Tag: educators

The Unsung Heroes: The Influence of an Inspirational Teacher

Daily writing prompt
Who was your most influential teacher? Why?
View all responses

By Shashikant Nishant Sharma

Teachers are the unsung heroes of society, shaping the minds of future generations and leaving a lasting impact on their students’ lives. Among these educators, there are some whose influence transcends the classroom, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of their students. These influential teachers possess qualities that go beyond imparting knowledge—they inspire, mentor, and guide their students, instilling in them the confidence and skills needed to succeed in life.

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The Role of an Influential Teacher: An influential teacher is not merely someone who imparts academic knowledge but serves as a mentor and guide, nurturing the holistic development of their students. They create a supportive and engaging learning environment where students feel valued, respected, and motivated to excel. These teachers have a genuine passion for teaching and a deep commitment to the well-being and success of their students.

Qualities of an Influential Teacher:

  1. Passion and Dedication: Influential teachers are passionate about their subject matter and dedicated to their students’ growth and success. They go above and beyond to ensure that each student reaches their full potential.
  2. Empathy and Understanding: They understand the individual needs and challenges of each student, showing empathy and providing personalized support and guidance.
  3. Inspiring and Motivating: Influential teachers inspire and motivate their students to set high goals and work hard to achieve them. They believe in their students’ abilities and encourage them to believe in themselves.
  4. Effective Communication: They communicate effectively, fostering open dialogue and creating a safe space for students to express themselves and share their thoughts and ideas.
  5. Mentorship and Guidance: Influential teachers serve as mentors and role models, offering guidance and support to help students navigate academic and personal challenges.
  6. Lifelong Learning: They are lifelong learners themselves, continuously seeking to improve their teaching skills and staying updated on the latest educational trends and practices.

Impact of an Influential Teacher: The impact of an influential teacher extends far beyond the classroom. Their guidance and mentorship shape the character, values, and aspirations of their students, influencing their choices and decisions long after they leave school. Many successful individuals attribute their achievements to the encouragement and inspiration they received from a particular teacher who believed in them when others didn’t.

Conclusion: In conclusion, influential teachers play a crucial role in shaping the future of society by nurturing and empowering the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Their passion, dedication, and commitment to their students leave an enduring legacy that transcends academic achievement. As we celebrate the profound impact of these unsung heroes, let us recognize and honor the invaluable contributions of influential teachers in shaping the minds and hearts of generations to come.

References

Bargh, J. A., & Schul, Y. (1980). On the cognitive benefits of teaching. Journal of Educational Psychology, 72(5), 593.

Cheon, S. H., Reeve, J., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2020). When teachers learn how to provide classroom structure in an autonomy-supportive way: Benefits to teachers and their students. Teaching and teacher education, 90, 103004.

Dehalwar, K., & Sharma, S. N. (2024). Exploring the Distinctions between Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods. Think India Journal, 27(1), 7-15.

Dehalwar, K., & Sharma, S. N. (2023). Fundamentals of Research Writing and Uses of Research Methodologies. Edupedia Publications Pvt Ltd.

Shah, M. (2012). The importance and benefits of teacher collegiality in schools–A literature review. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 1242-1246.

Sharma, S. N. Experiences in Self-Determined Learning: Moving from Education 1.0 Through Education 2.0 Towards Education 3.0.

Sharma, S. N. How to Write a Grant Proposal in an Effective Manner to get Projects.

Wheatley, K. F. (2002). The potential benefits of teacher efficacy doubts for educational reform. Teaching and teacher education, 18(1), 5-22.

Increasing Institutional effectiveness in Higher Education Institutions: Meaning Perspectives Vs Transformative strategies 

By Chengalroyen N.

MSc, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Summary/Abstract

Those who are interested in educational pedagogy are most likely familiar with the term “Transformative learning”, it is a widely accepted approach to adult education. But what does it really mean? And how do we get past the jargon and theory to put into practice? Let’s explore it a bit more and consider practical applications for individuals, institutions and learning environments. The speaker will outline how transformative learning pairs with an educational theory (how does teaching fit into a student’s world view) and will explore concrete ways to address transformative learning strategies: 1) problem-solving; 2) training and education; 

  • Institutional culture; 4) personal development; and 5) leadership) directly correlated to student performance in line with organizational goals.

