ABSTRACT
At the outset, the article starts with a wonderful quotation of Abraham Maslow. The article speaks in volumes about the Career Planning and Career Management individually and Career Planning and Management collectively both from the individual and institutional perspective. The concept of SWOT analysis is utilized to pave the way for the right career. The repercussions like stress and burn out are highlighted if CPM is not adhered adequately. Various tools and techniques are dwelt at length in order to make CPM effective and efficient. The concepts like multipotentiality and early emerger are focussed to make the script interesting. At the end, the author comes out with a clarion call ‘not to compromise the career for monetary consideration but to plan and manage the career from all perspectives’.
* * * *
“Human needs arrange themselves in hierarchies of pre-potency. That is to say, the appearance of one need usually rests on the prior satisfaction of another, more pre-potent need. Man is a perpetually wanting animal”- Abraham Maslow in his hierarchy of needs theory.
"By spending just 10 per cent of GDP (RS 4,90,000 Crores) on skill repair, the country would be able to generate extra income of 61 percent of GDP (RS 17,51,487 Crores) for the current unemployable youth", according to India Labor Report 2007. There is a wide mismatch between unemployment and unemployability. It is well known that unemployment means lack of job opportunities where as unemployability means people having the requisite qualification but not having the requisite skills and abilities to get the job despite availability of jobs. Rather unemployability arises due to skills deficit. Career Planning and Management (CPM) will address the issue of unemployability effectively.
WHAT IS CPM?
Because of the growing attrition rate there is greater focus on CPM by all companies. The companies find it difficult to hire the employees, as there is no skill set matching at the recruitment. This is the problem that is one side of the coin. And the other side of the coin is another problem of retaining the employees. Besides, poaching of employees by the rival companies. Likewise, problems are getting manifold at the corporate level. The companies are conducting regular workshops, seminars and training sessions in order to upgrade the skills and abilities of their employees in enhancing efficiency and efficacy. The growing competition and the rapid changes in technology also compelled the corporate to train and groom their employees regularly.
The Human Resources Department (HRD) that basically involves the employees from recruitment to retirement is gradually reinventing its role by focussing more on development of the professionals apart from their traditional role. The roles and responsibilities of HRD are getting expanded with the fast changing business environment. The liberalization, privatization and globalization have opened up the Indian economy. As a result, MNCs have come and competed with the Indian companies. Initially the Indian companies were worried with the onslaught of MNCs but gradually Indian entrepreneurs realized that there were no way out of it and began competing. Although there were many initial hiccups, gradually things were settled and the hidden potential of Indian business has come out and now we find Indian MNCs across the world which is a positive and victorious sign. All these contributed into specialization of each area and line of professional activities. There is growing professionalism in each and every area of business. So is the case with each and every department of every institution. The HRD began concentrating and expanding the roles and responsibilities related to career planning and management of its precious human resources to make it effective and efficient to check rising attrition.
SWOT ANALYSIS:
SWOT is the acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. It is an effective tool either to evaluate career prospects or to solve any problems in day to day life. It is widely used in all spheres of personal and professional life, be it, for individuals or for institutions.
When we look at individually, SWOT analysis is as mentioned below. The person who passes out of his college and who intends to search for a right placement should evaluate himself his strengths, such as his academic qualifications, achievements, honors, any research papers etc., Academically, he should analyze his aptitude, attitude, tastes and temperaments. And he should list out if he got any distinction. Whether he has won class first, or gold medal etc., He should look at his personal qualities where he is strong at and in which way he can capitalize his strengths. Coming to the weaknesses he should analyze the subjects or areas where he is weak and look at if he can convert his weaknesses into strengths. If the person lacks a few qualities or capabilities to get a job of his choice, he should put efforts to improve himself by systematic training and practice. Regarding the opportunities the person should look at wider opportunities so as to have wider choice of survival and success in his chosen career. Rather one should look at risk minimization and risk elimination. Usually one can not avoid threats but one must be able to manage the probable or possible threats, which could be both internal and external. The threats resulting out of internal are better manageable than that of external.
CAREER PLANNING:
After conducting SWOT analysis, one can easily come to a conclusion about one's aptitude towards career. In India, the career planning (CP) mostly lies in the hands of parents followed by teachers and friends. Rather it is advisable to look at the career from one's own perspective such as mental aptitude, social and economic dimensions. CP is a crucial factor either to make or break one's career. If one selects wrong career the life would become a hell. God gifted us only 24 hours. Out of this 24 hours, people spend approx. 6 to 8 hours for sleep. 6 to 8 hours again for social and recreational activities and commuting from work place to residence and vice versa. People work from 8 to 14 hours a day depending upon the career and service one has chosen. All these timings are flexible totaling again God gifted 24 hours a day. So most of the time is spent at the work place followed by regular sleep and then again with family.
If one gets the job of his choice and spouse of his choice s/he is said to be the luckiest. Because one can enjoy his work at office and prosper and similarly at home he can lead a peaceful and pleasant life. Either building or breaking one's life solely depends on the selection of career. Once the right career is planned, all efforts should be put to pursue the same. The right tools and techniques should be acquired to meet the goals and plans. Adequate courses, degrees, skills and abilities are to be acquired regularly so as to fine-tune with the desired career goal. Once the cherished career is achieved it is just the beginning the real battle.
There is a need to upgrade with the tricks of the trade related to the job. By accepting a capable and veteran as a mentor the career can be pursued more effectively and efficiently. Time and again there would be both internal and external problems, which have to be properly handled, and managed so as to ensure survival and success in the chosen career.
Keeping goals, which are duration based one can gradually, scale the ladder of career. Now a day, there is rapid change in technology and one who keeps pace with the changes can attune himself and can smoothly scale the ladder in any organization.
CAREER MANAGEMENT:
Fresher of college pass out are young and energetic and their priorities are different. They should not get into job for the sake of job. Rather they must look at the niceties and pitfalls of pursuing a specific career and must pursue after weighing the pros and cons. They must view career not only from financial perspective but also growth perspective. If they get into the right track they can pull the strings for the fast track. In most of the cases, the fresher get into wrong career track and struggle to get into the right career track resulting into wastage of precious energies, time and money. And, of course, a few get demoralized.
For middle aged, the priorities are different. They are mature and tested and tasted the life but the family problems keep pulling them behind. They easily get into the right track but may find it difficult to be on the fast career track due to family, social and economic conditions.
For those on the verge of retiring or those who are just at their fag end of their life, their energies don't support. However, they can encash on their past experience to mould themselves to provide guidance and mentoring to the youngsters.
