The Art and Science of Teaching - Essay Example

Chapter Reviews: The Art and Science of Teaching Introduction This book by Marzano forms a comprehensive model that highlights ten questions to represent a sequence of planning steps for an effective instructional set up. This book is seen to be influenced by his previous work which includes, using effective instructional strategies, Effective classroom management techniques as well as a component on effective classroom curriculum design. As much as research provides the information on what strategies may work well to students and the process of learning, the teachers are also obliged to the specific strategies that work effectively to their students. It can be argued to be an art.as the book continues to be of relevance in the recent school years, the study of this work by Marzano continues to assist in the professional development of teachers to achieve both effectiveness and efficiency in classrooms. The writer of the book points out major actions of creating significant experiences and further places the part of a teacher in the overall process of creating a critical input experience. Reviews In the second chapter, the author talks over six actions that this paper finds major in the process of creating effective critical input experiences. This chapter is seen to focus more on actively processing information during a well-structured input experience. In the process of finding which among the six discussed is the most significant, it is noted that Marzano stresses on the following steps; first is an overview, then, the students are divided into groups and the information is portioned in a way that requires students to describe, discuss and predict. The students ask related questions, record information in various forms and reflect on learning. The teacher’s duty is also discussed in this section, the author describes it as a continuous challenge of the student self using the method that the question one states in the book. The critical part is to avail to students the chance to participate in their learning process. Students are challenged to go the extra mile in their thought to find out the answers. The use of inferred questions and elaborative questions creates the gradual shift from the basic questions to those requiring critical thinking. As a development from the second chapter, the third chapter points out the need new skills. The author emphasizes that opportunities should be given to deepening the understanding of new information. In an effort to achieve knowledge deepening, such activities that results in repeated contact and exposure is proposed. In line with these activities, schema development, development of procedural knowledge, declarative knowledge and homework are the areas discussed in the book. Also worth noting is the action steps suggested to achieve knowledge deepening. The fourth chapter in the book interrogates the question on how to help students generate and test hypotheses about new knowledge. This chapter appreciates the types of knowledge, i.e., accommodation and restructuring by schema theorists and focuses on problem based mode of learning. Points out on making predictions which may be either confirming or, disconfirming. It is pointed out that it always involves cognitive dissonance.in this chapter as well, the book highlights action steps to achieve the objective in the chapter. Chapter five discusses about engaging the students while chapter six talks about the things to do in order to maintain classroom rules and procedures. The author illustrates further why it is important to establish rules and normality to be adhered to and to define the specific protocols. It illustrates that an effective teacher will introduce rules and procedures at the beginning of the year and all through enforcing them. Is there a line between rules and procedures? This books point out the differences and define procedures as those intended to communicate expectations for behaviors. Moving to the eighth chapter, the book tries to address the issue of teacher student relationship, since it is an important component of learning, the author communicates the action steps to send just the right level of concern for cooperation. Quite interesting is the idea that ‘what a teacher does each day matters.’ From the previous chapter and even after a good teacher student relationship is in place. Still the teacher faces the challenge of communicating high expectations to the entire student fraternity.it is pointed out that the actions of a teacher, either conscious or unconscious, affect the students (chapter 9), and for this reason, the result should be positive rather than negative. The key points in this chapter are on the emphasis that a teacher’s behavior matters a great deal. The quality of interactions with students also addressed (Marzano, 166-167). The tenth chapter answers the question on what the teacher should do to develop effective lessons. These lessons should meet the standards and be in a cohesive unit. As much as the system has set standards, this book finds much flexibility in content organization, design and teaching.it points out that,’ there is no one way that is the best’ to design an instructional unit. For effective classroom lessons, the teacher ought to examine all the components of teaching with an equal firmness, learning aids such as charts as well as rubrics and organizers are key, also worth noting is the methodology and user friendly guide towards the item of interest. Familiar guides will help the teacher to be exceptional and in turn the student will deliver outstanding outcomes. Based on the artistic nature of teaching as illustrated in the book, and from the fact that the classroom instructional strategies are clearly based on science and research, it is worth considering when to use them. Marzano in this book provides a model for ensuring quality teaching that not only looks into the science and research, but balances it with the need to understand the different sides and the variety of students. The ten questions he presents provides a logical framework for a successful instructional design. Pertinent issues In summary, the major points this paper find worth noting include, in chapter 2,it is observed that learning activities are designed for multiple purposes, this explains that a single exercise can be designed to meet various objectives. This paper finds this handy.in the third chapter, the author argues that the home works should be designed to involve parents in an appropriate way, this brings about the insight that it is intended to expand the teaching exercise back home with the parents. Similarly, another point worth mentioning is like in chapter 6 where the issue of importance of rules and procedures is emphasized.it is pointed out that for the rules and procedure