We all love to ensure our students not only learn from us but also respect us, love attending our classes and get inspired from us. For this to materialise, you need to transform yourself from a good to a great teacher. This series of blog posts are about helping you on that journey.
Table of Contents
The journey from Good to Great Teacher – Replace lectures with conversations
- Why should teaching be one-way?
- Why must it be passive?
- Why should you cocoon yourself into thinking that you are the master in the subject you teach?
Why teachers become BORING?
One of the key reasons we end up becoming ‘a boring teacher’ is the regurgitating of textual content. Over the years we perfect the art and make ‘bookish knowledge’ our comfort zone. It lulls us into the assumption that we know everything about the subject that there is to know.
I have seen teachers turn incredulous when I force conversations to happen between teachers and students. A student says something that he/she has come across on the Internet related to the subject at hand …and you should see the teacher struggling on how to react to it.
Should they accept it at face value, should they hide their embarrassment on ‘being in the dark’ about this piece of info? Should they outright deny it? Confusion plays ‘tandava’ on the teacher’s face.
Knowledge flows from all directions – teachers tend to forget this
Most of the times, as teachers, we forget to acknowledge that knowledge can grow at a stupendous rate. Often at rates, faster than we can comprehend, let alone assimilate.
We also forget that knowledge can come from all directions. Over time, our textbook becomes our Bible.
This is what prevents us from transforming from good to great teacher. Drop the ‘sage on the stage’ act and engage your students in a casual conversation like you would a good friend.
Acknowledge new knowledge coming in.
- Nothing wrong with admitting to your students that something is new to you too.
- Lap up the new knowledge with the curiosity of a child.
Accept that you may not know all
You may feel like you have let down your guard. It’s OK. Remember, you are teaching your students
- the value of receiving new knowledge,
- the importance of being transparent and
- the love for knowledge irrespective of where it is coming from.
Image by 14995841 from Pixabay
The benefits of replacing lectures with conversations
- You are signalling to students that they can share too
- Classes become more interactive
- Sessions become creative and fun
- Students start digging for new information – for the sheer drive to participate actively in your class
- Studies stop becoming a bore or a drag
- Healthy competition from students as they learn from each other
- Your job becomes easy and enjoyable – You turn from being a teacher to a mentor – You only need to guide them
- Students will look forward to your classes since they are being treated with respect
- Revision classes become a thing of the past as every class of yours is revision plus furthering your students’ learning
- Classrooms never have to witness punishments
Over time, your students will respect you for these qualities. They will be inspired by you and try to imbibe your qualities into their personalities.
They will be open to sharing their little explorations in your subject with you, knowing fully well that you would welcome their findings with an open mind.
Long after you stop teaching them, they will still reach out to you. This will be the deep connection you will make with your students. No matter where life takes them, your students will turn to you whenever they think of their teacher. The simplest reason is they see that you have made and are still continuing on the journey from a good to great teacher.