Overall, CPM is well said than done. There are always critical gaps between planning and execution. However, the career development professional can play a vital role to fill the gaps.
STRESS MANAGEMENT:
Research reveals that only 2 out of 10 employees are the most suitable to get selected for placements and the rest 8 are not able to cope up resulting into stress. These two are enjoying, learning, earning and growing in their organizations. What is about the balance 8 employees?
The companies also have no option but to recruit the people although there is mismatch in the expected abilities and accepted realities. All these are leading to higher stress levels at the work front, as the employees are not fully competent to cope up with the job expectations. Inability to manage the same is leading to the initial stage of stress and subsequently to burn out stage. While stress is the initial stage, burn out is the ultimate stage.
A few well-established companies are providing meditation and yoga classes to their employees during the working hours to manage the stress. They are also providing counseling classes and conducting various seminars and workshops to highlight this menace.
If people opt for careers based on their aptitude and abilities rather on prestigious or monetary considerations the stress could be minimized to a greater extent.
TOOLS FOR CPM:
• Dr. Stephen R Covey, in his book, ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’ highlighted one of the habits such as continuously learning and growing. Education is a learning process from womb to tomb. Always learn new things and trends in the trade so as to stay ahead of stiff competition.
• It is essential to network effectively with the people in and around you. Networking should not be from one side and should be based on the policy of ‘give and take’. The growing communication taught many lessons. Although it separated people physically it connected people mentally and emotionally thereby promoting relations. Networking is a powerful tool to CPM. But never neglect the present network.
• ‘A bird in hand is worth two in the bush’ goes the saying. Never neglect the present job. There are many lessons we can learn from the present job either from seniors or peers or from subordinates. By interacting frequently with colleagues professionally, many tools and techniques can be learnt. One can create new tools from the present experience, which may become the benchmark for others to emulate. By working diligently in the same job one can rise from the rest and can stand out from the pack.
• Passion to learn and grow and passion to go extra mile will prove handy for career success. Inculcating inquiry spirit will make one to stretch out. When an individual works with passion in the same trade, there will be recognition and response and the opportunities will become manifold.
• Attending seminars, workshops and courses will expand ones mental horizons and attending such events will provide wider network and exposure. Each job has its own skills set and if one wants to get into another related or unrelated line of career, there is a strong need to acquire such skills set.
• The CV is a concrete, accomplishable tool for job search. The CV of an individual must regularly modify with the changes in the skill set and with the courses, or skills or abilities one acquired. The more modifications in the CV are an indication of more transformational changes in the personality. In the CV, try to project what the employer expects thereby enhancing marketability.
• Always be in touch with the labor market with details like potential, opportunities, changes etc., Coupled with labor market, research on the career regularly will throw new light. In a nutshell, search, research and in touch with the job market is an imperative.
• If required, be in touch with career development professional that will do your job in a professional manner. Such professionals ensure smooth career shift and career success.
• This is the age and stage of specialization. All efforts must be put to find out what exactly one wants to pursue and narrow down the options to one or two and again pursue the same up to the hilt. There is no logic in beating around the bush. Don’t let your mind waver in complexity but be in simplicity and accuracy.
• According to statistics, approx. 80,000 hours of our life is spent at the work place. Try to spend it wisely, qualitatively and happily by enjoying the same.
• Always set your priorities right and straight and pursue accordingly.
• Always exit the existing institution with sweet will and good will.
JACK OF ALL TRADES:
Two terms like ‘multipotentiality’ and ‘early emerger’ are often used in CPM. According to Frederickson & Rothney, 1972, “Multipotentiality is the ability to select and develop any number of career options because of a wider variety of interests, aptitudes and abilities”. In fact, multipotentiality is a person who is capable in various activities right from the scratch. Rather he is a versatile person. Such kinds of people are strong in many areas but not in in-depth knowledge. Such people can be called as Jack of all trades but master of none.
On the contrary, ‘early emerger’ is a person who is highly focussed in one activity right from the childhood. He has passion and he tends to continue in his passionate field. He is unmindful of other areas of interest. Rather he is specialist in one area. Such people can be called as Jack of none but master of one trade.
There are pros and cons in both multipotentialities and early emergers. Such concepts will help in selecting the right career based on one’s mental aptitude and attitude towards the career.
CONCLUSION:
Don’t lose so much of happy life for so little money. Don’t become a round peg in a square hole or a square peg in a round hole. Identify the right aptitude, plan the right career and manage it. Acquire the right ingredients to reach the cherished career and chase it till the end to reach your goals and motivate yourself constantly in the process. And ultimately reach your beloved career. Up to here, it is only the half of the battle won and the rest half would be won only when you manage your career by acquiring and upgrading skills and abilities continuously.
MESSAGE:
Life is short and make it sweet. And don’t make your career like a prison sentence. Everything depends on the perceptions of the person. There is a strong need to strike the balance between work and life and between money and recreation. CPM as a tool, if utilized and managed effectively and efficiently, the life could be spent qualitatively leaving a mark behind.
T H E E N D
Sunday, January 13, 2008
COMMON SKILLS
ABSTRACT
The article highlights about concept of common skills, which become the bedrock of all skills among people. The most TEN common skills have been chosen after filtering with pros and cons of all skills and abilities based on certain parameters. All the ten common skills have been briefly explained. A comparative study has been made amongst common skills, hard skills and soft skills. At the end there is a strong message that these three concepts are essential for becoming a successful personality.
People may have heard of soft skills and hard skills. Perhaps very few people may have heard of Common Skills. When one of my favorite students, and a bright student, G.Amulya Reddy, III year IT branch in Vijay Rural Engg. College, Nizamabad asked 'Sir, What do you mean by Common Skills?' I was little surprised to hear and developed curiosity to find out what these skills actually are? Initially I thought that these were the skills and abilities, which were common among all individuals. But I decided to know fully and then referred a few books and websites. Because it is always my in-built nature to know the things in depth as I am basically an inquisitive person.
We talk about common sense in daily life. That means the common qualities, which are expected out of human beings, based on a particular cultural background. When people make silly and folly mistakes, which are not expected out of them, we usually question 'Don't you have common sense?' Likewise, common skills are the skills and abilities, which are connecting and running through a common thread that are fundamentally essential for the survival and success of the people. These skills become the core skills for human beings and we can call it as core skills or key skills. Since these skills ensure survival and success of the people we may call them as survival skills and success skills. Having known what are common skills it is desirable to explain in brief what are these common skills. Again there are plenty of common skills but I would like to take TEN key skills, which are common.
