– By Professor M S Rao, Ph.D.
Teaching is an art and it is not a child’s play. It requires passion to teach students. Having mere knowledge to impart is not enough. What is needed is the ability to understand the role of the teacher, the styles of teaching, teaching methodologies and strategies, correct usage of evaluation techniques, the psychology of the students, and the ability to motivate the students. When a teacher knows all these things properly he or she can become not only an excellent teacher but also a great leader thereby transferring the knowledge, experience, skills, and abilities from one generation to another generation through students.
Teaching is a skill, not a talent. Anybody and everybody can cultivate this skill. Before teaching in the class it is necessary to profile the level of the students and find out what are their requirements, expectations, and aspirations. Once this is done effectively then the content has to be created keeping all those points in view.
First and foremost it is essential to have clarity of the concept. Once it is formed and framed properly then look at the suitability and relevance of the same for the students. All efforts should be made to ensure that the content is relevant and appropriate to the students.
Structuring and sequencing the content should be properly in chronological order with key concepts examples and anecdotes. It all comes under methodologically organizing the course content.
While teaching, the teacher’s oral language should be supported by the usage of a blackboard, PowerPoint presentations, or cue cards. There has to be effective coordination between these two for effective teaching. It makes the students concentrate effectively. If students fail to understand the oral language then the blackboard writing material will come to their rescue for better understanding and retention. The teacher using the blackboard should not spend too much time on the blackboard as it loses touch with the students. There has to be a fine balance between these two elements.
After ensuring the right combination between these two the third element is the involvement of the students in the teaching process by questioning and by interacting with them. Once the students are involved then it helps in better retention. Role-plays or demonstrations will have far-reaching effects on better teaching. Storytelling is an art and if the teacher narrates good stories which are message-oriented and theme-oriented then the students will pay more attention and listen effectively. Besides giving them subjective knowledge it also helps them develop good character. The Socratic Method as a tool of teaching is very interesting for the students. When students pose any questions the teacher should teach them by providing answers usually generated from their questions by way of introspection and deep grilling. It also helps the students to unlock their hidden potential.
Succinctly, teaching skills vary from person to person depending on his or her style, and nature and also it depends on the domain, topic, and profile of the students. There is no fixed or regimented teaching formula for teaching skills.
Teaching methodology
During teaching the teacher should adopt various tools and techniques towards effective teaching. The teacher can start the topic with interesting shocking or inspiring events or happenings. It is also good if the teaching process is started with a short story to arouse interest among the students. If the teacher takes the class for the first time, breaking the ice by asking about the profile of the students is better. If the classes are conducted routinely then it is desirable to question the students by asking them about what was discussed in the previous sessions thus linking the previous sessions with the present sessions. It helps in breaking the ice and helps in connecting the students naturally to the present thereby making a smooth move.
Once the ice has been broken then gradually the teacher should deliver the content by maintaining equal eye contact with all students. It helps the teacher to gauge the body language of the students. If any unfavorable signals are noticed then the teacher needs to explain the same once again and again to gauge their body language. If it is favorable then the teacher can proceed further. If the body language of the students is still not favorable then the teacher has to revise his style of teaching style to suit the students. Once it is okay then the teacher should pose questions intermittently to draw the attention of the students. Giving adequate pauses during teaching helps the students understand better as they can paraphrase the delivered contents and the teaching process should go on in this way.
The teacher should keep reserved stuff ready in case the content is dried up or if the teacher runs out of content. The reserve staff will help the teaching process go on smoothly and it does not affect the students. If the reserve stuff is not ready then the teacher should involve students more by way of questioning and interaction. The teacher should encourage the students to shoot questions related to the topic. It helps students to be active in their learning process as well as it helps them to think deeper and better.
During the teaching process, the teacher should be cool and composed and should ensure that the students are aroused with enthusiasm and interest. It is the students who should get excited with teaching not the teacher himself or herself.
