What is the teacher’s role within education? Since teaching isn’t an exact science and theory couldn’t be further away from practice, having an educational philosophy becomes necessary in order to guide us through the mazes and challenges of the art of teaching. That would be a suitable definition: teaching is more of a craft than necessarily a clear set of steps to be taken.
Planning’s a must, nevertheless, improvising is crucial especially before an unfamiliar crowd. We as humans connect easily when talking about something we find interesting thus; having extensive general knowledge allows us to bond with students over shared interests. SO
A good teacher is a generalist. They are able to connect different facts within different sciences in order to have a more holistic view. Students gain deeper understanding of concepts through thoughtful dialogue rather than memorizing information. The teaching & learning experience is an exchange of knowledge, a good teacher learns as much as they teach.
A good educator understands the difference between having authority and being an authoritarian and the difference between a rebel who questions and a disruptor who lacks respect for everyone else. Questioning is the basis of science and critical thinking; authorities are constantly subjected to criticism therefore: an authoritarian educator is a great example of an paradox.
Studying history should be starting point of every science. By using history of the English language, I was able to properly explain to my students why written English is so different from Spoken English; why the uses of articles and auxiliaries are unique in English; why English became the first global language and why English is essential for our society to function properly.
A good teacher must understand and respect their students’ limits. If the challenge is too great or too small, the student will not feel motivated enough to study. Cognitive Science shows that the human brain likes shortcuts when it comes to thinking and progress when it comes to solving problems that matches the mind’s capabilities.
