Write a Brief Description of Your Model of Teaching

Week Two - Write a brief description of your model

There are number of teaching models, developed and analysed by likes of many theorists, such as Roger Bybee, Barman (1989), Ramsey (1993). Some such models are, the Five 'E's, Outcomes- based education (OBE) etc.

The model I would adopt to teach is OBE. As I believe this method of teaching is considered to be "high-quality, culminating demonstrations of significant learning in context" .OBE enhances the knowledge of the learner, and enables the learner to demonstrate significant and high quality learning, related to real life context. (Killen 2005).

This model of teaching is based on questions such as: What do I intend my students to be able to do after my teaching that they couldn't do before, and to what standard? How do I supply learning activities that will help them achieve those outcomes? How do I assess them to see how well they have achieved them? (Biggs, J & Tang,C.,2007).

Unlike the traditional method of teaching that centred around " what the lecturers wanted to teach the students", the OBE approach ,focuses on the question of learning and specifically on what students should be able to know and do at the end of the learning experience. (Bodenstein, R,.1994).

Several advantages have been identified in adopting an outcome-based model such as, relevance, clarity, accountability, self-directed learning, flexibility, assessment guidelines, collaboration in planning, and program evaluation ( Glicken, A, D., n.d)

The OBE model plans the curriculum with the outcome in mind, as opposed to planning objectives for already prepared curriculum. This helps the teacher to plan, how to effectively present the content and be well prepared, to help the students achieve the knowledge and skills expected of them at the end of the lesson.

Teacher communicates to the students in advance, what exactly they should know and be able to do by the end of the lesson. There by helping the students achieve the desired result by focusing clearly, consistently, systematically and creatively on the lesson.(Killen 2005).

Adopting this model will allow the teacher to design up or down, focusing on the needs of every student. Hence, the problem of all students not having the same potential to learn at once, will not be a concern.

However it is important to note if this method of teaching in not implemented rationally it may give raise to many problems. The system only becomes legitimate when the four principle of clarity of focus, designing down or designing back, high expectations and expanded learning opportunities is applied in achieving the desired outcome at the end of a lesson.(Killen 2005).

References:

Biggs, J & Tang, C.,(2007). Outcomes-based teaching and learning. What is it, Why is it, How do we make