Description

Teaching Competencies: A Pathway to Becoming a Better Teacher is a comprehensive and practice-oriented book designed primarily for student-teachers pursuing B.Ed. and related teacher education programmes. It emphasizes that effective teaching extends beyond subject knowledge and requires systematic development of teaching competencies, practical application of educational theory, and responsiveness to learners and contemporary educational needs.

The book begins with Teaching Competency and Micro-Teaching, introducing its meaning, characteristics, relationship with teaching competencies, advantages, and limitations.

Individual teaching competencies are explored in detail, including Set Induction, Explanation, Questioning, Probing, Illustrating with Examples, Stimulus Variation, Blackboard Writing, Reinforcement, and Closure. Each competency is presented with essential components to facilitate focused practice and systematic development.

The book further examines broader professional competencies such as Classroom Management, Communication, and Student Engagement, highlighting their importance in creating positive, inclusive, organized, and participatory learning environments.

Contemporary educational priorities are addressed through Core Elements, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Values in Teaching, with practical approaches for classroom integration. Chapters on Learning Resources, the Three Phases of Teaching, and Lesson Planning connect competency development with effective classroom planning and implementation.

A distinctive feature of the book is its practice-oriented approach. Rating scales, schematic representations, illustrative examples, and sample plans support observation, assessment, reflection, and improvement. Thus, the book serves as both a theoretical foundation and a practical reference for teacher educators and prospective teachers striving to become competent, reflective, and effective educators.

About The Author 

Dr. Bhavna Dave is a distinguished teacher educator, researcher, and academician with 28 years of experience in school and teacher education. With a Ph.D. in Education and M.A. M.Ed. from the University of Mumbai, she brings to her work a rich blend of academic scholarship, classroom experience, and professional engagement.

Having begun her career as a teacher of primary and secondary students, Dr. Dave has been associated with Pillai College of Education & Research, New Panvel, since 2009, where she teaches B.Ed. and M.Ed. programmes and serves as a Ph.D. Guide in  Education.  Her  areas  of  professional  expertise include teaching-learning, teacher development, educational research, reflective practice, and academic leadership.

Dr. Dave has conducted numerous workshops and professional development programmes for teachers on teaching-learning skills, cooperative learning, multiple intelligences, life skills, understanding the self, and brain-compatible instruction. She has undertaken University of Mumbai-funded research projects and institutional action research, presented papers at national academic forums, and contributed to scholarly publications.

Her engagement with educational technology includes contributions to e-PG Pathshala, MOOC-SWAYAM, and digital content development initiatives. She is also the editor of the Pillai Journal of Education and Research (PJERT) and has participated in innovative virtual classroom initiatives. Her contributions to education have been recognized with the IARDO Award for “Best Performer in Education – 2021.” She has also been invited as a speaker at the 1st National Teachers’ Congress.

Drawing upon decades of experience as a teacher, teacher educator, researcher, and mentor, Dr. Dave offers in this book a scholarly yet practice-oriented perspective on the competencies that shape effective, reflective, and professionally empowered teachers.

Ms. Shruti Nair is an Assistant Professor at MES’ Pillai College of Education and Research, New Panvel. Her journey in education has given her the opportunity to work both in schools and in teacher education, experiences that have shaped the way she understands teaching and the making of a teacher.

She has been closely involved in teaching and mentoring student teachers, assessment, curriculum-related work, academic coordination, cultural activities, and  teacher-training programmes.

Working with student teachers has allowed her to witness their gradual transition from learners of educational theory to teachers  finding their own voice and confidence in the classroom.

Her academic interests include teaching competency, pedagogy, reflective practice, creativity, digital learning, and innovative approaches to teacher education. Her doctoral research has further nurtured her interest in exploring creative and contemporary possibilities in teacher preparation.

Her love for dance, drama, and the creative arts has also influenced the way she looks at teaching. For her, a classroom is not simply a place where knowledge is delivered; it is a space where ideas are explored, confidence is built, expression finds a place, and both teachers and learners continue to grow.

Teaching Competency comes from this understanding and from her experiences of learning, teaching, observing, and reflecting on the profession. The book brings together essential teaching skills, lesson planning, classroom practices, and practical strategies to help readers connect what they learn with what they do.

Through this book, Shruti Nair hopes to make the journey of becoming a teacher a little more meaningful, confident, reflective, and purposeful.