What makes a great teacher?

Kalyanaraman TR | Joint Secretary
Sankara Institute of Management Science

In this day and age, it is extremely vital for educational institutions to possess the right teachers in their institutes. Teachers can make a huge positive difference in any student’s life and only in few professions, the power to change people’s lives can be witnessed.

So the questions arises, what makes a good teacher? Firstly, it is extremely important that teacher should possess the required qualification for their job. However, not all qualified teachers make a great teacher. Qualification, combined with immense passion, dedication, selfless nature, and commitment can certainly produce great teachers.

Few things that should be carried on by all teachers on regular basis are listed in the following points in no particular order. It is extremely important that a teacher is willing to learn each day. No teacher knows everything, however, a good teacher strives to improve by learning each day. Learning and upgrading in their respective subjects through regular updation of current affairs, attending internship, reading books, updating with latest technologies, etc. is extremely important, as students are more updated than previous generations with advent of technology. It is important even for an experience teacher, to be prepared for class daily. Preparation can involve researching about the topics each day at home for an hour, to ensure that they deliver the current relevant subject knowledge for their students. If this process is followed each day with same passion and commitment, even an ordinary teacher can be transformed to a great teacher.

It is extremely important for a teacher to be non judgemental about their students, and even if teachers categorise students based on their academic results, it is important teachers puts that extra effort to ensure that students who are termed as academically weak are transformed. Hence, teacher should know the academic strengths and weakness of their students, and can plan extra training or homework based on requirement of the students to ensure all students in class comprehend the lessons taught daily.

In today’s practical world, to be successful, it is extremely important to be confident and fearless. Hence, it is extremely important for a teacher not only to ensure all students are learning and progressing, but also to give them opportunities to participate in various inter and intra institutional events. Identifying introvert students and exposing them to various events in leadership roles will go a long way in transforming their life into successful ones.

Teaching process without engaging students is like a car without fuel. Right from school to colleges, it is vital to engage students in learning process. Discussion method is the only way forward to ensure that knowledge is reaped to the fullest by students. During a discussion, students will engage in conversation with their peers, teachers, and also clear their doubts with teachers. Also in interactive learning process, students regularly indulge in stage presentation tasks. Only if students know that they will be questioned anytime, there will be 100% attentive students. If not even if the teacher is excelling in their job, the take away for students might still be below par. Hence, basic duty of teacher is to ensure that every student comprehends the subject taught each day.

It is important that teachers should place their passion before their salary. If a teacher has their priorities reversed, then it will be difficult to be devote extra time, be selfless and it will gradually affect the objective of their profession and will eventually be reflected in the academic results of students. However, if their passion is sustained with daily efforts to learn and upgrade, then salary part will keep hiking in auto mode.

Finally to conclude, goal of a teacher is not to make the students pass. but to ensure that each day students are learning and progressing, by doing so, results will look after itself. Also, great teachers not only teach students whats in the books, but also inculcate students with discipline, ethics and morals to be successful. Great teacher will always be respected and never be forgotten by their students. I hope every institution has passionate teachers that are ready to selflessly work for student community to ensure our nation progresses from developing nation to a developed one with strong economy.