TEN COMMON SKILLS:
Communication skill: Communication skill is the key of all skills. We all communicate from womb to tomb. Man can not survive without communication. He communicates either by verbal language or by non-verbal language or by the combination of both. Under verbal language falls speaking skills, writing skills, listening skills and reading skills. And under the non-verbal language falls the body language, which is also known as kinesics and voice modulation. The ability and the skill to receive and reciprocate one’s feelings and emotions by all these elements are known as communication skill.
Creativity: All individuals must possess the ability to create and recreate. Many inventions have surfaced because of this ability. Individuals should not only learn the things but also be able to create new things based on their learning and observation. And for all this, creativity becomes again another core skill.
Career development: Managing and developing one's own career is essential so as to survive and succeed in life. There could be many personal, social and professional compulsions. When one is able to develop one's career, naturally there will be all round development of personality.
Team spirit: Ability to work in teams is necessary. When people learn to develop team spirit by working in teams, the results can be faster and smarter. If numerically one plus one is two, in team spirit one plus one is more than two because of the synergy in strength.
Technology: This is the world of technology where technology is dominating the world. Not knowing or not learning technology will lead to many complications and implications. People should know the basics of technology and should equally know the application of the same. For instance, now a day, Internet has become common thing. If people know how to make use of the minimum computer technology they will know how to survive and succeed better.
Time management: Although rapid changes in technology have brought many comforts, it has made life more complicated and complex. People do not find time and it is often heard every where that ‘I don’t have time’. God gifted us with 24 hours of time a day. Every one should know how to manage time effectively and efficiently. Setting priorities by categorizing as A, B, C, D & E can prove to be beneficial. A stand for the most important activities which if not addressed will have far-reaching negative implications. B stands for important activities and if not executed will have minor negative fall out. C stands for the activities, which have to be addressed but not having any significance. D stands for the activities, which can be addressed if time permits. And last but not the least is the E, which stands for insignificant activity. If addressed it is okay or else it can be sent to trash. So setting priorities can save time, energy and precious resources.
Sociability: Aristotle aptly said, ‘Man is a social animal’. Man can’t live alone; he strives for affiliation and social acceptance. A few people found to be socially inept. In such case, it becomes a liability. For the success and survival of the people it is essential to develop the trait of sociability. Therefore, this skill becomes the core skill and one of the fundamental features of the common skills.
Self-development: People should learn to manage and develop themselves. It is inherent quality hidden in all human beings to grow. Every one wants to grow from birth to death in all faculties. Only when one develops himself he can develop others. Therefore, managing and developing of oneself becomes a core skill.
Numerical ability: The ability to have knowledge of numerical ability is a must. Having numerical bent of mind is essential in daily life. Not only having this ability but also to have the ability to apply, as well in the real world is essential.
Problem solving: WHO has made problem solving as the 8th life skill. Everyone confronts problems from birth to death. Problems are part of life and every problem, at times, leads to an opportunity. Man becomes tough only when he faces problems because every problem teaches some lessons in life. ‘A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner’ goes the saying. In fact when the going gets tough the tough gets going. Hence the problem solving becomes the tenth most crucial skill amongst all common skills.
There are number of other skills which belong and become the part of common skills. For instance cognitive i.e. the ability to think creatively, critically and analytically. Empathy - that means the ability to get into the shoes of other person and think. Research i.e. the ability to go in depth in a field or activity for creating base for further and future studies. Personality development and likewise the list of common skills go on in length.
CORELATION OF COMMON SKILLS, HARD SKILLS AND SOFT SKILLS:
People do get confused with common skills, hard skills and soft skills. There are both thin and thick lines that separate all these three concepts. Soft skills are the skills that are essential for the survival at the corporate world that enhances employability. Anything other than domain knowledge is also known as soft skill. These are also known as people skills and also known as Emotional Intelligence. Soft skills are specialized skills at the work place more on a professional plane. Where as the common skills are the key skills, which are simple skills, related to personal and social life. The hard skills are just the domain knowledge and are related to the subjective knowledge. Hard skills deal with 5 W’s such as What, Why, Which, Where and When. The soft skills deal with 1H i.e. How? If what you have become the hard skills, how you present the same becomes the soft skills. All the three skills are interrelated and if interwoven makes an individual highly successful personality.
MESSAGE:
What common sense is to human sense, the common skills are to human skills. Both hard skills and soft skills can be compared with two layers of the earth with lower layer being hard skills, surface layer being soft skills. And deep within the core of the earth being the common skills. And also common skills are known as core skills which become the infrastructure, then hard skills are known as domain skills which become the superstructure and finally the soft skills are known as surface skills which becomes the superior structure.
T H E E N D
The article highlights about concept of common skills, which become the bedrock of all skills among people. The most TEN common skills have been chosen after filtering with pros and cons of all skills and abilities based on certain parameters. All the ten common skills have been briefly explained. A comparative study has been made amongst common skills, hard skills and soft skills. At the end there is a strong message that these three concepts are essential for becoming a successful personality.
People may have heard of soft skills and hard skills. Perhaps very few people may have heard of Common Skills. When one of my favorite students, and a bright student, G.Amulya Reddy, III year IT branch in Vijay Rural Engg. College, Nizamabad asked 'Sir, What do you mean by Common Skills?' I was little surprised to hear and developed curiosity to find out what these skills actually are? Initially I thought that these were the skills and abilities, which were common among all individuals. But I decided to know fully and then referred a few books and websites. Because it is always my in-built nature to know the things in depth as I am basically an inquisitive person.
We talk about common sense in daily life. That means the common qualities, which are expected out of human beings, based on a particular cultural background. When people make silly and folly mistakes, which are not expected out of them, we usually question 'Don't you have common sense?' Likewise, common skills are the skills and abilities, which are connecting and running through a common thread that are fundamentally essential for the survival and success of the people. These skills become the core skills for human beings and we can call it as core skills or key skills. Since these skills ensure survival and success of the people we may call them as survival skills and success skills. Having known what are common skills it is desirable to explain in brief what are these common skills. Again there are plenty of common skills but I would like to take TEN key skills, which are common.
TEN COMMON SKILLS:
Communication skill: Communication skill is the key of all skills. We all communicate from womb to tomb. Man can not survive without communication. He communicates either by verbal language or by non-verbal language or by the combination of both. Under verbal language falls speaking skills, writing skills, listening skills and reading skills. And under the non-verbal language falls the body language, which is also known as kinesics and voice modulation. The ability and the skill to receive and reciprocate one’s feelings and emotions by all these elements are known as communication skill.
