Course #3 - Becoming a More Effective Teacher

Educational Training Associates
1057 Wayneport Road
Macedon NY 14502-9733

This project reflects the application of the principles and methodologies included in the hand-out for Course 3: Becoming a More Effective Teacher by Education and Training Associates to the mission and operational objectives of SYS-ED in terms of meeting New York State Education Department standards.

The source content of SYS-ED courseware - narrative text, diagrams, programming examples, workshops, skeleton programs, audio tape, reference cards, etc. has its origins in the late 1970’s and has been expanded and updated to include each new generation of computer software and hardware technology. In addition to our own course content, we have relationships with a number of industry renowned authors and provide text book reviews and editing. Depending on the relationships that we utilize the full complement of knowledge transfer medium with this content in order to help students learn. Additional information on SYS-ED is available from www.sysed.com.

Learning Objectives

The following knowledge transfer medium are currently in the process of being evaluated:

The fundamental conclusion that has been drawn is that the classic principles and methodologies remain valid and indeed need to be diligently applied. Based upon my review of the source content from software company websites and independent third parties, there appears to be a minimal or cursory application of the classic principles and methodologies. In many instances the underlying grammar and logic of the presentation of the information (ie. knowledge transfer) is either flawed or poorly implemented. The fact that liberties have been taken with the commonly accepted standards of the English language (Strunk and White would be horrified!) tends to tarnish otherwise good content. This is not to imply that SYS-ED courseware and utilization of knowledge transfer medium is perfect; it can best be characterized as a work in progress. We need to improve our skills and gain knowledge with the different knowledge transfer and presentation medium. Morever, my analysis has focused exclusively on the presentation and delivery of the content. I have not spent time in reviewing the authoring systems. Clearly e-Iearning and distance-learning will play a significant and increasingly important role in knowledge transfer. From a personal standpoint, SYS-ED has elected to commit resources to ensure that its content and curriculum evolve to meet New York Education Department standards and develop effective pre and post course assessment criteria.

A programmatic implementation of the assessment system is in the process of being developed and is in beta mode.

My preliminary opinion is that the classic principles of course development and how students learn. pre and post course assessment, the appropriate selection of training medium, and source software company accountability and profitability will be the key variables in how effective a teacher teaches and a student learns. In addition to the standard role as the critical bi-directional link in the knowledge transfer chain, the next generation of effective teachers will be in many ways have to serve as the maestro of an orchestra of knowledge transfer medium. That is easier said then done.

The opinions and conclusions in this project were taken using public sources of information available from the Internet including: IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Compuware, Information Builders.com, etc.

The information in this project can be used and distributed by Education and Training Associates and Marshall Boyler. Marshall — Thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm. It was refreshing and I too enjoy teaching. I look forward to taking Course #2.