DESIRABLE BEHAVIOUR FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL SKILLS

Introduction:

Teaching is a professional activity. Profession is based upon specialized study

and training, it provides skilled service and guidance for a definite purpose to a limited
section of the population for a limited period of time and can be practiced independently
or within an institution. In order to understand teaching as a profession, let us first
understand what is meant by a profession.

Objectives:

 Define the concept ‘profession’.

 List the characteristics of a profession.
 List the characteristics of a teaching profession.
 Describe the different roles that a teacher is expected to play while carrying out
teaching effectively.
 State the need for an integrated personality of a teacher.

1. PROFESSION

1.1 What is a Profession?

A profession can be defined as an occupation which requires some specialized

study and training, and the purpose of which is generally to provide skilled services and
guidance in lieu of a definite fee or remuneration. However, some professionals may
provide services without asking for payment.

A profession is a calling and it implies “acquisition of a fund of knowledge”, range

of skills and their application in the service of humanity The service rendered by a
professional may be direct as in the case of teachers and doctors or indirect as it is in
the case of teacher educators i.e. teachers of teachers. Further, this service may be
rendered for a limited segment of the population or for a limited period of time or phase
of life. This service is not rendered to the entire student population which gets
graduation or post-graduation, but, it is rendered to those who have aptitude for the
profession. It is rendered for a limited period of time in the sense that an individual is
expected to go through training before taking up the profession and then, is expected to
update his/ her knowledge and skills after a regular interval of time.

There is another way of looking at the same situation. Any professional person
provides professional service for a limited period of time when his/her clientele are in an
institution or within the institutional framework; for example, a teacher who is a
professional person renders his/her service for a period of time when students  are in
educational institutions and within the institutional framework; of a school, college or
university. A profession can be practiced independently or within an institution or both.
This means if teaching is accepted as a profession, a teacher can teach either
independently to students or within a school along with a team of teachers.

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF A PROFESSION

A profession indicates certain specific characteristics. They are:

i. A profession demands possession of a body of specialized knowledge and

extended practical training.
ii. A profession renders an essential social service.
iii. A profession demands continuous in-service training of its members.
iv. A profession has a clearly defined membership of a particular group, with a view
to safe-guarding the interests of the profession.
v. A profession involves a code of ethics.
vi. A profession sets up its own professional organization.
vii. A profession assures its members a professional career.

As stated above, a typical profession exhibits a complex of characteristics.

Followings are the elaborations:
 The forming of a professional organization, developing a code of ethics, offering
a life career to its members, or even granting of action are all shared by trade
associations or guides. Then where is the difference? There are two criteria that are
basic to a profession. A profession “professes” to do two things: one is to serve and the
other is to serve with conscious understanding and efficiency. While all other vocations
also serve, the profession not only serves but makes service its prime motive. Even
when there is a conflict between the interests of the client and that of the society, selfish
interest recedes in favour of the professional interest. The profession and other
vocations differ in the sense that a profession is well grounded in its sound knowledge
and expertise. It has good qualities like altruism and longing for authentic knowledge on
the part of the members which differentiates a profession from a trade.

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF A TEACHING PROFESSION

The following are the characteristics of a teaching profession

a) It essentially involves an intellectual operation: 

Teaching, it has been said, is not mere taking. This is so because teaching
requires conscious organisation of learning activities, deliberate creation of a conducive
and supportive learning environment. While providing learning experiences a teacher
has to constantly analyse and evaluate classroom climate and evolve a suitable plan of
action to achieve the pre-specified desirable change in the behaviours of a group of
learners who are constantly varying with respect to their interest and understanding
speed. All such operations, which are to be carried out by a teacher, are intellectual
operations.

b) It draws material from science: 

Teaching is not only an art but also a science. On the basis of this assumption, a
teacher can be trained. The moment it is accepted as a science, it has definite steps
which are followed in training a teacher.
 c) It transforms raw material into a practical and definite end: 

In teaching profession, the learners constitute the raw material. These learners
are prepared to teach in a continuously evolving society which has varied expectations.
Learners are trained into a practical and definite end by means of providing practical
training in teaching and other pedagogical courses.

d) It possesses an educationally communicable technique: 

As teaching is a science, teaching techniques are systematic and have definite

steps to be followed. It is easily communicable.  

e) It tends towards self-organisation:  

It is self-organised in a sense that the personals who are engaged in teaching

profession are sensitive towards growth and development. They evolve a definite
mechanism to sustain and promote the standards of teaching profession.

f) It essentially performs a social service:

Teaching is a social service. It has generally been accepted that education is

potent tool to bring about changes in any nation. The obvious evidence of such a
statement are the developed nations like U S.A., U.S.S.R. These and other nations
have been able to constantly develop because of high rates of literacy. It is through
teaching that a society develops.

