APPROACHES TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING

• NCJ Number: 63460
• Author(s): J FAY
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 252 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Georgia
• Sale Source: University of Georgia
• Publication Type: Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR IMPROVING TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAMS. EMPHASIS IS ON THE APPLICATION OF THEORETICAL JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND TASKS TO 'HANDS ON' INSTRUCTION.

Abstract

THE TEXT EXAMINES AND DESCRIBES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION WHICH INVOLVES PRESENTATION BY THE INSTRUCTOR, APPLICATION BY THE STUDENT, AND EVALUATION. THE TEXT DESCRIBES SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES INCLUDING THE CONFERENCE METHOD AND THE CASE STUDY METHOD. THE USE OF LECTURES, TEAM TEACHING, PEER TEACHING, FIELD TRIPS, AND ROLE PLAYING IS DESCRIBED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS PAID TO PROGRAMMED INSTRUCTION, THE USE OF INSTRUCTIONAL HARDWARE, AND WRITING A LESSON PLAN. ALTHOUGH TRADITIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC TEACHING METHODS ARE DIVERSE, AT ANY INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM MUST CREATE COMPETENT PRACTITIONERS AND STUDENTS. HOW MUCH A STUDENT LEARNS AND USES LATER DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF THE INSTRUCTION. THEREFORE, INSTRUCTION SHOULD BE MEANINGFUL AND APPROPRIATE AND SHOULD PROVIDE FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION. TECHNIQUES SUCH AS CASE STUDY EXAMINATION AND PEER TEACHING KEEP STUDENTS ACTIVE AND AID IN THEIR ACQUISITION OF NEW INFORMATION. PROGRAMMED INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES AND COMPUTER-ASSISTED SYSTEMS, ON THE OTHER HAND, MAY ENHANCE TRAINING, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN INSTRUCTION IS THE TEACHER. INSTRUCTORS MUST CAREFULLY PLAN THEIR PRESENTATIONS AND PRACTICAL EXERCISES, AND THEY MUST FIND WAYS TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN LISTENER RECEPTIVITY. THE IDEAL INSTRUCTOR DELEGATES AUTHORITY AND LEADERSHIP IN ORDER TO MAKE STUDENTS' GOALS A PART OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROCESS. ALTHOUGH A PURELY DEMOCRATIC TEACHING PROGRAM MAY RESULT IN INTERNAL CONFLICTS, AND AN AUTHORITARIAN PROGRAM MAY NOT PERMIT STUDENT EXPRESSION, AN INTEGRATED PROGRAM CAN RESULT IN THE MOLDING OF STUDENTS INTO A FUNCTIONING TEAM. SUCCESSFUL INSTRUCTION ALSO RELIES ON TEACHERS' ABILITY TO MOTIVATE AND COUNSEL STUDENTS. TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING WRITING ABILITY AND A SAMPLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CURRICULUM ARE PRESENTED. (TWK)