#2 e-Reflection on Planning for Instruction (The Principle of Effective Teaching and Assessment)

Ferina Aprilla
Section C
English Department 2010
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Professor giving instruction to college student

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I have attended The Principles of Effective Teaching and Assessment course. Last meeting we were discussing about thematic learning. We watched a video about it and then discussed it whether the implementation of thematic learning was effective or not.

Firstly, I want to talk about thematic learning itself. Have you ever heard about this? Thematic learning combines some subjects into one time teaching and learning activity. Usually this method is used for student at 1, 2 and 3 grade. For example based on the video, the teacher combines three subjects that are biology, math and social knowledge.

In the beginning of the lesson, the teacher told the students about the learning objectives. The objectives were:

·         Students could count until ten;

·         Students knew about family tree;

·         Students knew the color of plant.

 After that she continued to the first activity that was asking a question and giving reward for those who answered correctly. It was effective to elicit the student to be active in class during the lesson.

Continued to the next activity the teacher asked the student whether they have rambutan tree at their home, then she asked who the one of family member that does the treatment of the tree. Students answered excitedly. There was no reward in this session. Then they continued discussing about family member.

After they discussed about family member they go outside to find rambutan tree. The teacher showed them the rambutan tree and told them about the colour of its leaves and the fruit. After they had done with the rambutan tree they were back into classroom. Teacher did assessment by asking them to tell to the whole class about the rambutan that they had collected. As the ending of the class teacher told them a story about rambutan.

I think the thematic learning itself is a good innovation of teaching. Based on the video the objectives of the lesson are achieved, but I do not really agree with the way the teacher taught. She taught the students by directly giving them the information. I am trying to say that the teacher did not do effort to lead the students to find out the knowledge by their self. It will not help them in developing their critical thinking. Moreover, actually the student seemed like so bored and do not do something meaningful. They only continued what the teacher said. That often happens in traditional teaching in Indonesia. I say that because I had experienced it. As the result, mostly I did not really remember and understand what I had learnt after the class finished.

By watching the video I got something to think. That is I have to be a professional teacher who not only helps my student know but also able to apply the knowledge into real life. I think teachers’ job is not just teaching. They have a big job that is leading the students to be able to achieve what they wish to be. Teachers do not prepare the student for the examination but they prepare their student for facing the real life in the future.

This course really helps me in knowing the principles of effective teaching and assessment. I also learn about making good lesson plan in this course. As a professional teacher I should know how to make the teaching and learning time effective. I should learn more about how to transfer knowledge to students by using appropriate method which, again, not only makes them know but also able to apply the knowledge into real life.