories depending on the subjects and students being taught:
- subject based learning skills
- Grade-Based Learning Skills
subject based learning skills
- It refers to the specific knowledge, strategies and techniques required to effectively teach a particular subject or discipline.
- These skills are centered around the content, concepts, and teaching methods associated with that subject area.
- For example, subject-based learning skills for mathematics would include an understanding of mathematical concepts, problem-solving strategies, and the ability to effectively communicate and explain mathematical ideas to students.
Grade-Based Learning Skills
- These are the skills and competencies that teachers need to teach effectively at a particular grade level or age group.
- These skills are tailored to the developmental needs, abilities, and learning styles of students within a specific grade range.
- For example, grade-based teaching skills for high school would include subject-specific expertise, advanced teaching strategies, preparing students for standardized tests or college admissions, and guiding career exploration.
In short, subject-based teaching skills are subject-specific knowledge and instructional techniques, while grade-based teaching skills are tailored to the developmental needs and abilities of students in a particular grade level or age group.
Target group-specific teaching skills
Target group-specific skills refer to the specific abilities and knowledge that teachers have to meet the unique needs, characteristics, and developmental stages of a specific group of learners. These skills enable teachers to tailor their instruction, instructional methods, and support strategies to effectively engage and facilitate learning for their specific target group.
Recognizing and understanding the specific needs of each student is vital to their development. Students with learning disabilities require special attention because of their struggle to function within expected limits. Students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, speech disabilities, mental retardation, etc., often lack effective instruction, but they can make progress with special strategies.
Positive attitude of teachers is necessary to create inclusive classrooms where superiority or inferiority is eliminated. Gifted students need innovative teaching and enrichment tasks, while disadvantaged groups, such as women who face discrimination, need specific skills to address challenges and foster confidence in their ability.
conclusion
It is important to note that these teaching skills may overlap and vary depending on the curriculum, educational standards, and the specific needs of students. Teachers often develop a combination of general teaching skills and subject/grade-specific expertise to teach effectively in their specific context.
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