Effective Pedagogy [Bloggers E: Foley (2014) & Wills (2015)]

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Bloggers E: Blog Post - 8 March 2017

Effective pedagogy refers to the idea that the learner as a whole (personal, social and behavioral standings) are taken into consideration when teaching takes place. Thus, the teacher uses strategic teaching methods so that the learner does not feel threatened, but creates a healthy and positive environment in the classroom.

Although teachers mostly focus on progressive academic outcomes, they also serve as a support system to learners outside the academic environment, which ensures the emotional well-being of the learner. Teachers should be available and accessible on an open communication basis so that student concerns and worries can be heard. They should also show empathy and understanding for learners’ current circumstances and provide them with the tools with which to facilitate a positive outcome. When a learner feels that he/she is in a safe emotional environment, it stimulates the learners will and desire to succeed academically.

Teaching, and therefore learning, can be enhanced by developing teaching methods which are stimulating and absorbing. By understanding how a student learns, effective teaching practices can be developed and implemented in the classroom.

Key elements of teaching practices, which are known to increase the academic performance of learners, include: consistency, communication, and structure within the classroom. It is also vitally important for learners to be actively engaged and involved in the classroom environment, as this allows ample opportunity for the students to respond and fully engage with the topics.

An educator should be well aware of the educational and household influences learners seem to operate best in, and then to find an equilibrium between the two for optimal learning. Relating what the learner knows and what the educator wishes to achieve in the classroom is an excellent manner for cohesion of life skills and learning the curriculum content to take place. Learners tend to learn new concepts and habits by practically including themselves in classroom activities. This eventually
allows them to visualise certain images and ideas, which support their learning. In Willis (2015), this idea was constructively displayed.

With regard to the blog posted by Abby Wills, one can assume that as a teacher, one should be more trusting with the potential of the students; to allow the students to take more responsibility with regard to the classroom’s environment. She mentions/suggests how one should allow creativity and imagination of the students to also be an aspect of the calmness and mindfulness created within the learning environment. In order for mindful teaching to take place, one also needs to be fearlessly honest with what is working within the classroom and what is not.