g) It has a lengthy period of study and training: 

Teaching cannot be learnt in a year or so. A person willing to take up this

profession has to study for a number of years and acquire a mastery over the contents
of the subject matter. After this he/she has to undergo training in teaching.

h) It has a high degree of autonomy: 

 In our earlier discussion, we mentioned that definite steps have to be followed in
teaching as it is a science also However, there is a high degree of autonomy in teaching
profession right from curriculum development, planning activities of a year, identifying
instructional objectives, deciding upon the method of teaching, deciding upon the use of
media, identifying evaluation criteria, using appropriate evaluation techniques to
deciding upon the admission and promotion rules, and autonomy in planning and
execution of co-curricular activities. Ultimately, all these activities are planned keeping
in mind the goals of education which are to be achieved in a limited period of time.

i) It is based upon a systematic body of knowledge:  

Teaching profession is based upon a systematic body of knowledge which has

been derived from social, psychological, historical, political and economical spheres of
life. It is also influenced by the religious and spiritual beliefs of a society.

j) It has a common code of ethics:

All over the globe, teaching profession has a common code of ethics, which
follows in our lesson

k) It generates in service growth: 

In teaching profession, the teacher is learning at all the stages of teaching. This
leads to growth of a teacher while in- service.

Apart from these, education is a dynamic discipline. New knowledge is

continuously being generated with regard to teaching methods and other foundation
courses of teaching. A teacher with a professional training before becoming a teacher
needs to get oriented to the new knowledge and also update the already acquired
knowledge and skills of teaching. For this in- service training is essential, which would
ultimately lead to performance of the expected tasks by a teacher in an effective way.

From the preceding discussion, it is clear that the teaching profession has the
distinct characteristics for it to be termed a profession. It is a complex profession in the
sense that it has to take into consideration needs and expectations of an ever changing
society. It is affected by the political ideology of a nation, and is influenced by the
economy of a nation. It learns from the history of not only a nation but other nations too.
Students, who are the clientele, vary with respect to such variables as interests, ability,
socio-economic background etc. With all such and many other complexities, teaching is
a noble profession with the prime motive of rendering service to society.

3.2 Professional Traits of a Teacher

Professionally, a teacher should possess the following traits:

i) Mastery over content

ii) Knowledge of teaching skills
iii) Other attributes
i) Mastery over content: 

Unless one has mastery over content of a subject one cannot become an
effective teacher. Content mastery can be achieved through various ways like reading
books, magazines, periodicals, dictionaries, encyclopedias, newspapers etc., attending
seminars, workshops, symposia, conferences, public meetings; discussing with
colleagues, experts, authorities; meeting leaders and other professionals, observing the
happenings in and around the environment; and so on.

ii) Knowledge of teaching skills: 

The knowledge and use of a set of skills facilitates teaching- learning process.
These skills are known as instructional skills. Instructional skill is defined as the cluster
of behaviour manifested by a teacher which can be acquired through practice. The list
of instructional skills that help a teacher to carry out instructional process effectively are

a) Introduction
b) Questioning
 c) Probing
d) Reinforcement
e) Explanation
f) Illustrating with examples
g) Recognizing attending behaviour of students
h) Using audio-visual aids
i) Using blackboard
j) Silence and non-verbal cues
k) Stimulus variation
l) Achieving closure

iii) Other attributes:

Along with content mastery and knowledge of instructional skills, the other
effective attributes of a teacher are sense of responsibility, showing concern for
students, acknowledging and appreciating the effort of students, accepting each student
as a distinct individual, loving and caring etc.

3.3 Professional Ethics of Teachers:

For developing professional ethics, teachers and teacher-educators must be able

to distinguish between philosophy of education and philosophy of teacher education and
also the difference between social and historical frameworks of the teaching profession.
A teacher has to be an example for his/her students and society and therefore the value
system he/she holds should be clear, precise and ethical. He/she should be honest not
only when he stands to gain by being honest bud in situations where he/she is likely to
suffer a loss. In such cases, his/her conscience to do the right thing must determine
his/her behaviours. He/she must exemplify the dignity of labour and professional
commitment, however stressful the circumstances may be.

Teachers must be an embodiment of eternal values – values that remain the

same, however much the circumstances may change. Truth, love and goodness are
values that are admired across creeds, cultures and religions. He/she should be a sheet
anchor for society amidst the tumult of social change. He/she should be conscious of
the accountability to profession of teaching by being accountable for effective teaching
and effective learning of students. He/she is accountable to society and this aspect
must be channeled through an appropriate hierarchy of competent professional
authority.

