Characteristics Of Excellent Teaching Practice

Characteristics Of Excellent Teaching Practice

Introduction

The list of characteristics set out below may be considered to be indicative of excellence but is not intended as a comprehensive or limiting checklist. A nominee will not be expected to demonstrate all these characteristics. Equal weighting is not implied.

Discussion

Other characteristics which describe the nominee's excellence in teaching and the support of learning can be cited by the nominating institution and the nominee as appropriate. An excellent teacher may demonstrate:

innovation in the design and delivery of learning activities;

the ability to organise course materials and present them effectively and imaginatively;

the provision of effective and sympathetic guidance, supervision and assessment of students, that will enable student advancement at all levels;

a reflective approach to teaching and the support of learning in order to sustain self-development;

the ability to arouse curiosity and to stimulate independent learning and the development of critical thought in students;

recognised commitment to the scholarship of both subject knowledge and learning and teaching;

participation in professional activities and research related to learning and teaching;

recognition of the value of student diversity;

the ability to share and promote good practice, through publications, conferences, workshop or other means.

An applicant would not be expected to demonstrate all these characteristics. Equal weighting is not implied. Other characteristics which describe the applicant's excellence/innovation in teaching and/or the support of learning should be cited by the applicant as appropriate. In the past decade, there has been ever-increasing interest in efforts to identify why students in certain classrooms learn at faster rates than in others. Student characteristics obviously are part of the equation. Recently, however, researchers, along with school districts and other organizations, have used relatively new statistical approaches to focus on teacher impact on student learning. A clear lesson from these ...