Assignment 1 Teaching Roles and Responsibilities
Theory Task 4 ‘Explain the ways in which you would establish ground rules with your learners, which underpin behaviour and respect for others’.
All students are different when it comes to respect for others and levels of behaviour, and they will bring these challenges or barriers to learning into the classroom. It is vital therefore to set some ground rules that will ensure there is agreement between teacher and learner on standards of behaviour in the learning environment.
To introduce this subject, I would provide learners with the rules and boundaries set by the organisation itself, in this case the City & Guilds Students Charter, and give an overview of the ‘learning contract’, a concept advocated by US educator Malcolm Knowles in his 1975 work, “Self Directed Learning”.
I would then lead this into a group discussion on the initial behavioural challenges a teacher might face from a group of learners, and how this may present a barrier to the learning.
I believe this particular group discussion is important as it will;
• set not only the ground rules, but the tone for the rest of the course;
• incorporate all views ensuring that every learner is heard, included, and feel they are an active partner in the teaching/learning system;
• permit the teacher to establish their own ground rules which reflects their commitment to the process.
The ground rules of course must be mutually agreed and doable, and the discussion will allow the teacher to gently ‘steer’ the group towards this outcome. My own ground rules for example would ensure I was fully prepared for lessons, and punctual with regards to starting and finishing times. In response to learners committing to submission of coursework on time, I would reciprocate by making sure that all marking is completed and returned on time.
I would like the learners to decide certain core ideals ie,
• courtesy and respect for each other;...