Teaching a subject is not just about mere knowledge of the subject but also communicating the subject or the topic effectively to the students. So, how can you effectively teach the topic at hand to your students?
Different teachers have different approaches to teaching effectively, but there are a few set of characteristics that make a teacher teach very efficiently. This includes having a pleasant personality, a positive attitude, and a realistic set of expectations, being patient with students, good preparation for the class and being adaptable.
Out of the characteristics listed, being adaptable to the teaching method is very important because not all students are alike and not all of their understanding level is the same. An efficient teacher knows that different students learn at a different pace, so teaching strategies need to be manoeuvred according to the students' needs. If you, as a teacher, show interest and enthusiasm in teaching your subject, your students too will find the subject engaging. If you are teaching monotonously and are in an irritated mood, then your students too will behave in a similar manner.
Continue reading this blog to understand what the required features to teach a subject effectively are.
1. Pleasant Personality
It is very significant for a teacher to have a pleasant personality. A cheerful teacher who keeps smiling even during stressful and challenging times will motivate and encourage the students to develop a positive personality even when the topic at hand is challenging. A pleasing personality will help the teacher deliver their thoughts clearly and teach the subject in a more efficient way. Finally, a teacher with a pleasing personality is one who keeps the fun alive in the classroom.
2. Positive Attitude
You know you are teaching productively and effectively when your students are genuinely interested in learning the subject and not just obtaining grades. How do you make them care? A positive attitude will keep your students invested in the subject. It will be best if you never use your position for personal gain. Remember, fear and respect are not the same. Make your students respect you rather than inflict fear in them. Treat your students like your teammates rather than your opponents. Teaching can be difficult, but if you show passion for teaching, your students will also enjoy your class. Make the learning objectives clear, and don't be afraid to explore creative and imaginative teaching methods.
3. Clear Communication
One of the most important things to remember during teaching is that you may know about the topic really well, but your students may be learning it for the first time. To make sure that all your students understand what you are teaching, it is best to use easy and understandable words. Audio and visuals have always been more effective than text, and hence, using videos, graphs, presentations, and pictorial representation are some of the most effective ways to teach a subject. Make the visuals big and clear for better viewing. In addition to these, help your students in applying the knowledge they gained to become proficient in the subject.
4. Being Patient
Remember that learning something new or something in depth can be challenging even for the most focused student. So you need to be extremely patient and help the student grasp the topic and respond to questions asked. Understand and allow your students to make mistakes and learn from their errors. Acknowledge them when they've learned something new successfully and motivate them to enhance their knowledge further. When your students make a mistake, please think of how you can make the subject easier and more engaging for them instead of screaming at them. Always keep in mind that concepts that are obvious to you may not be obvious to someone learning them for the first time. Be comfortable with explaining a concept as many times as your students require. Teaching can be difficult and stressful at times but have patience with yourself as well. Allow yourself the same chance to make mistakes and learn from them.
5. Preparation for the Class
To teach a subject, you as a teacher need to be familiarized with the concept thoroughly. Just the way you expect students to do their homework, you are expected to come to class prepared and clear all their doubts. If you are teaching a concept for the first time, learn it well yourself first. Think about how you can explain the topic efficiently: whether it's a presentation or a video, or any other teaching method. Make your presentations well ahead of the class and make them in a decipherable and understandable way. Also, make notes that can be conveyed during the presentation.
Another type of preparation is to have an outline of what you will teach in the class. Your objective as an educator is to be able to deliver the key concepts of the topic to your students. Since the syllabus is always more vast than the time permits, you should pick up the crucial part of the topic and help your students learn and apply their knowledge. Allow students to utilize their ideas and experience to build onto the concepts you explain to them. Don’t just stick to the syllabus; explain to learners the real-time applications of the topic. Prepare your class in such a way that you present the key points of the topic without running out of time, and attempt to close every class with a thought to ponder upon.
6. Holding Attention
Most people lose their attention within seconds. This will lead to your students understanding and retaining only a small portion of the topic taught. So how exactly can you keep your students’ intrigue peaked? Allow your students to think of the real-time applications of the topic you teach. Although the presentation is a very effective way to communicate your subject to a large number of students, it is not as effective in a long-term education setting. One of the effective ways to teach a topic is to have an active discussion and debate session about the topic in the class. Another way is to divide them into small groups and hand out a problem related to the topic. Problem-solving activities in small groups will allow students to connect and understand the course content better.
7. Appropriate Marking Scheme
A very significant part of being a teacher is assessing assignments and tests in a fair and unbiased manner. To conduct a proper grading system, it is advisable to have an appropriate marking scheme. The initial step is to set the answer along with the question. Have a clear division of marking of the answer (if it's a mathematical problem, mark the points allotted to each step). Strictly follow your marking scheme to uphold your credibility as a teacher. A lot of institutions have turned towards avoiding students' names on the paper. This is an excellent way to rule out bias. Ask your students to mention their roll numbers on the test paper instead of their names. This will allow you to grade the paper solely based on the student’s answers. If you have a proper marking scheme and you stick to it, you will be able to explain low marking, marks cutting and improvement in a test paper. If you have miscalculated the marks or made a mistake in your correction, it is best to owe up to your mistake and correct it immediately.
Conclusion
A teacher's responsibility is not just to communicate the subject but to communicate it effectively. The above features will help a teacher bring vibrancy and a feeling of togetherness in a class. A class is full of students from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and thus, a teacher needs to adapt accordingly and use creative teaching strategies to impart education to the students. This blog will help teachers teach subjects extremely effectively and help students learn a topic better.
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