This document discusses effective teaching methods. It observes that teachers need to understand students' prior knowledge in order to teach effectively. Concept mapping, where students are actively involved, can help teachers identify misconceptions but requires expertise and time. Alternatives like comparative analysis of student responses to different question types can also help determine knowledge gaps but require standardized tests. The author identifies that short voluntary questions between lessons allow teachers to gauge cognitive development without extra resources. This method requires identifying key concepts and preparing short clarifying questions.

1. CONCEPT DETERMINATION A NEED FOR BETTER AND EFFECTIVE TEACHING Pinaki Chowdhury Driekoppies Combined School Mpumalanga; Republic of South Africa

2. Acknowledgement: Author is obliged to his teachers at the department of Chemistry, Regional College of education, Mysore, India. In particular Dr. Banarjee and Dr. Keshavan(1987-1989). Authorities and staff members of NCERT libraries at Mysore and New Delhi, india. For supporting to pursue the work for better education. Authorities in the field of education(1965-93) journals and books used to work in this field. In particular, JD Novak et all, Asubell et all, Gowin et all. Mr. Ngwenya AV, Ms Zulu NH, Mr Dlamini SN for helping the presentation a reality.

3. Perception: Edger DB (1990)in his work suggested that it should be the duty of the teacher to find out the logic of the students misunderstandings. This in turn help the teacher, to find out what is to be elaborated, to develop proper concept understanding and effective learning. It is learnt from the study done by Asubel(1968) that learning is greatly influenced by the previous knowledge of the learner.

4. Observation: It is observed that certain well planned and good designed tools can help a teacher to find out the level of understanding of students. But it requires a lot; in terms of time, money and most importantly the expertise on the part of the teacher . But it is the duty of a teacher to make teaching effective. A teacher can make the teaching effective only when s/he has a clear view of the learners previous knowledge. Otherwise teaching becomes a one way traffic and bored for both learner as well as the teacher.

5. How to make Teaching Effective According to author: Ideal method is concept mapping. In this process of mapping students are actively involved. While looking back to the work they can clearly point out their own misconception. This also helps in the enhancement of performance. Drawback of this process is the lack of necessary expertise and time. It also demands a smaller classroom. Most importantly it demands the teacher to be an expert in subject as well as in the process of concept mapping. It requires a group of motivated learner. Not the kind we are handling in our day to day situation. Other method could be the comparative study of students response on different tools (different type of questions) using same topic. A study on grade 12 student response ( in India) using objective and short answer type questions(1991-1992) was conducted by the author. This is found to be a very effective one in the determination of the knowledge gap of the students. But this also has its own drawback. Non availability of standardized and reliable test materials and a high demand of stationary is the main factor. In all practical sense a high school teacher do not have available time and resources to prepare standardized test on every topic to be taught in the class room.

6. Author has identified that interpersonal interaction in between a lesson and placing short questions for students can effectively help a teacher to determine the state of cognitive development of students. It can also identify qualitatively low and high achiever of a class, most importantly, this exercise does not require any extra resources in terms of time and money. It also provide complete freedom to the teacher in operational term. Before adopting this method a teacher has to do some home work. S/he has to identify the key terms (concepts) from the topic. Then prepare few short questions that can be asked to the students in between lesson to open up the lesson and lead to clarity and hence a better learning. A POWERFULL ALTERNATIVE

7. ADVANTAGE It does not require any monetary investment. It does not require any extra time. It does not demand any specialist teacher. A teacher can effectively use it at any stage of learning process.

8. As a teacher What we need ? We need to use school library. We need to study the topic to be taught. We need to identify the new concepts to be taught. We need to identify the old concepts required in the present lesson. We need to prepare short volley questions to help us to identify the concept gap.

9. LET US SHARE Q1. Give me some pani . Q2. What is electricity ? Q3. Atom A & atom B combines to make a molecule. We write AB or BA. Are they same ? Q4. What is cathode ? Q5. Find x when : x + 30 = 60 OR x + 36009 = 5x + 58770

10. YOUR QUESTIONS