The Concept of Team Teaching in Education

 TEAM  TEACHING:

Dr. M.G. Sajjanar

KLE Society`s College of Education

Hubballi

•

Team - teaching is being used to bring the

improvements in teaching –learning process.

The present day education system has

increased the responsibilities of the teacher.

The teacher has to teach the same content

every year.  This develops alienation and

disinterest in the teacher.   In spite  of such

tendencies of the teacher, he has  to teach.

In such conditions, the need of team teaching

arises.

•

MEANING AND

DEFINITION OF TEAM

TEACHING: 

carlo  olson: 

•

“An instructional situation where two or

more teachers possessing

complementary teaching skills,

cooperatively plan and implement the

instruction for a single group of students

using flexible scheduling and grouping

techniques 

to meet the particular

instruction.”

David Warwick:

•

Team-  teaching is a form of an

organization. In which individual teachers

decide to post resources, interest and

expertise in order 

to devise and

implement the scheme of work suitable

to the need of their pupils and facilities

of their school.

ANOTHER DEFINITION

•

An arrangement whereby two  or more

teachers, with or without teaching-aids ,

co-operativlely plan, instruct, evaluate one or

more class—groups in an appropriate

instructional space and given length of time so

as to take advantages of special competencies

of the team members.

•

 In the reference of above definitions, it can be

concluded that the 

team-teaching is a form of an

organization.  The teachers

 participating in the

team teaching decide or determine their

activities themselves.  In spite of this, the

teachers assemble all the resources, interests and

expertise

.  Hence, the team teaching is a well –

organized system of teaching in which many

teachers impart instructions to a group of

students in a cooperative manner.  These

teachers plan the teaching and execute it for the

group of students cooperatively.

•

In the team-teaching , the plan of the

teaching methods , time and the process

are kept flexible so that the necessary

changes in the program of the team

teaching can be brought about according

to the teaching objectives and abilities of

the teachers

.

•

CHARACTERSTICS   OF

TEAM TEACHING

•

Team  - teaching is considered a

teaching method.

•

In this type of task , 

two or more

teachers  

participate  in the

teaching.

•

Team teaching is based 

on

cooperation .

 All the teachers

participating in the team teaching

apply their resources, abilities and

experiences.

•

All the teachers involved in the team

teaching 

plan teaching cooperatively

and execute it cooperatively

.  In spite

of this, evaluation is also done on

cooperative basis.

•

In the team- teaching process, the

needs of the pupils and schools and

existing resources 

are also

considered.

•

In the team teaching 

various aspects

of any topic of one subject

 is taught

by two or more teachers turn by

turn.

•

The main aim of team-teaching is 

to

make the teaching-learning more

effective.

•

In team teaching

, isolation

among the teachers

 is removed.

•

In team   teaching, the entire

responsibility does not fall on one

teacher only  but  it is shared by

others too.  Hence, 

this method is

based on collective responsibility.

•

The teachers 

decide their

activities themselves 

in the team

teaching.

•

Team teaching is 

a technique of

creating instructional conditions

•

The plan of team-teaching is

flexible.

•

OBJECTIVES OF TEAM

TEACHING 

•

1. To make best use of 

attractive

abilities, their interests and

expertise in teacher’s community

.

•

2. To make the class-room teaching

effective according 

to the interests

and capacities of the pupils.

•

3. To encourage flexibility in grouping

the  pupils. In this, the grouping of

the pupils in a subject is done

according to the interests and

aptitudes of the pupils.

•

4. To 

increase the quality of the

instruction.

•

PRINCIPLES OF

TEAM TEACHING

:

TIME  FACTOR:

•

In team- teaching , the duration

should be decided 

on the basis of

subject’s importance 

.  To allot much

time to an unimportant subject

makes the team teaching  in –

effective.

 LEVEL  OF  INSTRUCTION:

•

During team teaching, before

imparting  instruction to the pupils,

the initial behaviors  of the learners

must be observed 

and the level of

the instructions should be according

to the pupils.

•

•

•

SUPERVISION:

•

The type and the method of

supervision 

depends upon the

objective of the group

.

Therefore the objectives of the group

must be kept in mind at the time of

supervision.

SIZE AND COMPOSITION:

•

In the present times, the fixed size of the  class

is an old story now

.  The size of the group

changes according to the objectives of the

team-teaching.

Therefore the size and composition of the

group  of  the pupils should be appropriate

according to the objectives of the group and

learning experiences.

DUTIES ASSIGNED TO TEACHERS

SHOULD BE APPROPRIATE

•

It is necessary for team teaching that the

division of duties and responsibilities of the

teachers should be appropriate.

These duties should be assigned to them

according to their academic merit, interests

and their personality traits.

Hence, in team teaching, the team members

are selected very carefully.

•

6.LEARNING ENVIRONMENT:

•

The team teaching is successful if

a proper learning environment is

provided, such as a 

provision of

library, laboratory, workshop 

etc.

•

TYPES OF TEAM

TEACHING:

•

A TEAM OF TEACHERS FROM A SINGLE

DEPARTMENT.

•

In such classification, teachers come from a

single department.  Such type of arrangement

is done for secondary and higher secondary

classes.  It is possible only  if there are more

than one teacher for one subject.

•

A TEAM OF TEACHERS FROM VARIOUS

DEPARTMENTS OF SINGLE INSTITUTION

;

•

In this classification, a team of teachers of

different subjects is formed and such team is

used in training institutions, such as teachers in

Psychology, Philosophy and Sociology etc.  are

included in a team and the teaching task is

organized very easily

.  For example, training of

B.Ed.,M.Ed. etc.

 In short, team teaching

encourages interdisciplinary teaching.

•

A TEAM OF TEACHERS FROM A SINGLE DEPARTMENT

OF VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS.:

•

In such team teachings, specialists from other

institutions are also invited.  Such team teaching can

be managed at every level and for every topic.  This

provision of team teaching proves much useful where

there is only one subject teacher such team-teaching

encourages cooperative teaching.  The effective use of

this team-teaching becomes more possible in that city

where there are more than  one  training institutions.

•

PROCEDURE OF TEAM

TEACHING

:

PLANNING 

:

•

this step , the plan of the team  -teaching is

prepared. In order to prepare a plan of team-

teaching, the following activities are;

•

To determine the objectives of team teaching

.

•

To write the objectives of team teaching in

behavioral  terms.

•

To identify entering behaviors of pupils

.

•

To decide the topics for teaching.

•

To prepare an outline for teaching a topic.

•

To assign duties to the teachers looking at the

interests of the pupils and their skills.

•

To determine the level of the instructions.

•

To decide the evaluation techniques

.

•

To create learning environment and teaching

material.

•

A comprehensive plan of team teaching is

prepared keeping in mind the above activities.

ORGANISATION:

•

For organizing  team - teaching, the objectives are

kept in mind.  In spite of these objectives , the

difficulties of the pupils and their needs are also

kept in mind.  While organizing  team- teaching.

The following activities are performed

:

•

In order to decide the level of the instruction,

teacher asks 

some initial questions 

only then he

can set the level of the instruction.

•

Keeping in view the 

pupils knowledge of the

language, 

the communication technique is

selected

•

The teacher delivers lead lecture and the other

member teachers of the team listen to it.  They note

down the important points too. They note those points

specifically which are difficult for the pupils to

understand them

.

•

Then the other  teachers of the team also deliver

lectures and clarify various elements.

•

Pupils activities are reinforced .  The teacher

encourages the pupils.

•

During these lectures, the pupils are asked to perform

certain tasks in the class.  It is the important task of the

team teaching.

EVALUATION OF THE RESULTS

•

This step is considered important in the process of

team teaching. In this step, the evaluation occurs with

the reference to the achievement of objectives on the

basis of performance of the pupils.  It is observed

whether the objectives have been achieved or not.  In

this step, the following activities are performed:

•

Decision is taken regarding the achievement of

objectives and performance by the pupils.

•

Necessary modifications are introduced in the planning

and organization phase on the basis of evaluation.

•

For evaluation, oral and written questions and

practical methods are followed . Each question

evaluates some objective.

•

The shortcomings and problems of the pupils are

diagnosed and remedied

..

•

Hence, the results of the evaluation phase

function as reinforcement in the pupils and the

teachers. Various institutions adopt the process

of team-teaching according to their own

resources and objectives

•

ADVANTAGES OF TEAM

TEACHING :

•

QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION

:

•

The main utility of team teaching is

the 

improvement in the quality of

instruction.

•

2.    ECONOMICAL

:

Team teaching is also economically

useful.  It is 

also economical in terms of

time and energy

.  It also helps in

maintaining the discipline in the class.

