Teacher Perceptions of Hindrances to Classroom Effectiveness What do Pennsylvania’s Secondary CTE Teachers Consider the Greatest Obstacles to Becoming Great Teachers
Feb 22, 2016
Teacher Perceptions of Hindrances to Classroom
Effectiveness
What do Pennsylvania’s Secondary CTE Teachers Consider the Greatest
Obstacles to Becoming Great Teachers
Allow me to introduce the composite teacher of my experience. He represents a sort of norm in my
experience.
Mr. Composite’s External Qualifications
Training• In-service days of training.• Act 48 training requirements• Optional classes• Workshops• Conferences• Administrative support.
Mr. Composite’s Internal Quailifications
Personal Attributes• Mr. Composit possesses and is
possessed by a “…philanthropic desire to pass the superior aspects of culture on to succeeding generations.”1
1(Marsh, C. J., & Willis, G. (1995). Curriculum: Alternative approaches, ongoing issues. Merrill Upper Saddle River, NJ.)
The Problem
The Performance Gap
Great Teacher
Two Attempts at a Solution
Training – to affect his mind.
Exhortation/Cheerleading – to motivate his spirit.
Oh no. Not
again.
Is this a solution?It would be a solution if the whole problem consisted in either a lack of training or a lack of conviction.
Really, it is more of thesame near-miss strategyproviding more of whatthe teacher already has.
The Problem Remains
Why?
Because those who have the power to edit Mr. Composite’s teaching practice are giving him more of what he already has – more training and more motivation.
New InsightWe need new insight into what stands between the teacher, and real pedagogical excellence.
To whom to we go for that new insight?
Great Teacher
To Whom do We Traditionally Go for Answers? (In my experience)
• Educational Theorists– Providing research based information
• Educational Policy-Makers– Providing guidelines based on research
• Educational Administrators– Providing training and guidelines based on
research and public policy.
Are we Missing Someone Whose Opinion We Should Consider?
Is this good stuff? Would you buy it? Would you eat it?
Are we asking the right people?
Educational Theorists
Educational Policy-Makers
Educational Administrators
What about Educators?
What I am Not Asking
Blooms Taxonomy
Differentiated EducationMultiple Intelligences
Contextual Teaching and Learning
Work-Based Learning
Technology-Based Education
The Lecture Method
Dewey
Montessouri
PiagetSocratic
Cooperative LearningTyler
Problem-Based
Learning
Let’s assume that there is benefit in many and varied instructional theories and styles.
Let’s assume that teachers could become excellent instructors if they consistently applied any of several, valid, research-based methodologies.
My question is not, “Which teaching method is best and produces the best results.”
My question is, “What is keeping teachers from doing their best at any teaching method.”
Why Ask This Question• Measureable Student Achievement• Measureable Student Achievement• Measureable Student AchievementIt’s good for the student, and good for society.
How do we get there?Teacher effectiveness has a measureable, accumulative and residual impact on student achievement. In fact, it probably has the greatest impact. If not, it certainly has the greatest impact of anything that we teachers can control. So…
It’s personal.
Why Ask This Question?It’s personal.
MentorTAP/TCTW
The Method
I want to know why!
So I intend to ask and graph; survey and measure.
1 2 3 4 5 60
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Series1
The SampleI believe in Career and Technical Education.
(Workforce education at the high school level.)
The Sample• CTE Teachers
• CTE Teachers in Pennsylvania
The Goal
• Facilitate Teachers
• Affect Policy(Public or only School Wide)
• Improve the Student Experience.Increase measureable student
achievement.