Unit 1: Teaching as a Profession I

Course Description

This course  is designed to equip teachers with the historical, philosophical and sociological trends of education in Ghana. It also provides pre-service and in-service teachers with the knowledge and skills for addressing misconceptions, biases and removing barriers to learning in all inclusive and multi-grade schools. The book is to equip teachers with the necessary skills to address misconceptions about the use and integration of ICT in teaching in learning, and outline positive and negative impacts of technology on society. Also, the book focuses on the concepts and principles of teaching as a profession, educational implication of school – community partnership, career paths and lifelong learning in education. It provides a reference for scholars, teacher educators, student-teachers, professional teachers and administrators.

1.1 Concept of Teaching

It is necessary that we understand clearly what the concept teaching exactly means. Teaching and learning are opposite sides of the same coin, for a lesson is not taught until it has been learned. Teaching therefore cannot be said to have occurred without the supposed learner. However, teaching does not depend on learner any more than the learning depends on teaching.

1.2 Misconceptions about Teaching

1. Teaching belongs in the classroom
2. Success in school is necessary for success in life
3. It is also claimed that it is the academically weak who are recycled into teacher training institutions to become teachers.
4. Teachers just teach
5. Teachers are  underpaid and overworked
6. Teachers are solely responsible for learning
7. Teachers themselves have a poor self-image of their profession
9. 1.3 Teaching as a ProfessionAccording to Farrant (1980), a profession is a body that provides a special service to the community based on accumulated knowledge and wisdom. It also controls the entry qualification and work standards of its members. A profession is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply objective counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain.