Communication Skills - The teacher uses a variety of communication techniques to foster inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in and beyond the classroom.
Principle six of the Idaho Core Teaching Standards deals with communication skills. The first artifact I selected for this standard is a representation of my senior art exhibit. I included my artist statement, biography, tri-fold guide, and samples of the art I included in the show. This art show was put on the the senior class and had little instruction from the professor. The students were responsible for organizing the space, as well as coming up with a group theme for our collection of works. I had to work collaboratively with my fellow seniors to put on a successful show. I also had to have interaction with students, professors, and viewers or critics in and outside of the classroom. Without communication skills I never would have been able to show the elegance of entomology or work with my classmates to accomplish a successful art show.
The next artifact is ethnographic study I completed in introduction to teaching where I examined the social interactions within a family observing a football game. I noted how they communicated with each other and how this showed the status of each family member. This ethnography centered artifact deals with how communication happens and what it can reveal about the group being studied. Knowing how to read the communication of students can help a teacher understand what roles the students play within the classroom and if they need more support or are collaborating well with each other. Ethnographies can be important tools for teachers and how they communicate with their students and how their students communicate with each other. This falls into standard six because knowing how to read the communication within my classroom, I can help foster inquiry and support positive interactions among my students.