Methods of Teaching I -- Outline of Teaching Methods

Teacher's Tips

• During the class students will have the opportunity to express their opinions and have discussions with their peers to learn from each other.
• In order to think about teaching lectures classes from a teacher's point of view, students will have the chance to carry out a trial lecture.
• A variety of teaching models and strategies will be introduced, in order that students properly grasp the concepts in the lectures.
• Worksheets will be distributed.
• An academic encyclopedia will be used so that students understand key technical terms.

Course Aims

Our course objectives are the following;
Students will;

• think about effective styles of teaching by reflecting on their own experiences in the classroom.
• understand the significance of learning through experience.
• think about how they would create the ideal education system, exploring current issues in modern education as well as changes made to the guidelines set by the Ministry of Education.
• understand what is important when designing lectures.
• acquire practical skills through planning and carrying out a trial lecture.
• understand the teacher training that goes into making professional teachers.
• deepen their understanding of the relationship between educational research and education in schools.

Assignments

Report:

Summarize the contents of Chapters 12 and 13 of the textbook and give your own opinion.

Trial Lecture:

• Drafting a trial lecture in groups
• Preparing teaching materials (and displaying them on a projector)
• Giving a trial lecture
• Evaluation (mutual evaluation, group evaluation and self evaluation)

Final Examination:

(Example Questions)

1. Explain the guidelines set by the Ministry of Education.
2. Choose two Ministry of Education guidelines that have been published up to now. Write down when they were published and explain the characteristics of those guidelines.
3. Set forth strategies for creating a good lecture, based on the evaluations of the trial lectures in this class.
4. Explain the methods for teacher training and their significance.
5. Using the teaching models introduced in this lecture, discuss the significance of combining teaching and activities when educating children.
6. What are the methods and special points to consider when teachers do research on lectures on school grounds? What is the relevance of this research?
7. Explain heartwarming experience and bad experience, introduced by Professor Yutaka HIBI, giving two examples of each concept.
8. Explain, using the teaching models given in the textbook, how elementary school students develop in school?
9. What is the difference between asking questions as a teacher during a lecture and asking questions outside the lecture? Explain why this different method of questioning is used in lectures?
10. Explain, giving concrete examples, how methods of questioning the teacher during a lecture can be improved.
11. Explain, giving concrete examples, how teaching materials can be improved.
12. Why is it important to understand the structure of teaching materials when designing a lecture?
13. In the process of learning, not only methodological knowledge but also conceptual knowledge is highly important. Explain why using concrete examples from the teaching materials.
14. Discuss the importance of (subject) interest when studying.

Course Schedule

Session	Contents
1	Goals and obstacles of teaching —Concepts of good teaching practices
2	What is important when applying research in the classroom? —Research into education and its application
3	What should be done with our Education System? I —Current issues in education and Ministry of Education guidelines
4	What should be done with our Education System? II —The educational environment and changes to the Ministry of Education guidelines-
5	What are the important things to consider as a teacher? I —The teacher as a lecture designer
6	What are the important things to consider as a teacher? II —Research on teaching materials
7	What is the significance of learning through experience? I —Analyzing case studies of experiential studying
8	What is the significance of learning through experience? II —The importance of experiential studying
9	Going from learning to teaching I —Preparing the trial lecture
10	The classroom as a place for interactive learning —Methods of researching education at school and their significance
11	Going from learning to teaching II —Trial Lecture
12	Developing yourself as a teacher I —Analyzing lectures that enhance student potential
13	Developing yourself as a teacher II —Interactive learning between students and teachers
14	How can educational research be applied to real life? —Academic relevance of analyzing lectures

Grading

Your grade will be based on class attendance, class participation, the final exam and reports. You will be encouraged to participate fully in the lecture so that you can better understand the course contents.

[Interests and Motivation]

• Relate what you learn in the lecture to your own experiences.

[Knowledge and Understanding]

• Deepen your understanding and knowledge of the course by properly going through the reading materials.

[Analysis and Discussion]

• Analyze teaching models, taking in different points of view, as well as the experience from your own trial lecture, to gain a deeper knowledge of teaching methods.

[Presentation]

• Clearly present your thoughts on the topic in the group discussion. Support your opinion with logic and facts in your report and in the examination.

Grading Method

1. Class attendance and participation 20%

2. Reports 30%

3. Final Examination 50%

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