Creativity: All individuals must possess the ability to create and recreate. Many inventions have surfaced because of this ability. Individuals should not only learn the things but also be able to create new things based on their learning and observation. And for all this, creativity becomes again another core skill.
Career development: Managing and developing one's own career is essential so as to survive and succeed in life. There could be many personal, social and professional compulsions. When one is able to develop one's career, naturally there will be all round development of personality.
Team spirit: Ability to work in teams is necessary. When people learn to develop team spirit by working in teams, the results can be faster and smarter. If numerically one plus one is two, in team spirit one plus one is more than two because of the synergy in strength.
Technology: This is the world of technology where technology is dominating the world. Not knowing or not learning technology will lead to many complications and implications. People should know the basics of technology and should equally know the application of the same. For instance, now a day, Internet has become common thing. If people know how to make use of the minimum computer technology they will know how to survive and succeed better.
Time management: Although rapid changes in technology have brought many comforts, it has made life more complicated and complex. People do not find time and it is often heard every where that ‘I don’t have time’. God gifted us with 24 hours of time a day. Every one should know how to manage time effectively and efficiently. Setting priorities by categorizing as A, B, C, D & E can prove to be beneficial. A stand for the most important activities which if not addressed will have far-reaching negative implications. B stands for important activities and if not executed will have minor negative fall out. C stands for the activities, which have to be addressed but not having any significance. D stands for the activities, which can be addressed if time permits. And last but not the least is the E, which stands for insignificant activity. If addressed it is okay or else it can be sent to trash. So setting priorities can save time, energy and precious resources.
Sociability: Aristotle aptly said, ‘Man is a social animal’. Man can’t live alone; he strives for affiliation and social acceptance. A few people found to be socially inept. In such case, it becomes a liability. For the success and survival of the people it is essential to develop the trait of sociability. Therefore, this skill becomes the core skill and one of the fundamental features of the common skills.
Self-development: People should learn to manage and develop themselves. It is inherent quality hidden in all human beings to grow. Every one wants to grow from birth to death in all faculties. Only when one develops himself he can develop others. Therefore, managing and developing of oneself becomes a core skill.
Numerical ability: The ability to have knowledge of numerical ability is a must. Having numerical bent of mind is essential in daily life. Not only having this ability but also to have the ability to apply, as well in the real world is essential.
Problem solving: WHO has made problem solving as the 8th life skill. Everyone confronts problems from birth to death. Problems are part of life and every problem, at times, leads to an opportunity. Man becomes tough only when he faces problems because every problem teaches some lessons in life. ‘A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner’ goes the saying. In fact when the going gets tough the tough gets going. Hence the problem solving becomes the tenth most crucial skill amongst all common skills.
There are number of other skills which belong and become the part of common skills. For instance cognitive i.e. the ability to think creatively, critically and analytically. Empathy - that means the ability to get into the shoes of other person and think. Research i.e. the ability to go in depth in a field or activity for creating base for further and future studies. Personality development and likewise the list of common skills go on in length.
CORELATION OF COMMON SKILLS, HARD SKILLS AND SOFT SKILLS:
People do get confused with common skills, hard skills and soft skills. There are both thin and thick lines that separate all these three concepts. Soft skills are the skills that are essential for the survival at the corporate world that enhances employability. Anything other than domain knowledge is also known as soft skill. These are also known as people skills and also known as Emotional Intelligence. Soft skills are specialized skills at the work place more on a professional plane. Where as the common skills are the key skills, which are simple skills, related to personal and social life. The hard skills are just the domain knowledge and are related to the subjective knowledge. Hard skills deal with 5 W’s such as What, Why, Which, Where and When. The soft skills deal with 1H i.e. How? If what you have become the hard skills, how you present the same becomes the soft skills. All the three skills are interrelated and if interwoven makes an individual highly successful personality.
MESSAGE:
What common sense is to human sense, the common skills are to human skills. Both hard skills and soft skills can be compared with two layers of the earth with lower layer being hard skills, surface layer being soft skills. And deep within the core of the earth being the common skills. And also common skills are known as core skills which become the infrastructure, then hard skills are known as domain skills which become the superstructure and finally the soft skills are known as surface skills which becomes the superior structure.
T H E E N D
GREAT TEACHERS ARE NOT BORN IN THE MINDS OF THE STUDENTS BUT THEY ARE BORN IN THE HEARTS OF THE STUDENTS
“ A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others”. Author unknown.
All teachers can’t make impact in the minds of their students. But a very few teachers touch the hearts of their students thereby becoming legends. There is no specific formula or a secret mantra in this, except dedication, determination and discipline in the methods of their teaching. Good teachers work with passion and they are totally involved in their profession and they contribute their best without expecting any rewards or returns from their students except with burning desire to be great at their profession. Many people think that teaching is an inborn quality to become a great teacher and it proved beyond doubt there are teachers who were not blessed great but became great teachers by virtue of their sincere efforts, abilities through practice, concentration and training. William Arthur ward said, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires”. A teacher is like a player of a musical instrument. He can produce either a sad music or a joyful music by way of playing the instrument. A good subject can be taught in an ineffective manner and a poor subject can be taught in an effective manner. And everything depends totally on the presentation of the player (i.e.teacher).
Wikipedia defined teacher, “In education, teachers facilitate, student learning, often in a school or academy. The objective typically a course of study, lesson plan or a practical skill including learning and thinking skills". In China, teacher is called as SHIFU, or SIFU, in UK, it is called as MENTOR and teacher is also called as GURU in India and is also referred to as RABBI or TUTOR etc.,
TYPES OF TEACHERS:
Teachers can be classified in various types; such as good teacher versus bad teacher, friendly teacher versus hostile teacher, jovial teacher versus strict teacher, dominant teacher versus submissive teacher, serious teacher versus casual teacher and so on.
According to R.Verdi, “Good teachers are those who know how little they know, bad teachers are those who think they know more than they don't know”. The good teachers never boost nor boast of themselves too much. However knowledgeable they might be, they think and declare that whatever they know is only a drop of an ocean. On the other hand, the bad teachers are poor performers who are not knowledgeable and in order to cover up their weaknesses, they pretend to be strong at subject. These kinds of teachers always blame their students for not concentrating in the class. It is like a weak tradesman who always blames his tools and never admits his weak workmanship.
A friendly teacher is always amenable, adjustable and empathizes with their students and narrows down the gap between faculty and students thereby developing relations. Such a teacher is always accessible to the students for clarifying their doubts. On the other hand, a hostile teacher is inimical and his actions towards their students are reactive rather than proactive. They display unfriendly and irritating attitude when they hear from their students that other teachers are teaching better than him. Hostile teachers don’t take criticism constructively and positively in their stride.
The jovial teachers are replete with fun and humor. They entertain students with lot of humorous jokes and anecdotes and they believe in imparting education in an entertaining manner. They do not get provoked and take the comments from the students jovially. While teaching, this kind of teachers believes in the carrot but not stick policy. This kind of teachers behaves from ‘Child Ego State’. (According Dr.Berne, there are three types of ego states – ‘Patent Ego State’, ‘Adult Ego State’ and Child Ego State’ i.e. PAC Ego States). On the other hand, the strict teachers are, no doubt, good teachers but they believe in stick rather than carrot in the method of teaching. They expect the class to be total silent and they do not encourage their students to discuss on the topic among themselves. This kind of teachers is highly knowledgeable and uncompromising. Mostly they behave like Parent Ego State.
The dominant teachers are again a type of strict teachers but the degree of strictness is higher and hence can also be called as dictatorial or autocratic teachers. They hardly bother about the sentiments, views and opinions of their students. On the contrary, the submissive teachers are those who always succumb to the demands of their students and they do not know how to control their students. Both these types are unwarranted and uncalled for and what is expected is the average of these two traits which can be called as assertive teachers who strike a fine chord between dominant teachers and submissive teachers. An assertive teacher behaves from all the three ego states i.e. Parent, Adult and Child Ego States situational. “The best teachers teach from heart, not from the book”, anonymous. An assertive teacher is the best teacher and an ideal teacher who teaches from his heart.
The serious teachers are by nature serious in their approach and they teach without adding any touch of humor but they are very efficient and effective and believe in professional approach. The students learn the topics in a professional manner. For this kind of teachers work is worship. They always mean business. On the contrary, the casual teachers take everything lightly but not seriously and may not be stuffed with adequate knowledge and believe in completing the syllabus and passing their time. This kind of teachers’ work for the sake of working and they never win the hearts of their students.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD TEACHER:
Lola May quoted, “There are three things to remember when teaching; know your stuff, know whom you are stuffing; and then stuff them elegantly”. Any one can become a good teacher if equipped with certain qualities and characteristics.
A teacher wears many a hat such as, he should be an effective communicator, leader, disciplinarian, mentor, guide, parent, friend, philosopher, motivator, counselor, actor, a role model, well wisher, manager, fair and impartial etc.,
He should not take the things for granted.
Should concentrate on all students equally but rather more on the weak or dull students who needs little more care and attention.
Should carry the entire students along with them as a team leader.
A teacher should be thorough and well versed with the subjective knowledge and should add outside information along with the topics relevantly whenever warranted.
Should have higher levels of energy and enthusiasm.
Should remember the names of all the students in the class.
Should always work with sincerity and integrity.
Should know how to present the topic based on common sense. If students are found to be not tuned or going out of the track they should be criticized privately. On the other hand, if any students does anything miracle must be praised publicly in the class. Such acts serve as positive strokes and the rest of the students would like to catch up it with such positive trend.
A great teacher teaches but also inspires, motivates and changes the mindsets of their students and also the entire world. A great teacher always works with heart and head, as both are essential for effective teaching. A great teacher never demands but always commands respect from his students.
A great teacher is not only a teacher but also a great listener and learner. He teaches what he knows to his students and learns from what the students’ know. Egotism is not the quality of a great teacher. A good teacher concentrates more on weak students rather on bright students as Mara Collins said, “The good teacher makes the poor student good and good student superior”.
A great teacher always sees big picture. Whenever he finds that the topic is tough he breaks down the topic into several small pieces and explains the small pieces effectively and efficiently to the students and gradually assembles the pieces into a one single entity mentally and explains. He should be a voracious reader of various books, magazines, journals, browser of many educational web sites and should be a good observer.
A great teacher is like a Gardner who plants seeds, waters and feels satisfied when it starts blooming. He knows the psychology of his students, must be highly creative, dreamer and must rise expectations and aspirations of his students. He should never be reactive but should always be proactive. He lays stress not only on education but also on ethical values and character building. He involves in character building apart from subject building.
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR TEACHING:
“More important than the curriculum is the question of the methods of teaching and the spirit in which the teaching is given”, Bertrand Russell.
A good teacher is always a good storyteller. He should start the topic with a story and should gradually enter into the topic without the knowledge of the students and at the end of the session, only students should know that the teacher covered the relevant topics.
Students should feel that they entered into a theatre where they forget their real world problems the moment they enter the classroom. All that depends on the skills and abilities being displayed by the teacher.
A teacher may start the class with an interesting anecdote, or day to day happening report or a newspaper report or something sensational and emotional everyday so as to draw the attention of their students.
A teacher can also start delivering lecture by role playing, or by referring an interesting case studies or by his own personal experience and with his industrial insights so as to bring the student to the real life from the real life.
He can also throw the topic for open discussion and get their views or opinions or comments related to the topic. By this the teacher is able to unearth the hidden talents lying the in the subconscious minds of their students. It is like brainstorming or it encourages the students to think innovatively, imaginatively and it ignites their minds. It is apt to quote Chinese proverb in this context, “Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I will understand”.
A good teacher always explains the concepts and fundamentals in depth as it serves as a strong infrastructure (foundation) over which they can build their superstructure.
Body language of the teacher must always complement with his oral language as any inconsistency between body language and oral language can create doubts in the minds of the students. Body language contributes 93% of communication while the oral language contributes 7% of the communication. The combination of both is the complete communication. Although men can talk many things orally but his body language always speaks his sincerity and integrity. The teacher must best make use of his body language up to the hilt and, if required, he has to act in order to reach his students. Gail Godwin rightly said, "Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourth pure theatre”.
A good teacher is a great democrat and he always encourages students in participation of discussion on the subject to generally different dimensional thinking, apart from encouraging out-of-the box thinking and unconventional and uncharted path. A great teacher should be totally free from doubts. He should be highly confident and comfortable while teaching.
A good teacher is an effective and efficient communicator and makes the complex things simple with his easy and straight teaching tools. He tickles the students and enhances their creativity and innovation. If any student raises any doubts, then the teacher must ask any other person in the class to clarify the same and if it is not clarified he must accept the ball into his court and must clarify through simple methods. By this, the teacher provides an opportunity to other students to come out with their way of answering the questions.
