Dissertation summary: Improving teaching techniques for the military college lecturers

Research objcetive: Clarify the theorical basis of improving teaching techniques for the military college lecturers. Survey, assess the situation of the teaching techniques of the lecturers in the military colleges and the organization of improving the teaching techniques for the lecturers in the military colleges during this time.

1. General overview of the thesis

Deriving from the teaching practical experience of myself, from the real situation of teaching in the military college last time, from the discussion 

of   the   authors   in   the   world   and   Vietnam   on   teaching   techniques,   the postgraduate   selected   the   issue   "Improving   teaching   techniques   for   the military college lecturers" as research subject. 

The structure of the thesis includes introduction, overview of research issues, four chapters (9 periods), conclusions, petitions, list of references and appendices. The thesis has clarified the theory of the improving teaching techniques for the military colleges lecturers nowsaday, has built the concepts 

of the improving teaching techniques for leaturer, has determined the basic factors that affecting the process of the improving teaching techniques for the military colleges lecturers, as well as building contents and technical the methods for evaluating the qualification of using teaching techniques of the military colleges lecturers

On the theoretical basis and the survey of the reality of teaching techniques of military colleges lecturers, the author proposes five measures to improve teaching techniques for military college lecturers. The measures are a unified whole  and aims at improve teaching techniques for lectures which contributes to improving the quality of education ­ training in the military school in general, in the military college in particular

2. Reasons for choosing thesis topic

Facing the request and the task of building and defending the country 

in the new situation, the need of improving the political, worldview, scientific methodology, practical operational capacity for learners, the improve the quality of teaching in the military college to become an urgent requirement. More than ever, the lectures must constantly self­improve, train their virtuous character   and   pedagogical   competence,   including   teaching   techniques. Therefore, the strengthening and developing the teaching staff ensures the quantity and structure, in which focuses "heightening the level of education, competence and pedagogical skills" is one of the major tasks of the military colleges in the spirit of the Resolution on education ­ training in the new situation of the Central Military Party Committee and Resolutions of the 11th Party national Congress "Building up the teacher force in sufficient quantity to meet quality requirements."

Lectures are the main force of the colleges and are the decisive factor the quality of education ­ training. Therefore, building up the lecturer staff who have good qualifications and capability to meet the requirements of 

a central political task of the military colleges nowadays

The lecturers in the military colleges must do many responsipilities and tasks in the process of implementing their functions to perform: teaching, educating  learners,   do  scientific   research   and  implement   other   tasks  in accordance with the rules of the Ministry of Defense. In which, teaching is considered central political task of the lecturers in the military colleges. With the leading role in organizing and controling the teaching process, the lectures plays a decisive role to the quality of teaching in the military colleges. Teaching is a regular activity of teachers in general, of the lectures in the military colleges in particular. The results of teaching activities is one of the criteria   for   evaluating   the   training­education   quality   of   the   colleges, qualifications   and   capability   assessment   of   lecturers   Like   any   human activities, if the   teaching activities is effective, the lecturers must have teaching techniques. Teaching techniques reflect expertise of pedagogical techniques of lecturers. The more perfect teaching techniques are, the higher quality of the teaching process is

In recent years, the military schools, especially the military colleges has actively innovated, improved programs, contents, teaching methods to meet the educational­ training task in the new situation. These results have been confirmed by the training products of the military schools: "Students graduated from the militaries schools have relatively comprehensive quality both on the political qualification and revolutionary moral, the knowledge and skills that meet the tasks under the initial positions and has the ability to develop." The results that have contributed enormous role of the teaching staff and has  proven qualities,  qualifications and pedagogical  competence  of lecturers in military schools

