What should a teacher know?

Abstract

A typology is presented to identify the fundamental knowledge, skills and attitudes in the teaching practice, based on a review of literature and good educational practices. The proposal organizes these elements into two main dimensions: the teaching act and the necessary prior knowledge. The teaching act encompasses educational planning, the use of diversified teaching and evaluation strategies, classroom management, the creation of a positive affective climate for learning and the ethical fulfillment of responsibilities. These actions seek to promote both the learning of content and the integral formation of students. In terms of prior knowledge, aspects such as teaching thinking, disciplinary and didactic mastery, pedagogical training and personal qualities, including self-efficacy, commitment and professional ethics, are highlighted. These competencies are considered essential to guarantee effective teaching adapted to the characteristics of the students. The typology is proposed as a useful tool for the training, updating and evaluation of teachers, by delimiting the core competencies necessary for teaching and avoiding the requirement of elements foreign to didactic practice. This facilitates teacher professionalization and improves the quality of the educational process.