Lets firstly understand the term Institutional Effectiveness ?

Acc to  The Society for College and University Planning(SCUP):

Is a Higher Education Institutions effort to organize assessment, evaluation and improvement initiatives so that the institution can determine how well it is fulfilling its mission and achieving its goals.

Vision                         Mission                                  Objectives                           Goals

What are Meaning Perspectives: How is this aligned with an Educational Theory

Is an overarching term that describes a collection of theories that explain the application, interpretation and purpose of learning(Acc to Mezirow: 2023).It pairs a Constructivist learning perspective- the idea that meaning is constructed from experience and internal understanding- with the importance of communication and reflection.

So….

As educators, How do we put this in practice?

We develop a “TEACHING PHILOSOPHY”(TP)-which is a “Believe Statement” in which we use theoretical concepts that help to explain the learning processes we wish to utilise and this will have the potential to inform educational approaches, curricula and assessments.

What must the TP should state….?

Must motivate the teacher to learn about the subject matter?

What are the expected outcomes of your teaching?

Teacher – student relationship you hope to achieve?

How do you measure if your lessons are successful?

What values do you impart on your students?

What code of ethics guides you?

What themes pervades your teaching?

What are the 3 types of TP that Educators can utilize to increase Institutional effectiveness?

Acc to the teaching Academy..

  1. Perennialism

Values knowledge that transcends time.This is a subject -centered philosophy.The goal of a perennialis educator is to teach students to think rationlly and develop minds that can think critically.

  • Progressivism

Progressivists believe that individuality,progress and change are fundamental to one education.They believe that students learn best from what they consider most relevant to their lives, centre their curricula on the needs,experiences, interests and abilities of students

  • Essentialism

Is also subject-centered aimed at teaching basic skills.This philosophy advocates training the mind focussing on transmiitting a series of progressively difficult topics and promotion of students to the next level.

So….

How does this then add value to “Transformational Learning”?

The Educator must then align his/her Teaching Philosophy to that of transfomational teaching and learning approaches expained bt the following Model Strategies.

A Transformative Model of Strategies?: Approach to teaching and learning that can increase Institutional Effectiveness

  • Problem Solving:

Do an initial brainstorm.

Be open to making mistakes.

Challenge personal assumptions about the “right way” of doing things.

Look for novel solutions from other sources, especially those outside of the field/culture.

Reflect on what worked , what didn’t  and why?

Know sooner, Act faster approach.

Address administrative challenges promptly(trigger events).

Provide tools/opportunities for discussion and debate.

  • Institutional Culture

Create mentoring and job shadowing programs.

Enhance commitment for the development of synergetic actions.

Encourage collaboration across teams to broaden perspectives.

Encourage individuals and teams to take risks: treat failure as progress and growth.

Engage employees in activities that challenge the status quo such as thought provoking documentaries, annual field trips  and experiential learning games.

Provide safe spaces for employees to voice their say but must be done democratically.

Transformative re-design of educational curriculums into community engagement.

Integrating student development into academic activities.

Interconnected technology systems.

  • Personal development

Be open to changing your personal perspectives.

Push your personal boundaries through travel, trying new activities, meeting new people.

Keep up to date with new evidence-based practices

Keep a journal for ideas and reflection.

Growth of leadership skills.

Strengthening emotional intelligence.

  • Leadership and Governance

Strengthen gaps in policies.

Advance best practices.

Promote transdisciplinary approaches .

Embrace team efforts.

Collaborate with different groups with a diverse set of peers to share and brainstorm ideas.

Advocate professional development opportunities.

Attend skills development opportunities.

Adopt practices that force you to rethink your methods and beliefs on a regular basis.

  • Training and Education

Ask students to share their initial thoughts on the subject(pre knowledge).

Use engaging activities and /or rich media to further connect with students.

Ask students to reflect on the activities and discussion and how those may have impacted their thoughts on the topic.

Conclusion

This pendulum represents a balance, and to have harmony, one side must not out way the other.Therefore, to maintain constant Institutional Effectiveness in Higher Education there must be a balance by what the educator believe statement meets effective teaching and learning approaches. 

References

  1. Mezirow, J. 2023: Transformative learning: Theory to Practice; New directions for adult and Continuing Education; No 74(11): 5-6.