However, in the process of teaching, some lecturers have not created excitement for learners. The lectures are too much abstract theories and one­way teaching of knowledge   that lead to the low teaching quality. The phenomena are still taking place such as some lecturers has not mastered the teaching activities and has been confused by pedagogical situations, has not been skillful when conducting teaching activities. One of the reasons is the lecturers are lack of the teaching techniques, or they have not mastered.Understanding the role of teaching techniques to improve quality of teaching process in particular, the quality of education ­ training in general, many authors in the world and in Vietnam have done many researches on teaching techniques with the different approaches. However, these works mainly refers to the technique of teaching in general, no work researches 

Deriving from  these objective and urgent requirements above,

we choose issues "Improving teaching techniques for the military college  lecturers" as research subject, to contribute to improving teaching quality,

the quality of education - training in military colleges

3. Research purpose and tasks

* Research purpose: improving quality and efficiency of

On the basis of studies  of the  theory  and reality of the  teaching techniques the author proposes perfect solutions of  the teaching techniques for   the   lecturers   in   the  military   colleges   today  to   enhance   teaching effectiveness, thus contributing to implement the officer training objective in the military colleges

* The tasks of the thesis:

­ Clarify the theorical basis of improving teaching techniques for the military college lecturers

­ Survey, assess the situation of the teaching techniques of the lecturers 

in the  military colleges  and the organization of improving  the  teaching techniques for the lecturers in the military colleges during this time

­ Propose basic solutions and the teaching techniques implementation procedures for the lecturers in the military colleges today

­ Conducting pedagogical experiments for some measures to prove their viability in practice teaching in the military colleges

4   Objects,   subjects,   scope   of   research   and  sciencetific hyppothesis

* Objects of research: The activities of the lecturers of military social 

sciences and humanities in the military colleges

* Subjects of research: Improvement of the teaching techniques  for the lecturers in the military colleges

* Scope of research: The thesis focuses on researching the teaching 

techniques   in the teaching activities (mainly the lectures of teachers) and proposes the solutions to improving the teaching techniques  for the lecturers 

in the military colleges

­ The survey data and statistics, is the author used in the thesis limit of 

5 years, since 2010 to 2014

* Sciencetific hyppothesis of reasearch

Teaching techniques of the military colleges lecturers are formed during the training procedure at the colleges and are developed and perfected 

in their professional activities. If the military colleges focus on improving the knowledge of teaching techniques for lecturers and organize effectively the training and self­training activities of lecturers,  the teaching techniques will be perfect and be developed to meet requirements of teaching activities

5. Theoretical basis and research methods:

* Theoretical basis of the thesis: is a viewpoint system of Marxism ­ Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s ideology; guidelines and policies of the Party, State on education. Based on the principles of the methodology of education and military education, as well as on the practical viewpoint and perspective systems ­ structure viewpoint in researching the educational science

* Research Methodology: The thesis has used a combination of theoretical research methods and practical  research methods to analyze and exploit the materials in scope of research as following:

Observing   the   activities   of   lecturers,   the   pedagogical   training activities for the lecturers in the military colleges

Holding seminars, discussions on the teaching techniques   of the lecturers nowadays with education managers, lecturers and learners in the military colleges

Making survey, polled by anket votes on lecturers and learners in the military colleges

Researching,   collecting,   analyzing   the   documents   related   to education ­ training, retraining and professional knowledge and specialist skills for lecturers; the task of building up and   development staff of the military lecturers   to clarify the theoretical and practical issues related to the improvement of teaching techniques, pedagogical competence of lecturers

Researching educational products, such as the final report of the faculty, the colleges about the quality of teaching, quality of educational managers and lecturers; products and activities of the lecturers in all the forms 

of   teaching;   focused   on   the   teaching   preparation,   practice,   ended   class sessions.