A good teacher blows away, if any myths in the minds of their students and he should encourage and challenge them to touch their upper limits. If stars are their goals then sky is their limit. A good teacher must be like a doctor with a healthy and positive mindset. Because when a patient goes to a doctor for taking medicine by injection, the patient will have fear to get the same executed. Then the doctor says nothing would happen and engages the patient in a friendly chat and offers medicine by injection. Similarly if any topic is tough, the teacher must infuse confidence in his students by saying it as simple and then should explain the concepts clearly with clarity of thought.
Teaching is nothing but a novel method of presenting the subject. One should know clearly that all successful teachers may not be knowledgeable teachers and all knowledge teachers may not be successful teachers. It is aptly said, “The essence of education is not what is poured in a student’s mind but what is planted”.
A good teacher should be a great learner and he should be fully prepared on the topic by referring various books and then only he should enter the class as Joseph Joubert correctly said, “To teach is to learn twice”.
A good teacher should not only know ‘How to teach?’ but also should
know ‘How to learn?’ Because the way he learns and the same way he can teach with wider applications and implications. To put it in the words of John Carolus S.J, “We think too much about effective methods of teaching and not enough about effective methods of learning”.
If necessary a good teacher must carry audio, visual material, newspaper cuttings, to the class to experiment and experience the topic lively. The teacher should not be static on the dais like a statue; he must move his body from place to place to make the teaching natural and pleasant. In the middle of the teaching he should ask relevant questions about the topic to keep students agile, active, awake and alert in the class. Smile, as and when it is essential to put the students at ease.
He must link the topic from previous class to the present and to the future classes and there should be effective interconnectivity of the topic so those students can feel that the subject is being taught with a natural flow. He should also ask questions from the previously discussed classes so that the students will prepare seriously at home to avoid ambiguity and confusion in the class. If necessary, tests have to be conducted periodically to ensure that the students study seriously at home and also to overcome from examination fever.
When the author took up teaching profession about Management Science (M S) subject in an engineering college initially, the students did not understand when he introduced his name along with his defense background. A student got up and asked seriously, “Sir, I did not hear your name properly and would you mind repeating your name?” To that, the author further questioned the student to name the subject he was teaching. Then the student quickly replied as Management Science. Then the author asked the student to name the subject in abbreviated format. Then the student replied as M S. Then the author further asked the student to add RAO as suffix to M.S. and then the student felt greatly happy to remember the author’s name as Prof. M.S.RAO. This is also a way of teaching by questioning and involving in conversation and it is popularly called as Socratic method of teaching.
While teaching apart from the academic curriculum the students should be taught about the practical application of the concepts taught and whenever something is related their career, it must be focussed firmly and finely. It is advisable and desirable to reconfirm from the students during the course of teaching by using sentences like ‘Is that OK? Is it clear ?, Do you understand ?, Is it alright ? And so on. It is a fine technique to keep the students totally immersed in class.
Conducting regular quiz programs or topic related quiz activities encourage the students to involve actively and briskly even at home related to syllabus studies. It is far better by gifting the bright students based on score they get during such programs. Or else, providing ‘appreciation letters’ or ‘participation certificates’ for such activities will also motivate them to stay to the academic syllabus.
Teacher should respect their students and should hold them to high standards. Teacher should not snub students if they ask for any clarifications during the session. And it is essential to conduct question and answer session at the end of each session by catering some time. It is like taking stock of the session and often it serves as an effective feedback. A teacher can also assess and gauge himself how effectively he taught. A teacher should always stay focussed on the subject and should never lose sight of. If warranted, it is necessary to repeat the things to students.
A good teacher must step into the shoes of the students and must empathize. Offer model answers as guide and it helps them to address the examinations effectively. Preparation of various model answers is a must to have a feel of the examination. Teacher should adopt multiple methodologies and strategies while teaching. It is like ‘end’ is one where as the ‘means’ are many.
WHY SHOULD ANYONE BECOME A TEACHER?
It is the noblest profession and there is a great degree of sanctity attached to it. Most of the people take up this profession by chance not by choice. The qualified people when they pass out from their institutions look for jobs immediately and a few utilize this profession as a stopgap one. If one likes this, then one can get attached and attracted to this profession forever or else, can make a switch over to other professions.
In fact, there is a sense of thrill while teaching to the students because shaping of students’ future only depends in the hands of the teacher. And a teacher can derive great sense of job satisfaction and sense of achievement when he learns that his students achieved miracles in their career. A great teacher takes pride in molding the future of their students.
This profession brings out both creativity and innovation to the fore both from the teacher side and from the students’ side. Consciously or unconsciously many hidden things unfold during the process of teaching. Rather one can tap one’s own natural and creative things spontaneously.
A teacher can feel like a commander till the completion of the class as the total students obey the teacher with discipline and dedication. And none can enter the class without his permission thereby having full command and control over the students.
A teacher can also feel like a priest/pastor as the schools are treated as temples of learning thereby attracting a great amount of dignity.
A teacher can learn his best from his students by posing various questions to the students thereby getting multiple shades of views, opinions, ideas and comments on each topic. This will help grow richer in knowledge and stature.
A teacher can work at best by experimenting various things in the class room and rather each class can be treated as a workshop. He can adopt trial and error method for each experiment and if he passes in the trial he can adopt the same strategies/tools in other classes. And if he fails, he can reject the same. In a nutshell, a teacher can compare his classroom like laboratory for conducting many experiments.
In this profession an individual can wear many masks, like that of a Hollywood stars who plays different roles in their film career.
In this profession, one enjoys maximum number of holidays and as a result wok-life balance can be maintained effectively. One can pursue writing books during holidays and leisure or can go for part time employment during long vacation. And if possible, one can involve in experimentation of what he learnt and taught in the classrooms in the outside world thereby generating his own case studies.
Even if a teacher does not have sense of humor, the same can be cultivated by moving friendly with their students. One can feel young both in mind and heart as they move with students freely and frankly. By being with young people a teacher thinks very young all the time and he can work with higher levels of energy and enthusiasm.
Every profession is getting highly complex and complicated due to the growing technologies and thus leading to higher levels of stress and burnout. In this profession, there is a least possibility of getting burnt out. Even if one gets stressed out he can regain and recoup very easily due to the availability of more leisure time.
As long as the teacher commands subject he will command respect from their students, from their superiors and it helps and ensures job security. So why not to choose this noble profession as a wonderful career option?
GREAT TEACHERS:
A teacher should have passion, persuasive skills, presentation skills, involvement, application of knowledge, role-playing and should base on trial and error methods of teaching.
