Many teachers believe they know everything, while students are seen as empty vessels. These teachers often lecture without encouraging interaction. However, true learning thrives on dialogue and questions. Questions and discussions are crucial
What could be better than learning physics from Albert Einstein? Well, it turns out that teaching wasn't his strong suit. Three years after his groundbreaking paper on relativity, Einstein started teaching at the University of Bern.
However, he struggled to garner interest in his thermodynamics course. Only three students enrolled, and they were all his friends. In the following semester, the class had to be canceled due to just one student signing up.
Later, when Einstein applied for a position at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, the president had reservations about his teaching abilities.
Einstein eventually secured the job thanks to a friend's recommendation, but the friend conceded, "He is not a great speaker." As his biographer Walter Isaacson put it, "Einstein was never an inspired teacher, and his lectures tended to be regarded as disorganized."
Teaching is truly an art.
Knowledge is important, but the art of teaching is equally important. An excellent teacher possesses both knowledge and the skill to impart it effectively.Learning thrives in a conducive environment, and a teacher's primary role is to create an atmosphere where students can learn from one another.
Learning should involve seeing, doing and experiencing.
Students should be encouraged to pursue their passions, as success often stems from a genuine love for one's interests. It's time for us, teachers, to relinquish the notion that we solely shape the future of our students. Teachers can't change anyone's future, but they can facilitate the environment for students' success.
Teachers often force students to learn, which can reduce their passion for studying. We need to discover methods to ignite and keep their interest in learning alive. For example, when a student gets only two questions right out of twenty, should we concentrate on the eighteen wrong ones or praise the two correct ones? Instead of emphasising students' mistakes in red ink, we should recognise their strengths with green ink.
Our goal in education can only thrive when we use this balanced approach.
Many teachers believe they know everything,while students are seen as empty vessels. These teachers often lecture without encouraging interaction.
However, true learning thrives on dialogue and questions. If Arjuna hadn't questioned Lord Krishna, we wouldn't have had the Bhagavad Gita. Encouraging questions and discussions is crucial for effective learning. Sadly, some experienced teachers discour-age questions, even resorting to punishment. It's time we embrace questions and say, "Ask me anything."
Teachers are often the first role models for students.
What teachers say and do greatly influence students, who aspire to be like them. My best teacher inspired me, cared for me, and even shared jokes and sports discussions during class, making me more interested in the subject.However, some teachers prioritise the curriculum over their students, leaving a limited impact. There are also those who mistreat students, raising questions about their choice of profession and expectations in life.
Successful teachers possess two deep loves: for their students and their subjects. They engage every student, making them feelvalued. These teachers motivate and inspire, taking the time to know students' names, interests, thoughts and feelings. Such actions build strong bonds. If teachers interact with students in the back rows, asking if they understand, it ignites more interest.
The teaching process isn't like copying files from a computer to a pen drive; it involves a dynamic exchange where teachersspeak, and students respond.
The truth is, students can learn without teachers, but teachers are incomplete without students.
Learning is a natural process, with teachers facilitating it.
Good teachers can make complicated ideas easy to understand. If a teacher has trouble simplifying a concept, it might mean they don't fully get it themselves.
Even a famous scientist like Richard Feynman once said he needed time to make things simpler because he knew he wasn't clear enough. If someone like him can admit this, we should also be honest about what we don't understand.
In short, if we can't explain something to a fifth-grader, we may not truly understand it.
In Benjamin Bloom's book, "Developing Talent in Young People", he explored the success stories of famous biologists, singers, athletes and artists. What's surprising is that these accomplished individuals didn't start with the best teachers or coaches. Instead, they were guided by ordinary teachers who nurtured their passions and kept them motivated. This goes to show that students aren't necessarily looking for the best teachers; they seek those who create an environment where learning thrives.
Outstanding teachers take on the roles of mentors, philosophers and guides for their students.
They deeply understand the challenges each student faces in the classroom and work tirelessly to make learning easier while inspiring everyone.
Effective communication, empathy and patience are their trademarks, crucial for managing diverse classrooms.
In today's digital age, information is readily available, but it takes someone extraordinary to create an environment that truly engages students and encourages meaningful learning. Nowadays, many educational institutions worldwide refer to teachers as 'learners' rather than 'teachers'. They recognise that while students unquestionably learn during the teaching process, teachers also undergo significant learning experiences.
Engineer Pandey is a leader of the Bibeksheel Sajha Party, dedicated to ensuring quality education for everyone; Twitter: @MilanPandey
A version of this article appears in the print on October 30, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
