Teaching is an art and teacher is an artist. This art can be
learnt, improved and extended. Every year a teacher starts with a blank canvas
and ends with his/her masterwork. It is a great job in the world
that takes a lot of heart. It is the art of making minds, personalities,
character and much more. Teacher has the responsibility to ensure all round
development of the coming generations which includes physical, social, mental,
intellectual, emotional and personal development.
Technically speaking, teaching is the process of facilitation
and mediation between the learner and curriculum. Curriculum is a plan of
intended outcomes to be achieved by the learners through the process of
teaching. One who claims to be a good teacher must have the ability to
recognize the uniqueness of the individuals and work with them accordingly.
Being a multi-facial job, it is difficult to enumerate all the
qualities of good teaching. However, in order to narrow down the concept, the
qualities of effective teaching can be classified in the following three broad categories,
which can enable the planners to determine quality indicators of teaching.
Subject-matter Knowledge: A teacher is
expected to teach a specific subject, which not only requires full command of
the subject but also requires the best possible way of communication according
to the needs of students. A good subject expert without the quality of good communication
skills is of no use. A teacher must be an authority in his/her subject. He/she
will be able to satisfy students thirst in a greater perspective of life-long
learning. He/she makes the students to explore the essentials of a particular
subject.
A knowledgeable teacher encourages his/her students to find
out ways of seeking knowledge in a particular area. The scope of knowledge is
expanding day by day through research and innovations. A good teacher keeps
himself/herself continuously updated in the field of his/her own expertise as
well as in the ways of presenting his subject.
Performance: A good teacher is known and recognized by the performance
he/she delivers. This category of teachers’ qualities encompass all
professional demands required for effective teaching. Classroom management,
application of a good and result oriented strategies and techniques, keeping
students motivated and the abilities and creativity to deal with the day to day
challenges and individual differences.
Performance is an alternate of the
application of professional knowledge. It can be judged by the learning environment he/she
establishes in the classroom. Conducive learning environment demands for the
effective use of technology, audio visual aids and learning activities planned
for the engagement of students. Teaching is a job that requires pre-planning
all the time. Lesson planning, time management, resource management, knowing
students’ needs individually and the achievement and consolidation of learning
outcomes enrich the teacher’s performance.
A good teacher is always capable of continuous students’
assessment. Learning is a continuous process and same is the case with
assessment. It is an important quality of teaching to know the tools and
techniques of assessment and apply them in real classroom environment. It is
basically assessment that enable the teacher to plan effectively. In short,
performance of the teachers actually depends on the professional growth and
smartness of the teachers. Continuous professional development is the key to
active performance.
Conduct: conduct is a set of qualities which encompasses all the essential
personal qualities of teacher. Behavior, manners, sense of dress, sense of
humor, dedication and commitment, cultural and social soundness, positive attitude and
punctuality are the qualities falling under the domain of conduct.
Sense of humor makes the teaching fun. It can easily defuse
tense situations and creates an environment conducive for learning where
students feel comfortable and safe. Similarly, open mindedness is an asset of
teachers that helps the teacher to go with-the-flow, listen to all the possible
ideas and identify new things with a positive attitude. The quality of
leadership is also essential for taking initiatives. Thus, students look to
their leaders as a role model. It is the leadership quality to trust others and
delegate powers as and when required.
Moral integrity is another important quality that a teacher
must have. It demands for a model behavior that teacher and community expect of
their coming generations. Students are the best judges of their teachers. They
can easily identify ‘fake personalities’. Not to lie, respect and kindness,
tolerance and observance of school rules are as important for teachers as for
the students. Great teachers inspire their students by practice what they
preach in the classroom.
In conclusion, it is almost difficult to enlist all the
qualities of teachers that make teaching great. But the qualities mentioned
here are enough to determine the role of good teachers. Teaching is a
multi-dimensional profession and demands for a sense of accountability and continuous
self-reflection.