Motivating students
Motivating students is not a child’s play and it is indeed a Herculean task. The teacher has to motivate and inspire the students by being a role model and through various innovative and creative teaching methods. Here is the way how a teacher can motivate and inspire the students:
First of all, it is necessary to know the names of the students as it creates a type of affinity and bonding with the students. Everyone loves to be recognized by his name and called. The sweetest thing in the world is to be called someone by his or her name. This is just the beginning of building bridges and rapport with the students.
Find out what motivates the students and what are their aspirations and expectations from the teacher. Every teacher is knowledgeable and is strong in his domain. But that alone does not work out. What works out is the ability to find the needs of the students and deliver the same. In this process, it is necessary to gauge the pulse of the students. The needs of every student are different. The knack involved is to find out the same and cater to the same effectively and efficiently.
The teacher should have energy levels and demonstrate the same during teaching. This helps the students to get interested in the topic and encourages being involved in the teaching process.
During the delivery of the content, the flow has to be lively, smooth, and natural filled with real-life examples and rags-to-riches stories. This helps them to think in a big way, enhances their imagination levels, and then they try to touch their upper points. The thought process has to be chronological interconnecting various ideas with smooth transitions. It helps them to understand the content better and there will be the least possibility for raising doubts.
Set goals in such a way that the goals are realistic and achievable. It helps them to attempt their goals and move further thereby building their confidence levels. Once they reach their goals appreciate them and set bigger goals where they find the same challenging and stimulating.
Giving feedback continuously helps the students to improve themselves. It is necessary to offer praise immediately and instantly when they achieve something and that too in public as it boosts their self-esteem. In case the feedback to be given is negative it is proper to call privately and offer the same. And while giving negative feedback it is essential to depersonalize the same. The intention is to attack the issue, not the individual. The object is to attack the behavior of the individuals, not the individuals themselves as it offends them. Even in this, it is proper to provide sandwich feedback. That is start the sentences with positive then in the middle attack the negative behavior and then close the sentence with positive words.
Start the class with a motivational story as it conveys morals and also inspires them. We humans love to listen to stories and storytelling is an art every teacher has to master to cater to the students. Along with the story the topic can be discussed. Often storytelling breaks the ice and initiates the teaching process.
Conduct quizzes, debates, and brainstorming sessions depending on the profile of the students. It creates an informal learning environment and also promotes healthy competition among the students. It brings you closer to the students. It gives extra knowledge and information apart from the knowledge related to the curriculum. Giving small prizes to the winners and some consolation prizes to others will encourage other students to participate in such activities. All these activities will help in creating bonding and bonding with the students forever.
Empathize with the students by stepping into their shoes. Understand their needs and wants and drives and motives. Listen to them carefully and then proceed towards motivating and inspiring them.
Be warm and friendly and go the extra mile. Call them personally to your personal cabin and talk to them closely about what they want and what else extra they would like to learn. Despite constraints give them your best so that they revere you forever.
The teacher needs to sympathize with the students who fail in the examinations. The teacher should encourage such students by helping them in realizing their hidden potential. There is a need to diagnose the reasons for failure and help the students to avert such failure and to overcome the drawbacks in their learning methods.
Teaching is the noblest profession
It is the teacher who connects the knowledge from one generation to another generation through students. If the teacher possesses the depth of the knowledge in one domain then the students possess the breadth of the knowledge in various domains and that makes the difference between the teacher and students. The teacher shapes and molds the characters of the students by teaching. One cannot expect huge money in this profession but one can expect great respect and regard. The amount of satisfaction is indeed immense when taught with passion. When the teacher goes the extra mile with extra efforts by motivating and inspiring the students then his or her role as a teacher is priceless and timeless. We can conclude that great teachers are not born in the minds of the students but they are born in the hearts of the students.
– The author is the philosopher of the 21st century and a pioneer of the ‘Soft Leadership’.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETEducation does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETEducation will not be responsible for any damage caused to any person or organisation directly or indirectly.
