Little Black Book - For Teachers
Once, somebody had asked me, “How do I define a good teacher?” The question had left with me a corollary question as to, “Who exactly is a good teacher?” Well, In India, Teachers or Guru are revered as Gods. Guru is regarded as “dispeller of darkness” (from gu, “darkness” and ru, “that which dispels”). Thus a teacher removes the darkness of ignorance from the students mind and inculcates the thirst for knowledge. They shape the lives of every individual thereby making them responsible citizens of the country. I strongly believe- for the nation to progress and become a developed nation, teachers play the primary role. Excellent teachers believe that it is pupils' effort and teaching quality that determine how well a child performs academically and not the ability of the child. When you strive to become a good teacher and to create a good classroom, four core qualities are essential- Knowledge, the skills to convey that knowledge, the ability to make the material you are teaching interesting & relevant and a deep seated respect for the student.Without these 4 qualities, the inherent aspects of good teaching will cease to exist. Teaching as a profession has seen a great paradigm shift from the Gurukul system to the chalk and talk system. Currently the system has evolved to online classrooms with a blend of Virtual Reality, Augmented and Mixed Reality. It is very important for the teacher these days to engage students effectively using various pedagogies to invoke attention and enhance the attention span of the young students. Teachers must be familiar with various pedagogical tools imparting high value knowledge and educate students to think critically and become decision makers of the future. This book therefore focuses primarily on the 4 essentials stated above, the common problems teachers face and the tips to become a better teacher and excel in the profession. Teaching is an art and this art can only be mastered with practice. The Bonus Tips will also help teachers to get better and inspire more students. With good online lectures available at their fingertips, this generation students seek for motivators, influencers and facilitators than mere teachers.