An average teacher teaches the topic, a good teacher converts dull students into bright students and a great teacher creates great students who in turn excel in their area of chosen line. And such great teachers become teaching legends. Alexander the Great quoted, “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well”. The great teachers across the globe are Aristotle, Galileo, Isaac Newton, Pythogorous and so on to name a few. They are great because they contributed their best in their life times. In India, every year on 5th September, Teachers Day is celebrated and across the world the Teachers Day is celebrated on 5th October. It indicates the importance and significance attached to teachers and to the teaching profession. “Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions”, someone suitably said.
HOW TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL TEACHER?
Think of teachers those who made an impact in your mind right from your childhood. And find out the reasons what made them so memorable in your minds. Recollect the tools, techniques, strategies, methodologies etc., which made prints in your mind. Analyze one by one slowly and list out. Then gradually apply them in your practical life whenever you get an opportunity. Teaching must ignite passion in the minds of the students. Inculcate and cultivate the out of the box thinking, unconventional thinking and travel the uncharted path and leave a mark behind. Always think, dream and sleep over the novel methods of teaching. With interest and by regular interactions with students, one can evolve one’s own methods of teaching. Read and reread the books of great teachers across the world and find out what made them stand distinct from the rest. Visit Webster related to teaching you will get bundle of knowledge and information.
Look at your strengths and weaknesses and always try to overcome your weaknesses by regular practice and training. Take active part in various seminars, workshops and training programs and learn. Especially in such wonderful workshops, the birds of the same feather flock together. And that is yet again a wonderful platform to interact and learn many things.
Regularly take feedback from your students and always find out the key areas that needs for improvement and betterment. Students are the source of strength for any teacher. The student’s mindsets’ are not controlled and conditioned. They are young, fresh and energetic with virgin minds. They are far away from preconceived notions and views. Their views and comments are authentic and genuine.
The feedback covers many areas such as body language, communication skills, relevance, examples, data, novelty and so on. Every area must be given to a point of scale and it can be measured accordingly periodically.
Similarly take feedback from your subordinates, peers, and superiors and discuss with them regularly the ways and means of bringing out the best out of you and also out of your students.
MEKA’S METHODS OF TEACHING:
Plutarch quoted, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited”. Usage of blackboard is essential as it provides effective visual effects and the human brain remembers more when presented in visual rather than audio effects. In listening there is a popular term ‘Time Lag’. It is the gap between what a teacher can speak and what a student can listen. Human brain is a vast powerful and wonderful device and it accepts 500 words per minute where as the speaker can deliver between 125 to 150 words per minute on an average. This gap between the speaker and the listener is termed as ‘Time Lag’.
Apart from visual and audio effects the teacher should question the students related to the topic in the middle of the teaching. As a result, the student’s mind does not wander during the time lag and student summarizes what the teacher has taught and keeps totally away from daydreaming in the class. By this process, the student is encouraged to involve effectively and also to keep his mind with in the class but certainly not out of the class.
The teacher must touch upon the topic systematically, chronologically by point wise by arousing curiosity from the beginning to the end of the session. By referring relevant case studies or personal examples or anecdotes a teacher can enhance the students’ mental presence in the class. The teacher should be flexible in his body language and move around the dais/podium with a friendly smile and encourage the students’ participation. The author interconnects and applies all the tools and techniques in order to make the teaching process a pleasant and memorable one.
MESSAGE:
According to Hindu philosophy, the Mother is the first supreme (Matrudevo Bhava), the Father is the second supreme ( Pitrudevo Bhava ) and theTeacher is the third supreme ( Acharyadevo Bhava ). The teacher is accorded one of the highest statuses and which is indeed unquestionable.
Teachers are not born, but with practice, they can be made. The great teachers are not born in the minds of their students but they are born in the hearts of their students. And the greatest teachers are born in the hearts of the great teachers.
All teachers can’t make impact in the minds of their students. But a very few teachers touch the hearts of their students thereby becoming legends. There is no specific formula or a secret mantra in this, except dedication, determination and discipline in the methods of their teaching. Good teachers work with passion and they are totally involved in their profession and they contribute their best without expecting any rewards or returns from their students except with burning desire to be great at their profession. Many people think that teaching is an inborn quality to become a great teacher and it proved beyond doubt there are teachers who were not blessed great but became great teachers by virtue of their sincere efforts, abilities through practice, concentration and training. William Arthur ward said, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires”. A teacher is like a player of a musical instrument. He can produce either a sad music or a joyful music by way of playing the instrument. A good subject can be taught in an ineffective manner and a poor subject can be taught in an effective manner. And everything depends totally on the presentation of the player (i.e.teacher).
Wikipedia defined teacher, “In education, teachers facilitate, student learning, often in a school or academy. The objective typically a course of study, lesson plan or a practical skill including learning and thinking skills". In China, teacher is called as SHIFU, or SIFU, in UK, it is called as MENTOR and teacher is also called as GURU in India and is also referred to as RABBI or TUTOR etc.,
TYPES OF TEACHERS:
Teachers can be classified in various types; such as good teacher versus bad teacher, friendly teacher versus hostile teacher, jovial teacher versus strict teacher, dominant teacher versus submissive teacher, serious teacher versus casual teacher and so on.
According to R.Verdi, “Good teachers are those who know how little they know, bad teachers are those who think they know more than they don't know”. The good teachers never boost nor boast of themselves too much. However knowledgeable they might be, they think and declare that whatever they know is only a drop of an ocean. On the other hand, the bad teachers are poor performers who are not knowledgeable and in order to cover up their weaknesses, they pretend to be strong at subject. These kinds of teachers always blame their students for not concentrating in the class. It is like a weak tradesman who always blames his tools and never admits his weak workmanship.
A friendly teacher is always amenable, adjustable and empathizes with their students and narrows down the gap between faculty and students thereby developing relations. Such a teacher is always accessible to the students for clarifying their doubts. On the other hand, a hostile teacher is inimical and his actions towards their students are reactive rather than proactive. They display unfriendly and irritating attitude when they hear from their students that other teachers are teaching better than him. Hostile teachers don’t take criticism constructively and positively in their stride.
The jovial teachers are replete with fun and humor. They entertain students with lot of humorous jokes and anecdotes and they believe in imparting education in an entertaining manner. They do not get provoked and take the comments from the students jovially. While teaching, this kind of teachers believes in the carrot but not stick policy. This kind of teachers behaves from ‘Child Ego State’. (According Dr.Berne, there are three types of ego states – ‘Patent Ego State’, ‘Adult Ego State’ and Child Ego State’ i.e. PAC Ego States). On the other hand, the strict teachers are, no doubt, good teachers but they believe in stick rather than carrot in the method of teaching. They expect the class to be total silent and they do not encourage their students to discuss on the topic among themselves. This kind of teachers is highly knowledgeable and uncompromising. Mostly they behave like Parent Ego State.