Consulting pedagogy specialists, pedagogical scientists, education managers on issues related to the research mission of the thesis

Experimenting some the proposed measures, in order to verify their feasibility. Experiments were conducted at 3 colleges: Academy of Politics, the   Army   officer   College   No   1,   College   of   Politics   The   thesis   uses mathematical statistical methods to process and analyze the data through which to draw conclusions in terms of qualitative and quantitative indicators 

of the research results

6. New contributions of the thesis

­ Develop basic concepts and point out the main factors that affecting 

to the procedure of improving teaching techniques for the military college lecturers;   initially   setting   up   the   the   system   and   criteria   for   evaluating qualifications of the teaching techniques of the military college lecturers, as a basis for assessing pedagogical competence of lecturers

­ Making survey, analyzing and evaluating the teaching techniques condition and perfecting teaching techniques for military college lecturers recently   From   the   results   of   situation   survey,   evaluating   strengths, weaknesses and pointing out the causes of the improvement of teaching techniques for the military college lecturers. The thesis not only have provided factual   materials   for   educational   managers,   researchers   but   also   is   the reference for teaching, researching and management of pedagogy

­ Based on the study of theory, practice, the author propose measures for improvement of teaching techniques for military college lecturers

7. Theoretical, practical significances of the thesis

The   thesis   generalizes   some   basic   theoretical   issues   on   teaching techniques, clarifies the practical basis of improvement of teaching techniques for military college lecturers

The thesis proposes the solutions and the procedure of improving teaching techniques for the military college lecturers today as the basis for applying in teaching, improving pedagogical skills for lecturers in the military colleges, especially for lecturers with less seniority

Thesis contributes, developes and concretizes educational theory in solving a specific problem in the teaching practices of the military college lecturers. The results of the thesis can be used as reference and teaching 

materials in colleges or in   military colleges. In particular, the thesis is a theoretical basis help military college lecturers perfect  the teaching techniques 

in particular, develop pedagogical qualification in general that contributes to improving   the   education   ­   training   quality   in   military   colleges   in   the innovation of comprehensive basic education ­ training today

OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH ISSUES1.The overseas typical scientific works researching related the topic

Along with the history of pedagogy development, teaching techniques have been studied, generalized and applied in the teaching process early in order to improve the education – training quality

1.1. The thought and researches on teaching techniques

From ancient times, the educators as Socrates (469­390 BC), Confucius   (551­479   BC),     was   interested   in   researching, generalizing and applying the teaching techniques in the teaching process

Until   now,   the   teaching   techniques   issues   have   been researched by many scientists in the world studying under different angles,   such   as:   Celestin   Freinet,   Patrice  Pelpel,   Luong   Vi   Hung Khang Hoa, Bobbi Deporter Mike Hernacki

Viewpoint   of   the   modern   teaching   appreciates   very   the learner,   but   does   not   lower   the   role   of   teachers,   more   and   more demanding creativity, talent of the teachers. How the teacher can arouse all the potential of learners and help learners self­learning, self­study for a lifetime? The series of books innovation of teaching methods of the authors: Robert J.Marzano, James H. Stronge, Giselle 

O. Martin­ Kniep, Jana S. Marzano & Debra J. Pickering, Thomas Armstrong; Debra J. Pickering have pointed out the specific teaching 

techniques   to   help   teachers   conducting   the   teaching   activites effectively.

1.2. The research on training and retraining of teachers

Deriving from the demands of reality, many scientists in the world focused on researching the training and retraining of teachers according   to   modern   teaching   trends   Typically   with   the   author: Michel Develay, James H.Stronge, Robert J.Marzano

2.The   typical   scientific   works   in   Vietnam   researching related the topic

2.1. The research on the teaching techniques 

V i m c đích nâng cao ch t l ng quá trình d y h c, nhi uớ ụ ấ ượ ạ ọ ề  nhà khoa h c   Vi t Nam cũng đã nghiên c u k  thu t d y h c d iọ ở ệ ứ ỹ ậ ạ ọ ướ  các góc đ  khác nhau. Tiêu bi u nh : Đ ng Thành H ng, Pộ ể ư ặ ư han Tr ngọ  

Ng ,   Nguy n   H u   Châu,  ọ ễ ữ Tr n   Bá   Hoành,  ầ Đ ng   Văn   Đ c   vàặ ứ  Nguy n Th  Thu H ng.ễ ị ằ

