What is component 1A? Component 1A focuses on the knowledge teachers have of their subjects’ content and pedagogy. Teachers must guide student learning by being an expert in the subjects they teach. Teachers need to be able to apply discipline in the classroom. Expert teachers know the skills and concepts to apply discipline and all teachers should strive to learn. They should know the relationships within the disciplines and the concepts and skills before understanding the others. Teachers should make sure every student is advancing in their learning. Just knowing the information is not enough for students. Students need to be able to apply their learning in everyday situations. Teachers should be aware of students who fall behind and work with them to advance their learning. Using the best approaches to apply each discipline will make the classroom community advance in their knowledge base.
Why is it needed? 1A is needed because if the teacher displays little understanding or interest in the content they are teaching, students may fall behind in their learning and become unmotivated to learn. Teachers need to know what skills are central to discipline in order to keep students on task, behave in the classroom and grow in their learning. Teachers must be aware of the pedagogical approaches they need to use with each discipline.
What are the elements? Knowledge of content and the structure of the discipline. Disciplines have a structure with smaller components as well as central concepts and skills. Teachers need to be familiar with these components so students can expand their knowledge. Knowledge of prerequisite relationships. Some disciplines have important prerequisites. Experienced teachers know what these are and how to use them in designing lesson plans. For example, teaching math, teachers need to start at the beginning of mathematics with patterns, number sentences and shapes etc., before throwing in formulas and variables. If teachers would start in the middle of the concepts students will not understand and struggle through the class. Knowledge of content-related pedagogy. Different disciplines have “signature pedagogies”. These pedagogies have evolved over time and have been found to be most effective in teaching. Described by, Lee Shulman signature pedagogies are “the types of teaching that organize the fundamental ways in which future practitioners are educated for their new professions”. A signature pedagogy has three dimensions: surface structure, deep structure, and an implicit structure. Surface structures consist of concrete, operational acts of teaching and learning, deep structures reflect a set of assumptions about how best to impart a certain body of knowledge and know-how. The implicit structure includes a moral dimension that comprises a set of beliefs about professional attitudes, values, and dispositions. Keeping up to date on your content. Artifacts to be used in the classroom! Teachers can use component 1A in the classroom by incorporating lessons and unit plans that go with the prerequisite relationships. Teachers need to give clear explanations when addressing the classroom. The teacher could have a way to quiet the class before giving instructions so every student can hear what the directions are. Some examples to quiet the class could be, “1, 2, 3, all eyes on me”, a clapping pattern the students repeat, “hand a hip and hand on lip”, “1, 2, 3, hands on top”. When answering student’s questions teachers should be thorough and accurate. Feedback should be given to students when passing back work. Teachers need to keep up to date with the content they teach and attend meetings and learn about the different resources available to them. Using technology is a great way to expand knowledge. Teachers should create professional social medias and follow other educators. Reading articles and other teachers blog posts, getting involved in Twitter chats are just a few ways teachers can grow in their learning to teacher to their greatest ability. Tie into all subjects when teaching so the students know every subject is important.
Sources: The Framework for Teaching Evaluation Instrument. (2017). Static.pdesas.org. Retrieved 5 October 2017, from http://static.pdesas.org/content/documents/danielson_rubric_32.pdf TL-Signature Pedagogies. (2017). Creighton.edu. Retrieved 5 October 2017, from https://www.creighton.edu/sites/www12.creighton.edu/files/TL-Signature%20Pedagogies.pdf Teacher Questions. (2017). Image.slidesharecdn.com. Retrieved 5 October 2017, from https://image.slidesharecdn.com/buildingcapacity-webinar-11132013-131114125436-phpapp01/95/building-capacity-in-your-21st-century-teachers-20-638.jpg?cb=1384433765 v9iGeneral1Fig. (2017). New.citejournal.org. Retrieved 6 October 2017, from http://new.citejournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/v9i1General1Fig1.jpg