should occasionally be reviewed just to stress their importance. Another interesting thing is the issue of the teachers behavior and its effect to the students (chapter 8), further in chapter nine, the book advises that the teachers must be aware of the equity and consistency of interactions with low and high expectancy students. The book, in its introduction in chapter 9, illustrates the effect of the teacher’s belief about their students and further suggests that it has a bearing on their performance. This statement as illustrated in the case of Mr. Hurchins (192) is seen to further affect the teacher’s behavior towards the individual student. In the year 2011, this book was rated 4 out of 5 by Karen, (The Palm Beach County) who claimed an excellent chapter in the book about homework. Karen further proposed that every teacher should read and recess it. Marzano, the associate founder of Marzano research laboratory has for long specialized on school reform efforts in the quest to improve students overall performance. Conclusion. This review concludes that effective teaching is a complex effort, it usually involves many components that need to interact and do that efficiently. This review find significant benefits in the book, as much as it can be said to be a dry book, it has a great impact in the general classroom teaching.it has been seen to be the basis of teacher valuations notably in the district of Florida and that is just a show of how significant it is. The use of this book to better teaching has been widely emphasized, however, the big question remains, is the Marzano way the best? This paper finds it among the best but at the same time suggests that teachers should not limit themselves to this one way. More research is still relevant to even improve the process of learning. Schools have been having a great challenge in trying to solve the academic issues on students especially reading issues. Therefore, the academic fraternities are trying to solve this through the intensive research it is evidently that teachers play a greater role in solving the menace of reading failure. The problem of reading failure can be solved by providing effective instruction and intervention to student at the tender classes. To achieve this, teachers and students have to come up with a strategy that will be used for effective improving classroom instruction. Text Children need high supply of books to improve their reading process. This will make them to have a quality reading habit which will improve their reading. A successful reading needs students independent which will make him or her proficient reader whereby they will be able to read accurately. For example if a student at a tender class misses few words in let us say two hundred words of text, the text might be too hard for the child to practice reading. a reader needs more than just instructions for his or her reading development therefore, high accuracy, fluency and easy comprehensive should be provided for complex skill and strategy for independent reading process (Allington, 94). Teachers should encourage students to read a wider range of books a part from those that are being provided by the curriculum. It is a noble initiative that will encourage students to acquire new concepts for their reading process. Most of lower achieving students spend most of their time reading books that they could successfully read. If they are given new books, they will be unable to read them. Therefore the need of variety of books is needed to improve this vise of poor reading. Test An exemplary teacher is the one that evaluate the performance of the student basing on the effort that that particular student is putting on and the improvement rather than just a mare achievement status. A good ranking system should not be based on grades award only but improvement. A warding grade only gives credit to the high achievers who don’t have to work hard to earn good grades this bars lower performing students to earn good grades regardless their effort. For example, high achieving students do not have to put more effort to be ranked well, the know they will be ranked on the same with the lower performing ones which is more demoralized and disadvantaged to the poor performing. If a D student through the hard work gets a C, that particular student has achieved a lot. Unfortunately, ranking not recognize the effort of that particular student. Advocating of individual ranking based on the performance of an individual should be embraced; this can only be achieved if the teacher knows each student well. This will enable each student to be assigned grades. This will be a great milestone as growth and improvement will be realized. Teach Teaching is not just about instructions, assessments and assignments. An exemplar ant teacher is the one that gives direct teaching to the classroom, selects appropriate books that should be used and use demonstration to guide students. In a classroom where a teacher is the “watch me” or “let me demonstrate” the students have the ability to progress well in their in their academics that in those classes where the teacher gives assessments and assignments. Another strategy that a teacher can use is to separate the classes into small groups, this allows the teacher to have closeness with each students and understand them well regarding their understanding and participations in the groups. Talk Talking in classroom is a fundamental aspect of improving students reading process. A teacher who encourages classroom talking between teacher-students or student- student has the high chances of identifying posing and the solution of the problem will be found on the related topic. The nature of talk should be conversation and interrogative where by the teacher pose question and the students answer if the answer is wrong the teacher corrects and clarify on how it should be answered (Allington & Johnston, 98). Reflection is important to a teacher as I am able to know which area am I supposed to grow and which area do I have strength in. As a matter of fact; reflection can be either positive or negative to a teacher. The use of test as a way of improving effective teaching instruction is challenging, most of the students view it as a way of punishing and forcing them to understand what has been taught in classroom. Low performing students always feel their low grades is a scheme by the teacher to how poor they are in their academics therefore more attention is needed by the teacher to estimate the potential of each student and grade them differently as oppose to general grading (Llinares & Krainer, 113). Secondly, the use of text is somehow challenging to teachers since there are curriculum books that are supposed to be used for particular classroom. This makes teacher to spend most of their time to purchase those books which