Module 2: Elements of teaching effectiveness
This module for first-time principals covers the current research about effective classroom teaching practices that improve student achievement; strategies to identify these practices; and resources to help principals introduce effective practices to their schools.
Overview
This module is a guide for principals who would like:
- access to the latest research about the most influential and effective classroom teaching practices that improve student achievement
- strategies to identify whether those practices are known to teachers and being used in their classrooms
- resources to help them introduce effective teaching practices to their staff.
Work through the 'Using this module' section below in your own time. Then find out how you could facilitate a professional learning session with your teaching staff.
The resources accompanying this module have been prepared by the Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Auckland, Associate Professor Graeme Aitken. They are designed to support your understanding of the concepts that underpin assessing teaching effectiveness, and to engage staff with these ideas.
Using this module
The module includes these learning support materials:
- a video presentation, The Elements of Teaching Effectiveness, presented by Graeme Aitken, to help you become familiar with what is suggested about teaching effectiveness. You need Flash Player and broadband Internet access to view this presentation, which includes a synchronised PowerPoint slideshow. Navigate between slides by selecting a title from the right-hand window; there is a pause at the end of each slide. For queries, refer to technical assistance
- an audio file of the video presentation, in case you cannot view the video. You can listen to this on your laptop or a portable media device such as an iPod
- a background paper, "The inquiring teacher: Clarifying the concept of teaching effectiveness". Reading this will help consolidate your understanding of the material
- a case study, "Who is teaching more effectively and how do you know?" (this handout is also used in the staff training session).
Review the PowerPoint presentation on the video presentation so that you are familiar with the content of each slide and its relationship to the text of the background paper.
Find out more about working with multimedia files.
Welcome by Associate Professor Graeme Aitken
Graeme Aitken is Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Auckland.
He was a secondary school teacher for 14 years and a Director of Secondary Teacher Education at the university.
Graeme has been involved in research and professional development related to teaching effectiveness for more than 15 years.
Since its inception, he has contributed a keynote address and workshop on teaching effectiveness to the First-time Principals Programme.
Listen to Graeme's welcome to this module.
