Professional Development of Teacher - Literature review Example

Professional Resources The purpose of this paper is to highlight four different resources which would assist the author of this paper in becoming effective in teaching, decision making and professional development. The first resource is the book Psychology for Teaching in which Lefrancois (2000) delineates the importance of human development and psychological principles in conjunction with standards needed for classroom effectiveness. Lefrancois’ book has detailed information on how to improve the behavior of the children within and outside of the classroom. His description of behaviorism as well as the social learning theory is rather explicit. Thus, these elements of reward and punishment and the effect of learning on the child’s self esteem will greatly enhance my teaching technique and strategies. In terms of my decision making, Lefrancois highlighted a number of key elements within the classroom environment which would warrant the need to make decisions on a timely basis. One such incident is the idea of multiculturalism within the classroom. The author highlights the fact that different cultures require different approaches in teaching and the understanding of the central concepts of the various cultures within my classroom would allow me to make better decisions for the overall improvement of each individual within the class. Lefrancois in the organization of the text constantly points to vignettes of teachers within the field. In addition, he supplies Internet activities which may be used not only to improve pedagogical techniques but professional development as well. The second resource represents the work done by a professional in the field, a professor of a University, Stephen Davis. Davis (2007) highlights the “gap” between the work produced by researchers and its authentic impact within the walls of the classroom and the education system. He suggests a number of concerns he held with regard to teachers’ wholesale adoption of these research-based programs within their classroom context. He insists that “Good research is a road map and rarely a destination” (14). In terms of my professional development as well as my day to day teaching Davis suggestions of becoming skilful in the understanding and use of research rudiments is a major consideration. He insists that as teachers one should not wholly trust the research material because the producers of these materials may have “lost touch” (3) with the day to day functioning of a classroom. Thus, in making a decision about which research based content to use the teacher must be thorough in investigating the source and publication of the content as well as the background of the researchers. Davis’ article contains a relevant advice which would affect my teaching, decision making and professional development, he states “one size rarely fits all” (9) thus, as a teacher I must thoroughly assess the research before attempting to utilize it within the classroom. A third resource identified is in the person of Howard Gardner who was born in 1943 and is presently the Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In his own words he declares that he has been a research psychologist for the past thirty-five years. However, his first career contemplation was that of law. We are indeed grateful for his change of heart for he has been instrumental in the development of research on “cognitive development in normal and gifted children; cognitive breakdown after brain damage; the nature of intelligence, creativity, and leadership; and the fate of professional ethics in a market-drenched society” In particular, Gardner is most known for his work on multiple intelligences in 1983. He posits that individuals may possess one or more of the following intelligences – spatial, linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily- kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal and naturalistic. Gardner continues his research in cognitive development to this day. Thus, as teachers we can draw on his research to improve the way in which we deliver a topic ensuring that all intelligences are covered. In terms of decision making we can have access to the plethora of research that is available to the teaching profession. The final resource is a professional organization known as the International Reading Association (IRA). As a teacher I believe that reading is the window to learning. Thus, every child under my charge should be able to read. The International Reading Association is one organization which has an abundance of materials to assist the emerging teacher, the established teacher or the teachers’ teacher. Not only is the IRA an organization which offers professional development resources for individuals and faculties but there are specific lesson plans to assist the teacher in planning reading lessons. Furthermore, the IRA continually conducts and provides up to date research which would allow teachers, and other stakeholders to be au courant with the latest technologies in teaching and reading. This research adds to the knowledge of the teacher and thereby facilitates the making of effective and informed decisions. The IRA (established since 1956) continues to be a vital resource providing literacy competence for the teacher, parents, policy makers and the general public. This paper depicted four of the key resources in the repertoire of a teacher. Firstly, the Psychology of Teaching is a necessary tool for the teacher to gain insight into the mind of the child and thereby allow for efficient decision making and professionalism. Secondly, Stephen Davis offers the teacher a diverse view of research as a tool and not as a quick fix for all the challenges involved in the actual teaching and decision making of the professional. Thirdly, Howard Gardner posits the need to consider the different intelligences of the child and hence the teacher can use this information to not only enhance the delivery of the curriculum but to make informed decisions in the daily teaching and learning interaction. Finally, the IRA is a global network which caters to the needs of the professional teacher both in terms of teacher education and individual upgrade. The content of the other three resources are connected to the research and lesson planning components of the IRA in a dynamic way since they all point to one aim, that is to develop the teacher as a professional who is able to make competent decisions in the day to day realization of teaching and learning. References Davis, Stephen H. (2007) Bridging the gap between research and practice: what's good, what's bad, and how can one be sure?. Phi Delta Kappan 88(8), 569-578. Howard Gardner. (2011). Biography of Howard Gardner. Retrieved from http://www.howardgardner.com/index.html International Reading Association. (2011). Professional Development. International Reading Association The World’s Leading Organization in Literacy Professionals. Retrieved from http://www.reading.org/Resources/ProfessionalDevelopment.aspx Lefrancois, Guy. (2000). Psychology for Teaching. USA: Wadsworth. Read More