The document discusses different definitions of teaching. It examines definitions that describe teaching as imparting knowledge or skill, but notes these terms are ambiguous. It also analyzes definitions that consider teaching as a successful, intentional, or normative activity. The document proposes a working definition of teaching as undertaking ethical tasks intended to induce learning. It concludes there is not necessarily a direct connection between teaching and student learning, as other factors can influence learning.

1. Definitions of Teaching
taken in part from B. O. Smith’s
Definitions of Teaching

2. Operational Definitions of Teaching
"the action of a person who teaches; the profession
of a teacher”
"teaching is imparting knowledge or skill"

3. Terms defining teaching such as imparting,
knowledge, and skill are often ambiguous
imparting -– telling? conditioning? constructing?
knowledge -– knowing? believing? comprehending? understanding?
skill -– knowing that? (a bike is ridden this way)
– knowing how? (to ride a bike in actuality)
– knowing to? (ride a bike when necessary)

4. Descriptive Definitions of Teaching
Teaching as Success
Teaching as Intentional Activity
Teaching as Normative Activity
Scientific Definition of Teaching

5. Teaching as Success
"teaching is that which results in learning"
There are drawbacks with this form of definition.
– Learning is the responsibility of the teacher!
– If students do not learn, it is the fault of the teacher.
This is the process - product approach.
– students are a product of the system
– confuses teaching (a task) with learning (an objective)
By this definition, an external observer cannot tell
whether or not a teacher is actually teaching; e.g.,
cannot observe teacher to see if teaching is
actually occurring.

6. Teaching as Intentional Activity
"teaching is undertaking certain tasks or activities
the intention of which is to induce learning"
A teacher can anticipate that certain activities will
result in learning, but not guarantee it.
In short, successful teaching cannot be reduced to
a set of general rules, or a prescribed pattern of
behavior.

7. Teaching as Normative Activity
"normative teaching requires that the activities of teaching
conform to certain ethical conditions"
–
–
–
–
conditioning (stimulus-obeying behavior)
indoctrinating (uniformed belief)
brainwashing (conditioned behavior/uninformed belief)
informing (information with explanations or evidence, no
experience provided)
– training (rule-obeying behavior)
– instructing (training and informing)
– teaching (processes of verification, concern for what student
thinks, preparing them for independent action)

8. Toward of Scientific Definition of Teaching
"teaching is the process of carrying out those
activities that experience has shown to be effective
in getting students to learn"
a major problem is that there is very little research
that agrees systematically on anything
craft wisdom is frequently good, but sometimes is
in error
a scientific definition is probably not possible
given student autonomy

9. A Working Definition of Teaching
“teaching is undertaking certain ethical tasks or
activities the intention of which is to induce
learning”

10. Relationship between Teaching and Learning
Teaching is what teachers do.
Learning is what students do.
Does a relationship between good teaching and
student learning exist?
To a degree, but how are they related and to what
extent is unclear.

11. If such a connection truly exists, then...
your ability to teach should be judged on the basis
of student learning.
you should be held accountable for student
learning despite poor parenting, negative attitudes,
and other social ills.
your pay should be based at least in part on
student outcomes.

12. There is not necessarily a connection between
teaching and learning.
some students can and will learn in spite of bad
teaching
some students will not learn even with the best
teaching