801) the teacher has given clear and understandable explanations
The ability to explain well is important for enabling student understanding of subject matter. Students see this ability as being integral to good teaching.
· Central Michigan University's publication "Articulation of the Faculty Role" (Center for Research on Adult Learning, 2001) notes that "Instructional clarity has two components: cognitive clarity (e.g., are the points made by the instructor understandable) and oral clarity (e.g., is the instructor’s oral delivery clear, audible, intelligible and free of distracting mannerisms). The cognitive and oral clarity of an instructor’s presentation varies substantially among teachers and may produce significant differences in student performance on cognitive tests of achievement."
· Section 5 of A Berkeley Compendium of Suggestions for Teaching with Excellence (Davis, Wood, & Wilson, 1983a) presents seven suggestions concerning "Explaining Clearly"
· Section 13 of A Berkeley Compendium of Suggestions for Teaching with Excellence (Davis, Wood, & Wilson, 1983b) presents many suggestions concerning "Knowing If the Class Is Understanding You" separated into feedback and evaluation suggestions.
· Brown & Atkins (1990), Effective Teaching in Higher Education, provide a framework for an explanation, and have suggestions for generating interest and developing the art of persuasion; interest and persuasion are considered as elements of clear explanation (pp.19-25).
· Chap. five of Weimer (1993), Improving your classroom teaching, discusses issues related to providing clear explanations, including how to know when something is unclear to students.
Brown, G., & Atkins, M. (1990). Effective Teaching in Higher Education. London: Routledge.
Center for Research on Adult Learning. (2001). Articulation of the Faculty Role [World Wide Web]. Central Michigan University College of Extended Learning. Retrieved 20 October, 2002, from the World Wide Web: http://www.cel.cmich.edu/cral/ml-faculty.pdf
Davis, B. G., Wood, L., & Wilson, R. C. (1983a). A Berkeley compendium of suggestions for teaching with excellence - Section 5 [World Wide Web]. The University of California. Retrieved 20 October, 2002, from the World Wide Web: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/compendium/sectionlists/sect5.html
Davis, B. G., Wood, L., & Wilson, R. C. (1983b). A Berkeley compendium of suggestions for teaching with excellence - Section 13 [World Wide Web]. The University of California. Retrieved 20 October, 2002, from the World Wide Web: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/compendium/sectionlists/sect13.html
Weimer, M. (1993). Improving your classroom teaching. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. |