With   the   aim   of   improving   the   quality   of   the   teaching process,   many   scientists   in   Vietnam   have   also   studied   teaching techniques with different angles. Such as: Dang Thanh Hung, Phan Trong Ngo, Nguyen Huu Chau, Tran Ba Heng, Dang Van Duc and Nguyen Thi Thu Hang

2.2   The   research   on   the   training   and   retraining   of   teachers

Training and retraining of teachers is of great importance in ensuring and improving the education ­ training quality, so there are many works of scientists and scientists in the army are related to this problem. Typical: Nguyen Van Le, Vu Xuan Hung, The Hung Kieu Dang Duc Thang and Mai Van Hoa,

3. General evaluation of the result of published scientific works and the research issues of the thesis

3.1. General evaluation of the result of published scientific   works

First,   the   researches   have   different   concept   of   teaching 

techniques but they clarify the teaching techniques of the lecturers

Second, the researches of history have been initially built a 

system of basic teaching techniques of lecturers, although it has not been 

Third, the author initially gives the methods and measures for 

training and retraining of teachers and help lecturers apply the teaching techniques

3.2. The problems  the thesis continues solving 

Firstly,  building concept of teaching techniques and improving 

teaching techniques

Second, setting up a system of teaching techniques for lecturer Third,  pointing   out   the     affecting   factors   to   the   teaching 

Chapter 1THE THEORY OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF 

There   are   differences   between   teaching   techniques   with teaching methods and teaching skills (Table 1.1)

Table 1.1. The differences between teaching techniques with teaching methods and teaching skills

techniques methods skills

Methods and measures 

to carry out teaching activities of the lecturers

The methods apply  the knowledge and experience of lecturers in conducting teaching activities

Quality process 

closely, basically, by specified teaching activities

flexibility, creativity depends on qualified teachers and teaching situations

process, but still depends 

on the creation of teaching situations

Scope Tools,   tips expressed 

the   teaching methods

Orientation Conducting and 

training teaching techniques and teaching skills

System   of methods   and tips   form teaching methods. 

Teaching techniques which exist objectively and are defined 

by teaching activities, like or not teaching techniques still exists, it just   becomes   teaching   techniques   of   lecturers   when   lecturers 

perceive and manipulate regularly in the teaching process. Thus, the 

teaching techniques of lecturers are a system of specific activities   which in processes to implement teaching activities on the basis of   knowledge and pedagogical experience of lecturers

1.1.2.  The concept of improving teaching techniques

Improving   teaching   techniques   are   processes   of   complementing   and developing specific actions and operations to   carry   out   teaching   activities   of   the   lecturers   on   the   basis   of   promoting   the   rational   elements,   while   eliminating   the   elements   inconsistent   with   the   requirements,   the   content   of   teaching   that   making pedagogical activity of lecturers  more effectively.

1.2 The main factors affect the improvement of teaching techniques for the military colleges lecturers

1.2.1 Training objectives of the military colleges 1.2.2 The quality and capabilities of the military colleges lecturers

1.2.3 The characteristics of teaching activities in military colleges

1.2.4 Characteristics of teaching the  military social  sciences and humanities 

1.3 Systems of the teaching techniques evaluation standards of the teaching techniques of the military colleges lecturers

1.3.1 Systems of the teaching techniques of the military colleges lecturers

1.3.1.1 Establishments of identifying and classifying the systems of the teaching techniques of the lecturers

- Based on the technical forms of lecturers in the teaching process

- Based on the teaching activities of the lecturers

- Based on the logic of teaching process

1.3.1.2  The   basic   system   of   the   teaching   techniques   of   lecturers

In the scope of thesis, the authors identify to build the basic system of the teaching techniques of lecturers that using in the form of lectures since this is the basic and main form of teaching in the military colleges today Based on the teaching

activities of the lecturers  and the procedure of the lecture, we found that to organize and control cognitive activities of learners in the best way, lecturers  should have the basic teaching techniques group as follows:

