What Makes an Expert?

The ISW Handbook for Participants (2006) describes 4 major qualities of effective teachers, one of which is:

Content expertise – having knowledge of the subject area, clear goals and objectives, effective selection and organization of course content, enthusiasm about the course.

I jumped for joy at this statement because the summarized title does not match the description of attributes whatsoever. “Having knowledge” of content does not deem one an expert – or does it? Because that’s much less intimidating to novicey ol’ me. The rest of the description has to do with “pedagogical logistics” (like it? I just made it up): effective use of learning objectives, curriculum design, and enthusiasm. Skills that have to do with the process of using content, not the content itself.

What’s neat is that the text says “over the years, many learners have been asked for their perceptions about the qualities of effective teachers they remember”. So I wonder: did the learners come up with broad qualities (i.e. “content expertise”) and the pedagogy specialists broke it down into attributes? Is that why there’s such a disparity?

I love this disparity! What great insight into how a “content expert” in one’s eyes is really just an individual with a great pedagogical toolkit in another’s.