will not have full impact on improving students reading process. I consider talk and teach as the most tremendous form of effective way of improving classroom instructions because it is engaging and allows the students to interact with the teacher and among themselves to improve their reading and learning process. An exemplary teacher develop a strategy where students are allowed to read a story then at the end of the story questions are posed to allow them to reflect on what they have read. This will mould the children and will make them respond correctly to the question since they still have the fresh idea of what they have read. Conversation in classroom is important because the teacher and students are able to answer burning questions like where the children are going with their studies? Are they improving? Should they only stick to single answer? My experience with these forms of effective ways of improving classroom instruction has been received with mixed outcome, while I consider talk and teach as the best way of improving reading and learning disabilities among students, extensive research should be done to eliminate the vise. Some students especially the performing students tend to feel they are being dragged behind by their low achiever counterparts since they need more attention, teaching and more talks to improve their grades. Another aspect that has rise the temperature, is the issue of grading. Although every student has a right to be graded according to what they are being examined, some feel is unfair to grade them differently according to their potential. High achiever feel they should enjoy their monopoly of being on the top regardless of their grades if they have improved or not. While on the other hand, the low achiever students consider grading should be based on effort and improvement. Links to the articles http://www.readingrockets.org/article/96 http://www.benchmarkeducation.com/old/reflections-on-beginning-teaching.html http://www.veanea.org/home/1327.htm Lesson Plan: Marketing Mix Description This paper outlines the detailed lesson plan for a marketing mix course for undergraduate students. “Marketing mix“is a general phrase used in the business world to determine how different organization use different approaches to bring their product and services to the market. The Four Ps are the fundamental elements of defining marketing mix (mindtools.com). A lesson plan is a road map developed by the teacher/instructor to aid him in knowing exactly what students need to learn and how efficient they can learn topics being discussed (Milkova P, 1). In this paper the instructor has categorically designed a marketing mix lesson plan which successfully addresses the objective of students learning marketing mix, teaching procedure and how to assess the student to gauge their level of understanding towards marketing mix as shown below; Course: Marketing Date: 03/05/2014 Topic: 4P’s of marketing (Marketing Mix) Grade Level: Undergraduate Primary objective (s): Students will be able to: 1. Understand the concept of marketing mix its definition and what the four P’s stand for. 2. Understand the characteristic and traits of the four P’s in marketing and their importance in marketing mix. 3. To know the elements of marketing mix (four Ps) and what role each P plays promote service delivery and product which eventually reach the customer 4. Research to find actual business on the ground that have adopted this mix so as to promote their service delivery and product. All this to seek understanding of the marketing mix. 5. With good writing skills the students should come up with a good model of their own marketing mix and demonstrate how it will work. Additional learning objectives: The students will be able to know if they are capable of starting and operating their own business by undergoing an entrepreneurship test retrieved from this link. Approximate duration of the lesson: The course duration will last more than 140 minutes. Constituting assignments such as sit in cats, group work and finally academic field trip. Materials and equipment’s: Project template Flip board Marketing text books Markers Flip charts Technology resource needed: Printer Laptop/computer Projector Available and easy access to the internet Flip chart and flip board (for interaction during course work) Preparation/background: Extensive research on marketing mix. Know the concept of marketing mix or as they are well known as four P’s. Know what each P stands for their significance and how they integrate with the other P’s to create a whole marketing mix (Huntington.edu) Need to apply business/financial terms and writing skills so as to appear scholarly. Use your imagination to capture the minds of the students. Think outside the box. Apply good decision making skills and also entrepreneurial concepts to the lesson. As the instructor you should get to know your students. There should be clear identification of the students you are going to educate concerning marketing mix. Like what is their learning style (auditory, visual or the combination of the both. Some students are introverts some are extroverts at this scenario the instructor should come up with a smart decision of whether to group the students or not. This will go a long way towards students having that kind of serene learning condition. Activities/procedure: 1. The instructor will briefly introduce the topic after which the class will engage in an interactive segment where each and every student will be subjected to give his view concerning marketing and marketing mix 2. There will be an agreed understanding of the concept marketing mix from the instructor. 3. Task 1: the students will be kindly requested by the teacher to come up with their own business idea in any field 4. Task 2: the instructor will kindly request the students to integrate what they have understood concerning marketing mix in their newly formed business and come up with a one page summary of how the four Ps will work in their new business. Assessment strategies: 1. Dully complete marketing mix model worksheet( each individual students makes his/her own) 2. Dully completed business idea with a name and incorporated four Ps of marketing and how they work written creatively in a PowerPoint for presentation purposes (Salud, P, 1). 