Prof. John MacBeath on the future of teaching

Learned and wise Professor MacBeath, visited Athens to give a talk on school self-evaluation in 2004. Today, ten years later it appears that the seed sown then is, possibly, springing up; let us pray to good fruition.

In this talk he is drawing a broad picture of the future of the teaching professor. In combination with the previous talk between Tolle and Robinson, the picture becomes quite clearer, and the possibilities unleashed are inviting and exciting.

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The good teacher

A group of 7-8 year olds said:

The good teacher 

• is very clever
• doesn't shout
• helps you every day
• is not bossy
• has faith in you
• is patient
• is good at work
• tells you clearly what to do
• helps you with mistakes
• marks your work
• helps you to read
• helps you with spelling
• has got courage

A group of 13-14 year olds said: 

A good teacher

• is kind 
• is generous
• listens to you
• encourages you
• has faith in you
• keeps confidences
• likes teaching children
• likes teaching their subject
• helps you like their subject
• takes time to explain things
• helps you when you're stuck
• tells you how you are doing
• allows you to have your say
• makes sure you understand
• helps people who are slow
• doesn't give up on you 
• cares for your opinion
• makes you feel clever
• treats people equally
• stands up for you
• makes allowances
• tells the truth
• is forgiving

MacBeath, John (1999), Schools must speak for themselves – The case for school self-evaluation, London:RoutledgeFalmer, :60-61.

List of What Makes a Good Teacher - created by students

March 19, 2012 By: David Andrade 
(Source: http://www.techlearning.com/Default.aspx?tabid=67&EntryId=4009)

This "what makes a good teacher" was created by a group of high school students.

• treat students with respect
• be enthusiastic
• know your stuff
• be available for extra help
• use multimedia resources and multiple resources for students
• connect with students/ form relationships
• interact with students- outside school activities, talk about their personal lives
• real life connections to materials/class
• just talk to students and get to know them in first few days
• if using PowerPoint, use less words and have slides available for download
• don't lecture for whole class, mix things up
• use games for review
• let students use a note card for test or some kind of reference
• realistic homework - if you assign too much, students won't do it, or won't be able to
• science classes - problems and projects and labs
• give students multiple days to complete homework - allows for issues in schedule, sports, etc.
• don't give all class rules at once - overwhelms students - just touch on main points
• use web resources - class site or blog, and review materials students can access at home
• let students do work on board and explain how to do it instead of teacher always doing it
• projects - one big one per marking period with some class time for them
• let students pick project groups - easier for meeting outside of school
• be flexible - reschedule test if lots of tests on same day or other things going on

Βάσω Κιντή - Παύλος Ελευθεριάδης

… στο έργο το καλό· για να γυρίσει ο κόσμος.

Κοιτάξτε, ας πούμε, πώς οι πολίτες μιας κεντρο-ασιατικής δημοκρατίας, που λέγεται Τ(ζ)ατζικιστάν, θεωρούν με πείσμα τους εαυτούς τους Ευρωπαίους, πώς δηλαδή βρίσκονται ―ακριβώς― "αλλού".

Βάσω Κιντή - Παύλος Ελευθεριάδης

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