Personal theories of teaching

ABSTRACT The paper presents a conceptual model for thinking about the process of teaching and learning based on how teachers respond to the question: ‘What do you mean by teaching? There emerge four basic ‘theories of teaching˚s. There is the transfer theory which treats knowledge as a commodity to be transferred from one vessel to another. There is the shaping theory which treats teaching as a process of shaping or moulding students to a predetermined pattern. Thirdly, there is the travelling theory which treats a subject as a terrain to be explored with hills to be climbed for better viewpoints with the teacher as the travelling companion or expert guide. Finally, there is the growing theory which focusses more attention on the intellectual and emotional development of the learner. These theories are reflected by, and interact with, the views that students have of the process of learning. Whichever theory a teacher uses to help him/her think about the process it will affect the strategies she/he uses and it will colour his/her attitudes to students and to any training programme that she/he undertakes. It is suggested that the conceptual models presented will assist in the resolution of misunderstandings and differences between teaching colleagues and between teachers and students.