3. Sit-in-cat to test the theoretical view of the students concerning marketing mix. 4. Presentations by the students to check their level of understanding and correct the wrongs. Extension: The instructor can guide the students to come up with an advertisement to compliment the marketing mix model that students have created. Advertisement which is part of Promotion which is a P itself can be in the form of a flyer, brochures, sticker, radio ad etc. Closure: Academic trip; The students should have an academic trip to one of the successful business enterprise that has fully implemented the marketing mix in order for them to gain and know the what is really happening in the ground. This will help significantly to their understanding of the marketing mix concept. Marketing mix Essay In order for learners to understand the concept of the marketing mix, it is significant that the teacher defines the word marketing. What is marketing? There have been many definitions of marketing framed by marketers but they learn that as they continue doing business wether in service delivery or product creation, marketing is simply the art of putting good and right products in the correct place at the correct time with the right price. All one needs is creation of a service or product that a target group wants, price it according to your target markets affordability and value that they will get out of it. Then place that service or product in the right place where your target market or customers frequently visit and do this in a timely fashion that the zeal to acquire the product is rife, then and only then is when you will make it in the marketing environment (mindtools.com) Marketing mix is a description of different approaches and choices that business owners or firms make in the process of delivering their service or products to the market for the targeted customers. The marketing mix is activities under the company’s control that can be manipulated to achieve marketing objectives (cim.co.uk). It generally sums up what a business should do to market its product efficiently and effectively. It’s the recipe for market success. Many business organizations have adopted the marketing mix strategy. However there have been cases of market failure in marketing even though they have adopted the marketing mix (indiantimes.com) Elements of marketing mix The teacher should go ahead and introduce the elements of marketing mix to the learners and use some question and answer technique to see whether the learners have a hint of what the sub-topic is concerned with. The learners will get a chance of leaning that the four Ps is the most frequently used way of defining marketing mix. This 4Ps are; product (or service), price, promotion, and place. For a successful marketing mix, the four Ps must work in unison to bring out the desired market outcome. Business owners can efficiently understand the marketing mix and its way of success only if they understand the product or service they are offering to the customer, the price they are tagging on the product or service, how to promote the product to the target customers, and where to place the product for easy access to the target customer. For them to understand more about the 4Ps as elements in marketing mix we take a closer look at each P (product, price, promotion and place); Product/service Product or service is the final good that the customer consumes there are many products and services. To mention a few products are more tangible commodities such Bread, Milk, Laptop, newspaper, vegetables, Flour, etc. on the other hand services are the intangible commodities such as massage service, Barber cuts, and mobile service providers. For a successful marketing mix a business should be able to identify what a customer wants and what kind of needs does the product/service satisfy. The business owner should know what features its product has to have to meet the target customer needs. The company should have a good idea of how and where the product will be used, its look will also matter great deal depending with the target market, Its color, size name and brand play a critical role in product development that meets the need of the client and most high significance the differentiation it has which gives it a competitive edge against its competitors (mindtools.com). Price After product/service creation and modification to suit your customer, the business should be able to come up with the value of their product. Coming up with the price depends on a number of factors such as; established points for products in your target area, customer price sensitivity, discounts offered to target customer and the mode of pricing in comparison with your competitors in the same industry (mindtools.com). Place Market is a platform where goods and services are exchanged. The platform on this era can also be virtual since a lot of buying and selling is happening on the virtual platform (via the internet in sites like EBay, amazon, and OLX). Good business that wants to market efficiently and effectively should be able to know where the target customers look for their product/service. They should be asking themselves critical questions like do your target customers buy their products in store? What kind of stores are this? Supermarkets, specialist boutique, street vendors, online shopping? Or both? The business should be able to access the right distribution channel and look for competent sales force. They should be able also to attend trade fairs make trade catalogues and create their own website (entrepreneur.com) Promotion This is also a very important part of your marketing mix. Promotion involves ways in which you can convey your marketing message to your target customers. A business should be able to reach its audience through advertising in the press or on TV, or through using direct marketing mailshots internet or public relations. They should also know the best time to promote their products or launch them to the target audience. Good business should be aware of their competitor’s promotion strategy and how they overshadow their promotions (mindtools.com). How to use the 4 Ps of marketing The marketing mix can be used to help in making good decision concerning how to approach the market environ. The 4Ps is also a litmus test on your current market strategy and help you in modification of new marketing strategy. Exercise The teacher should introduce a test for evaluation to see whether the learners followed the lesson to the latter; 1. The business should ask itself why the target customer wants a certain kind of product/service. 2. What will happen if I drop the price 5% or increase by the same amount? 3. Why should the business sell its product/service via the wholesalers and not through direct channel 4. Should the business invest more in internet advertising or stick with PR In conclusion marketing mix is the efficient way of marketing a product/service to the desired target audience. It is significant since it comes in helps business to decide if it can take a new market niche and how they are going towards getting a competitive edge and having bigger market share. Work cited. Marzano, Robert J. The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction. Alexandria, V: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2007. The Lesson Plan. Whooodoo Mysteries, 2011. Print. Read More