First, the group of lectures preparing techniques

Second, the group of language using techniques

Third, the group of facilities using techniques

Fourth, the group of teaching methods using

techniques

Fifth the group of techniques of testing and evaluating

the teaching results

1.3.2. Criteria for evaluating the teaching techniques of the 

military college lectuters

Based on the implementation of the teaching techniques of lecturers,   through   assessment   scale,   we   can   classify   the   teaching techniques qualifications of the lecturers as follows:

Level   1:   Proficiency   in   teaching   techniques   (Excellent). Lecturers implement teaching techniques with error level less than the requirements of teaching techniques

Level 2: Moderately mastered the teaching techniques (Pretty good). Lecturers implement the teaching techniques with relatively level errors than requirements of the teaching techniques

Level 3: No Proficiency (Medium). Lecturers implement the teaching techniques to the level of errors more than the requirements 

of the teaching techniques

Level   4:   Unknown   teaching  techniques   (Weak)   Lecturers can   learn   about   teaching   techniques,   but   cannot   implement   the operation of the teaching techniques or performing to the level of errors  too   much  compared  with   the  requirements  of   the   teaching techniques

Conclusion of chapter 1Teaching   is   a   process  in  which   takes   place   relations    of dialectical   unity   between   the  lecturers  (subject  of   the  training activities) with the learner (subject of the learning activities). When referring   the  teaching   techniques   that  means  we   refer   to  the techniques   for  lecturers  conduct  the  teaching  action  and  the 

techniques  for learners conduct the learning action effectively.  The concept  of the teaching techniques in the researching scope of this thesis only refer to the techniques of lecturers in    conduct  teaching activities.

As subjects of the teaching process,  improving the teaching techniques of lecrures are neccessary. The improvement that means 

to be inherited, promoting  the  teaching techniques and developing new   teaching   techniques,   on   the   basis   of   promoting,  developing reasonable   factors,   simultaneously   eliminating   the   incompatible elements with the teaching practices, making teaching activities of lecturers more effectively

LECTURERS2.1. General information about the pratical situation survey

­ To survey the organization and capacity to implement the improvement   of   teaching   techniques   for   the   military   university lecturers

2.1.3. Object, place, time of survey

­ Object survey: Lecturers, managers and learners in 3 military colleges (Academy of Politics, College of Politics, the Army officer College No 1). During the year 2012­2014

* General assessment of the quality of lecturers of the military   colleges

The   quality   of   lecturers   of   the   military   colleges  is   constantly 

increasing in both quantity and quality, to meet basicaly this educational ­ training requirements. However, besides the achieved results, the quality of 

the lecturers of the military colleges  is still many limitations of trends, 

talents, styles and pedagogical behavior

2.2.2  The   practical   situation   of   teaching   techniques   of   the  

lecturers of the military colleges

The survey results shows perceptions of lecturers and learners about current teaching techniques are limited

* The practical situation of the teaching techniques of military   colleges lecturer

The survey results show that the teaching techniques of the military 

colleges  lecturers are now mainly in relatively proficient level, especially 

with a small number of lecturers do not have adequate knowledge about teaching techniques

2.2.3. The practical situation of organization and capacity to 

implement   the   improvement   of   teaching   techniques   for   military   college lecturers

* The practical situation of organization of the improvement of  teaching techniques for military college lecturers

The organization of the improvement of teaching techniques for  lecturers in this time reveals some limitations, namely: improvement of 

2.2.4. The causes of the achievements and limitations

* The cause of the achievements

First,   the   military   colleges   has   always   been   received   the 

direction   the   assistance   of   the   Ministry   of   Defense,   Ministry   of Education and Training, which is directly the School Department, General Staff in all aspects

Second,   the   leaders   and   commander   of   the   colleges   have 

applied flexibly, creatively and matching the colleges’ practices and have promoted the actively role of the units