•

3.  EXPOSURE OF GROUP TO MORE

SPECIALISTS

:

The team-teaching’s main contribution is that

the pupils can have maximum opportunities of

facing maximum specialists.

Hence, the pupils can gain the advantages of

specific knowledge of the different teachers.

•

4. DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROFESSIONAL

STATUS OF THE TEACHER

:

Team teaching also develops the professional

status of the teachers because this provides

them the 

opportunity of reading new

literature

.  In team teaching, the teacher

himself labours hard.

•

5. DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN RELATIONS

:

Human relations are very essential for

social adjustment.

The traditional teaching lacks human

relations.

Team – teaching 

provides opportunities

of developing human relations.

•

6. OPPORTUNITY FOR FREE DISCUSSION

:

Team-teaching provides many opportunities

to the member-students for participating in

the discussion.

It provides stimulus to the ideas of the pupils

and teachers.

Team teaching develops the strong will and

responsibility of participating among the

pupils and teachers.

•

7 . FLEXIBILITY 

:

By Team –teaching , the school

building, school staff and other

resources of the school 

can be used

very flexibly.

Team teaching helps in getting rid

off  traditional time-table

8. EVALUATION:

•

Team-teaching can be best utilized in the step of

evaluation.

In this, all the teachers get opportunity of

evaluating the task of every teacher.

Essential suggestions can be provided so that the

necessary modifications can be applied.

In the traditional teaching system, no teacher

bothers for the task of the other teacher

.  By

team teaching all the teachers can be assembled

and they can be told about their teaching.

•

LIMITATIONS OF

TEAM TEACHING:

•

1. COSTLY METHOD

:

•

 Team learning is costlier than the

traditional teaching.

Per head,  its  cost is more than the

traditional teaching.

•

 LACK OF ACCOMMODATION

:

More rooms and furniture are required in

team teaching in comparison to the traditional

teaching.  The rooms should be spacious too.

Traditional teaching lacks sufficient and

spacious rooms.  

Hence, due to the scarcity of

space and building, the effectiveness of the

team-teaching becomes doubtful.

•

3. LACK OF CO-OPERATION

:

•

   The basis of the team teaching is

cooperation.

But sometimes teachers hesitate to cooperate

with other teachers.

Hence, in the team teaching,  cooperation

from all the teachers cannot be expected.

•

4. DELEGATION OF POWER AND

RESPONSIBILITIES  

:

•

  Team –teaching needs the division of powers

and responsibilities which are lacking in the

present school management because no

manager will like to delegate his powers.

•

5. DISREGRAD TO THE DYNAMICS OF

SMALL GROUP  

:

•

   No specific type of guidance can be

imparted in team-teaching because during

team teaching school staff cannot function like

a football team

•

6. LACK OF RESEARCH WORK   

:

•

    Being a new concept, team-teaching lacks

research work.  It is being used on the basis of

trial and error method.

•

7. VARIATIONS IN THE ROLES OF TEACHERS  

:

•

In team teaching, the different teachers have

different roles which increases the load of

team-teaching member teachers.  One

teacher considers the other’s  role as a hurdle

.  In such conditions, the teachers face tough

time to  maintain the balance and

coordination.

•

8. DIVERSIFICATION IN THE VIEWS OF

TEACHERS   

:

•

   When the different teachers work together, it

becomes difficult to eliminate diversification in their

views.  Unification in their ideas becomes very

difficult, such as some teachers want to make the

curriculum more comprehensive, while others want

to delimit it.  It becomes very difficult to deal with

such conflicting situation.

•

9. CONFLICT BETWEEN CHANGE AND

TRADITIONALISM    

:

•

      There is always a possibility of conflict

between new methods  and traditionalism.

The emerging new methods have created

unrest and panic among traditional teachers.

Such teachers try to resist these changes.

•

10.  LACK OF FLEXIBILITY IN TEAM TEACHING

•

   For the success of team teaching, flexibility in its

structure is a must, such as  selection of pupils and

teachers, deciding teaching period.

If such flexibility is not possible then the success

and effectiveness of the team teaching will be almost

zero.

•

THANK YOU

•

Dr. M.G.SAJJANAR.,

•

            Assistant Professor

•

K.L.E.SOCIETY’S COLLEGE OF

EDUCATION,VIDYANAGAR, HUBLI.

580031

.