The Development Of Expertise In Pedagogy

In this discussion on the development of expertise in teaching, a theory of skill learning is first presented. The characteristics of five stages of skill development in teachers are described: (1) novice; (2) advanced beginner; (3) competent teacher; (4) proficient teacher; and (5) expert teacher. A review of data collected by studies on the subject of teaching expertise points out differences between the novice and the expert teacher in the areas of: (1) interpreting classroom phenomena; (2) discerning the importance of events; (3) using routines; (4) predicting classroom phenomena; (5) judging typical and atypical events; and (6) evaluating performance: responsibility and emotions. The discussion of policy considerations for teacher educators, based upon this developmental theory of skill acquisition, is aimed at helping novices become proficient in classroom techniques while evaluating them in ways approriate for their developmental level. (JD)