Teachers are probably the most fundamental part of an education system. You could have the best learning environment in the world, but without good instruction, it would be no use. So what makes a good teacher? And how can teachers help revamp education? Even though different teachers may have different views and methods, we think there are three general points that all should follow.
1. Make learning engaging.
The last thing students want when they enter a classroom is to have to sit around listening to a boring lecture about something they don't care about. Now, that's not to say all lectures are boring; if that were true, organizations such as TED wouldn't be so popular. Students need to be actively engaged in learning. It's not good, mentally and physically, to sit around in a chair for an hour, so as a general rule, try to make around half of the class period activity based, or at least time for students to move around. But simply moving around doesn't make learning engaging. The content itself should be designed to entice students in as many ways as possible. There are various methods for this; we'll get to that in a bit. Lastly, create a good learning environment. The only thing more unappealing than a monotone, uninteresting lecture, is being stuck in a windowless coffin. Adding unconventional lighting and carpets would be a good place to start. If at all possible, try varied seating, like bean-bag chairs or cushioned stools. Or, at least arrange the desks in a more interesting way than long rows.
2. Individualize.
No two students are the same. It should be obvious, but a lot of times, education takes standardization too far. This sometimes makes it hard for teachers to cater to each individual student's needs, but there are ways to work around this system. For example, using technology and online learning can help teachers get a better understanding of their students' abilities. Technology shouldn't replace the teacher, but rather help them create activities that would be better suited for certain students. Good teachers will talk with students and get to know them better. They will become their mentor and facilitate the exploration of various concepts. Individualization will ultimately encourage teaching on a more personal level which will ultimately lead to a more memorable and engaging experience.
3. Try new ideas.
New ideas have allowed humanity to achieve ever greater breakthroughs. If everyone did the same thing day after day, nothing would change in the world. The same applies to education. If we keep teaching the same way day after day, we will never know if there are better teaching methods yet to be tried. There are many different ways to go about educating, and although it should be up to the teacher to determine which ones would work better for their classes, here are a few ideas to get started:
1. What if there were tests based on finding information and utilizing resources?
2. What if students could choose alternative ways to showing mastery of content, not just taking a test?
3. What if schools focused more on collaboration and learning how to work with other people?
4. What if instead of taking tests, students had to be able to teach the information they learned to demonstrate mastery?
1. What if there were tests based on finding information and utilizing resources?
2. What if students could choose alternative ways to showing mastery of content, not just taking a test?
3. What if schools focused more on collaboration and learning how to work with other people?
4. What if instead of taking tests, students had to be able to teach the information they learned to demonstrate mastery?
Teaching is an incredibly difficult job, and it may be hard to integrate some of these points. We understand that some courses are bound to a more strict curriculum, such as APs, so it may be especially difficult for those teachers. However, all of these will ultimately enhance the learning experience for students. Without good teachers, education would fall apart.