NTA UGC NET 2019 General paper one full free notes for teaching aptitude

Unit I - Teaching Aptitude

Teaching - meaning

Teaching is the process of sharing knowledge and information to stimulate the intellectual growth of a person(s). 

Concepts of teaching

Following are the two main concepts of teaching:

• Traditional concept:

       Under this concept, teaching is the process of imparting instructions or information to the learners in a classroom situation. The teacher gives information or shares his knowledge to the learners or students and directs them to learn through memorization and recitation techniques.

• Modern concept:

     Under this concept, teaching is the process in which the teacher, the learner, the curriculum, techniques of teaching, and other variables are organised in a systematic way to achieve the pre-determined goals or objectives. Modern teaching helps learners in developing their critical thinking and analytical thinking skills.

Objectives of teaching

A teacher has to achieve the following objectives of teaching in the teaching session:

• Develop critical and analytical thinking skills.
• Create a friendly and effective learning environment.
• Develop proper course design or content.
• Imparting an adequate knowledge and skills.
• Develop a pedagogical method of teaching to enable effective learning.
• Develop teaching as a ‘teacher-learner' centered activity.
• Develop effective teaching aids and techniques.

Levels of teaching

      Teaching helps the teacher to bring a desirable change in the minds of the learners. Teaching depends on the developmental stages of the learners. Following are the three levels of teaching:

• Memory level 

         It is the lowest level of teaching where the facts, information and laws are imparted or forcibly supplied to the brain of the learners. It is a teacher-centered activity where the teacher presents the learning material or curriculum in an organised way (pre-planned curriculum). It is also called “cognitive teaching”.

• Understanding level

        The teaching at the understanding level is much better and high in quality than at the memory level. The teacher helps the learners to understand the principles and facts and explains to them how these principles can be applied. Understanding level teaching enables both the teacher and the learners to actively participate in developing the curriculum which helps the students to have command over the curriculum. It is also called “teacher-learner” centered activity. It also helps the learners to develop their intellectual thinking or behaviour.

• Reflective level

      It is also called “introspective level of teaching”. It can be attained only after completing the memory level and understanding level. Teaching at the reflective level enables the students to solve the real-life problems based on the knowledge and skills obtained from the teacher. At this level, students have to face a real problematic situation and overcome or solve it using their critical thinking skills. The teacher doesn’t force the learners to acquire knowledge but helps them to develop their capabilities and creative abilities. It is also called “problem-centered teaching”. 

Characteristics of teaching

• Teaching is an art as well as science.
• Teaching is an interactive process.
• Teaching is a social process.
• Teaching brings a desirable change in the behaviour of the learners.
• Teaching develops intellectual skills.
• Teaching is itself a learning process.
• Uses effective instructional materials and aids.
• Teaching is a teacher-learner centered activity.
• Development of active teaching and learning system.
• Development of cooperation among the learners.
• Development of effective and creative classroom communication.
• Understanding students' requirements and hidden talents.