The profession of teaching reflects a high degree of academic excellence,

repertoire of teaching skills and practical wisdom on the one hand and a well-integrated
value system on the other, both being oriented towards altruistic service. The personal
development of a teacher is the core of professionalization and forms the base for
professional ethics.

4. ROLES OF A TEACHER

4.1. Teacher as a Person:

In this topic, we shall learn about the expectations from a teacher ranging from
his role in classroom environment to his role as a citizen of the country. As one of the
pivotal person in the process of education, a teacher is supposed to be performing
different tasks.

4.2. Teacher in a classroom:

The main responsibility of a teacher in the classroom is to ensure that goals of

education are attained. These can be specified as learning in terms of predetermined
knowledge, skills, and attitudes in specific subjects. It is through these subjects that a
teacher strives to achieve school goals as well an all-round development of students,
which is the broader goal of education. In order to achieve this, a teacher creates an
artificial environment in the classroom for facilitating learning of students. He/she
provides instruction to the students, motivates them for learning, helps them to rectify
their mistakes, guides them in different situations and evaluates their performance. In
other words, a teacher uses content as a medium or tool not only to enabler students
acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes but also to help them in the all-round
development of their personality which is what education stands for.

To ensure the all-round development of students, a teacher has also to organize

such co-curricular activities as games, sports, quizzes, debates, excursion, tours, field
trips etc.

4.3 Teacher as a Colleague:

A teacher is one among many in a school, all of whom are striving towards
attending the same goals of education. In fact, teachers have a collective role in the
teaching –learning process which is a social activity. Moreover, for the school to
function smoothly there is a need for a group of teachers to work in harmony. The
constant interaction and close working together helps teachers not only understanding
their students and their problems but also in their own personal growth as teachers.
Indirectly, it also leads to the development of the attitude of “openness” among
students.

4.4. Teacher in the Community:

In a country where nearly half the population is illiterate, a teacher is looked upon
as a leader in a community, especially so in rural areas and small communities. In some
of the educationally backward rural religions, a teacher is even now the literate person
who is given high respect and is expected to be the leader of the community. A
teacher’s teaching expertise is used for spreading literacy, for providing educational
leadership, and for providing services during elections, collection of census data and
other large scale national activities which require trained educated persons. Teachers
are counted upon for responsible and important tasks of public services.

4.5. Teacher as a Citizen:

 As an educated person and a person who educates others a teacher provides a
model for future citizens. A teacher enables the functioning of democracy by
participating in the democratic processes, acts as an unbiased objective critic of the
society and is sensitive to events in the country like corruption, scandals, riots,
exploitation etc. which hamper the growth and development of a nation and mobilizes
resources to check anti-social and anti-national activities. Over and above these, a
teacher has to be a friend, philosopher and guide to students. He/ She has to inspire
students to achieve this best to serve the nation.  

5. NEED FOR AN INTEGRATED PERSONALITY

From the discussions above, it is clear that a teacher has to have multiple roles
which have to be performed differently in different circumstances. To achieve the
broader goals of education, these roles need to be properly integrated.

For an example of the variety involved in a school system. The constituents of

school are teachers, students and infrastructure facilities. Students have varying
backgrounds, characteristics, abilities, interests, motivations and attitudes. Infrastructure
facilities vary in terms of their availability, quality and quantity .For instance, some
infrastructure facilities like furniture, classroom, maps, charts, apparatus and materials
required to perform science experiments, mathematical instruments, TV, video,
computer, slide and film projector etc. maybe or may not be available. They may be
sufficient in some cases in number while in others these may be insufficient. Similarly,
some of these may not be in good working condition. A teacher has to decide upon
what and how to carry out his/her duties in different conditions so as to achieve the
goals of education.

Also, formal schooling involves a time bound programme which is expected to be

completed in stipulated time that has been decided upon as academic term.
 Moreover, curricular framers have prescribed the weightage to be given to
different items or content in terms of hours of teaching per week.

A school with its organizational structure, physical and human resources and
management goals also provides a framework for the teacher to function. The
functioning of a school in general and a teacher in particular is also governed to a great
extent by expectations and needs of a society, political decisions and cultural heritage
of the nation at large.

A teacher will be able to efficiently perform different roles with and other
educational experiences that he/she has gained.  This educational experience adds t a
teacher’s thinking, observation, ability and skills of management.  A teacher who
performs these roles in an INTEGRATED manner is able to perceive the need for the
all-round development of student’s personality and provide appropriate learning
opportunities to achieve the pre-specified goals of education.,

Summary:

What is profession, characteristics of profession, characteristics of teaching profession,

and professional traits of a teacher. Professional ethics of a teacher, teacher as a
person and need for an integrated personality.

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