Tuesday, November 5, 2013

88.Additional Questions on Content II

[Kerala University English Teacher Educator’s Forum - KUETEF]

Some  questions  requiring  clarification have already found mention in Post # 86  and # 87 of this   Blog.


The  following  are questions on  EDU 5.2 Pedagogic Content Knowledge Analysis-English requiring clarification  mailed by  Mr.Velayudhan Nair,  one of the leaders of the two  groups which  discussed the  Optional Papers during the Workshop held on  26 October 2013. I have tried to answer them.

Unit I
*Q. Use of a checklist has been suggested as a strategy – how do we develop one?
Ans. We need to develop  appropriate Checklists during our meetings.

*Q. What does one  exactly mean by ‘Phased monitoring’?

Ans. This  has  direct reference to the role of the teacher educator in  providing  instruction  related to Lesson Planning based on the Course Book.  The trainee grasps the concepts related to Lesson Planning  in Phases.

(Eg; Specification,  different types of  learning  experience,  types of evaluation etc.)

This implies that  the teacher  educator should  monitor in each phase-
{ie;  in writing of  Behaviourist Lesson Plan for Poem, Behaviourist  Lesson Plan for teaching Grammar, Constructivist  Lesson Plan for  tasks  related to  Social issues etc.}

While monitoring the teacher should try to find out whether  the   trainees  are  able to  achieve the objectives of each lesson.

In fact the teacher educator’s  role is to   monitor  at key points during instruction  to  determine whether the trainees are progressing  adequately towards  the expected standard.  Sometimes, based on the monitoring, the teacher educator may have to  change the pace of instruction, re-teach the content based on the evidence gathered and check for and address common trainee misconceptions and misunderstandings.

*Q. Should the Content Analysis of the Course Books from Standards VI to XII be done?

* Ans: Yes and this means  the  different  objectives for teaching English  for each level (Upper Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary) mentioned in the  Source Book  of  SCERT have to be closely followed.


*Q. It has been suggested that the ability to write lessons plans must be developed in students. How do we plan to do that since students are introduced to Bloom and his taxonomy only in the second unit?

*Ans: It is nowhere mentioned in the curriculum that  the  Units have to be covered in the specific order in which it has been  presented! It is also mentioned that the course should commence with an orientation... Perhaps  during that stage the aims and objectives of education  along with the three domains (Cognitive, Affective and Psychomotor) may be mentioned.

Unit II

Q. Do we plan to stick on to the Process Skills of  Science?

*Ans: In earlier days the teacher of English used to be bothered only about the final product. Today in the Constructivist  classroom,  the focus is on Process. So for example  when  a topic  is given for writing,  the following  sequence is followed:

1. The  student attempts  to write on his own.
2. Students work in pairs, share  ideas and refine their writing.
3. Each pair presents  their write-up to the group.
4. The group   prepares  a  write-up  based on contributions from the pairs.
5. Different groups present their products and display   the same.
6.The teacher  assists- supplies  correct  use  of words etc.  and help  achieve clarity.
7. The final product is written.

[Here when the  students  become part of the process, they  develop their writing skill]

For  relationship with Science please view:


Unit IV

Q. A detailed instructional session on Micro Teaching is deemed necessary.

*Ans: Perhaps  some of us can  engage  Demonstration classes!

Q. Observation of video lessons – by lessons, do we mean Micro teaching lessons?

*Ans: The Micro teaching sessions  are to be  videographed.   The rationale is that  when one watches  a video recording  of ones  own teaching there is greater scope for self correction.

Q. Demonstration and Criticism lessons – the requisite number has to be specified.
*Ans: Please see Page 11 of the Curriculum for details


Unit V

Q. Models – still/working? How many?

*Ans: Does  number  really  matter?

* For instance, Cuisenaire  Rods have been effectively  used for teaching grammar and pronunciation by teachers of  English.  And  some  of us have  quoted  the Chinese Proverb…
I hear, and forget
I see, and remember
I do, and I understand

a hundred times  in our classes without  ever grasping its   relation  to  the use/ making  of models!  In  fact,  Edgar Dale too referred to it in his work entitled   Audio-visual Methods in Teaching  (1957).
For  a write-up on  Models and its uses, please read the article at the following link:


Unit VI

Q. Presentation of samples – do we mean test samples?

*Ans: Types of Questions... The teacher educator should  provide samples of different types- VSA,SA, Essay; Easy, Average, Difficult;  Predicting;  Global Comprehension;  Probing  etc. 


Q. Could we have a model script for video lessons?

*Ans: We need to work on it... Some are available Online.

Q. ICT integrated projects – more clarity required on what exactly is meant, perhaps with a few examples.

*Ans: It could be the use of online and offline content. A mix  of visuals, graphic, animation, video etc.

[Photos of the Workshop- Courtesy Mr.Jijan]



Dr. C. Praveen
Secretary, KUETEF


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