Global Teaching InSights

Strong classroom management allows teachers and students to focus on learning and use time efficiently. This channel demonstrates the quality of observed classroom management practices as well as how classroom activities were structured and where in the lesson instructional time was lost. These videos also show teachers’ and students’ perceptions of classroom management practices.

Classroom discourse – the written and spoken word – is the medium through which teaching and learning takes place. It is important that there are opportunities for discourse and students need opportunities to engage in discourse that are clearly focused on a learning objective. It is valuable for students to take a role in such discourse and provide detailed explanations of their thinking so that becomes visible to peers and the teacher.

When students are cognitively engaged, they tend to be more interested and their learning outcomes improve. It can be challenging to discern from observations of students’ behaviour whether or not students are cognitively engaged so discerning students’ cognitive engagement must go beyond observing whether students are moving their pencils or listening attentively to whoever is speaking.

Teachers make plans for their lessons but they must also remain flexible and willing to adjust these plans based on the students’ reactions and responses to the instruction as it unfolds. In thinking about what it takes to assess students thinking during a lesson and align the instruction accordingly, the ability to uncover student thinking to guide further instruction is crucial.

Learning is not easy. In the classroom students must carry out work, express ideas, and push their thinking, often encountering and exposing difficulties. For students to be willing to be vulnerable, it is essential that they feel sheltered from embarrassment and well-supported. The extent to which a teacher can create a safe and respectful environment is important in determining the potential of a lesson.

Another important goal of teaching is to promote student interest in and understanding of the subject matter. Classrooms that revolve around quality subject matter learning are first and foremost characterised by the clarity and accuracy of the ideas, concepts and tasks presented. In subject matter-rich classrooms, the content in which the teacher and students engage is correct as well as clearly represented so that students can focus on understanding the meaning of the concept or task.