The dominant teachers are again a type of strict teachers but the degree of strictness is higher and hence can also be called as dictatorial or autocratic teachers. They hardly bother about the sentiments, views and opinions of their students. On the contrary, the submissive teachers are those who always succumb to the demands of their students and they do not know how to control their students. Both these types are unwarranted and uncalled for and what is expected is the average of these two traits which can be called as assertive teachers who strike a fine chord between dominant teachers and submissive teachers. An assertive teacher behaves from all the three ego states i.e. Parent, Adult and Child Ego States situational. “The best teachers teach from heart, not from the book”, anonymous. An assertive teacher is the best teacher and an ideal teacher who teaches from his heart.
The serious teachers are by nature serious in their approach and they teach without adding any touch of humor but they are very efficient and effective and believe in professional approach. The students learn the topics in a professional manner. For this kind of teachers work is worship. They always mean business. On the contrary, the casual teachers take everything lightly but not seriously and may not be stuffed with adequate knowledge and believe in completing the syllabus and passing their time. This kind of teachers’ work for the sake of working and they never win the hearts of their students.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD TEACHER:
Lola May quoted, “There are three things to remember when teaching; know your stuff, know whom you are stuffing; and then stuff them elegantly”. Any one can become a good teacher if equipped with certain qualities and characteristics.
A teacher wears many a hat such as, he should be an effective communicator, leader, disciplinarian, mentor, guide, parent, friend, philosopher, motivator, counselor, actor, a role model, well wisher, manager, fair and impartial etc.,
He should not take the things for granted.
Should concentrate on all students equally but rather more on the weak or dull students who needs little more care and attention.
Should carry the entire students along with them as a team leader.
A teacher should be thorough and well versed with the subjective knowledge and should add outside information along with the topics relevantly whenever warranted.
Should have higher levels of energy and enthusiasm.
Should remember the names of all the students in the class.
Should always work with sincerity and integrity.
Should know how to present the topic based on common sense. If students are found to be not tuned or going out of the track they should be criticized privately. On the other hand, if any students does anything miracle must be praised publicly in the class. Such acts serve as positive strokes and the rest of the students would like to catch up it with such positive trend.
A great teacher teaches but also inspires, motivates and changes the mindsets of their students and also the entire world. A great teacher always works with heart and head, as both are essential for effective teaching. A great teacher never demands but always commands respect from his students.
A great teacher is not only a teacher but also a great listener and learner. He teaches what he knows to his students and learns from what the students’ know. Egotism is not the quality of a great teacher. A good teacher concentrates more on weak students rather on bright students as Mara Collins said, “The good teacher makes the poor student good and good student superior”.
A great teacher always sees big picture. Whenever he finds that the topic is tough he breaks down the topic into several small pieces and explains the small pieces effectively and efficiently to the students and gradually assembles the pieces into a one single entity mentally and explains. He should be a voracious reader of various books, magazines, journals, browser of many educational web sites and should be a good observer.
A great teacher is like a Gardner who plants seeds, waters and feels satisfied when it starts blooming. He knows the psychology of his students, must be highly creative, dreamer and must rise expectations and aspirations of his students. He should never be reactive but should always be proactive. He lays stress not only on education but also on ethical values and character building. He involves in character building apart from subject building.
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES FOR TEACHING:
“More important than the curriculum is the question of the methods of teaching and the spirit in which the teaching is given”, Bertrand Russell.
A good teacher is always a good storyteller. He should start the topic with a story and should gradually enter into the topic without the knowledge of the students and at the end of the session, only students should know that the teacher covered the relevant topics.
Students should feel that they entered into a theatre where they forget their real world problems the moment they enter the classroom. All that depends on the skills and abilities being displayed by the teacher.
A teacher may start the class with an interesting anecdote, or day to day happening report or a newspaper report or something sensational and emotional everyday so as to draw the attention of their students.
A teacher can also start delivering lecture by role playing, or by referring an interesting case studies or by his own personal experience and with his industrial insights so as to bring the student to the real life from the real life.
He can also throw the topic for open discussion and get their views or opinions or comments related to the topic. By this the teacher is able to unearth the hidden talents lying the in the subconscious minds of their students. It is like brainstorming or it encourages the students to think innovatively, imaginatively and it ignites their minds. It is apt to quote Chinese proverb in this context, “Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I will understand”.
A good teacher always explains the concepts and fundamentals in depth as it serves as a strong infrastructure (foundation) over which they can build their superstructure.
Body language of the teacher must always complement with his oral language as any inconsistency between body language and oral language can create doubts in the minds of the students. Body language contributes 93% of communication while the oral language contributes 7% of the communication. The combination of both is the complete communication. Although men can talk many things orally but his body language always speaks his sincerity and integrity. The teacher must best make use of his body language up to the hilt and, if required, he has to act in order to reach his students. Gail Godwin rightly said, "Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourth pure theatre”.
A good teacher is a great democrat and he always encourages students in participation of discussion on the subject to generally different dimensional thinking, apart from encouraging out-of-the box thinking and unconventional and uncharted path. A great teacher should be totally free from doubts. He should be highly confident and comfortable while teaching.
A good teacher is an effective and efficient communicator and makes the complex things simple with his easy and straight teaching tools. He tickles the students and enhances their creativity and innovation. If any student raises any doubts, then the teacher must ask any other person in the class to clarify the same and if it is not clarified he must accept the ball into his court and must clarify through simple methods. By this, the teacher provides an opportunity to other students to come out with their way of answering the questions.
A good teacher blows away, if any myths in the minds of their students and he should encourage and challenge them to touch their upper limits. If stars are their goals then sky is their limit. A good teacher must be like a doctor with a healthy and positive mindset. Because when a patient goes to a doctor for taking medicine by injection, the patient will have fear to get the same executed. Then the doctor says nothing would happen and engages the patient in a friendly chat and offers medicine by injection. Similarly if any topic is tough, the teacher must infuse confidence in his students by saying it as simple and then should explain the concepts clearly with clarity of thought.
Teaching is nothing but a novel method of presenting the subject. One should know clearly that all successful teachers may not be knowledgeable teachers and all knowledge teachers may not be successful teachers. It is aptly said, “The essence of education is not what is poured in a student’s mind but what is planted”.
A good teacher should be a great learner and he should be fully prepared on the topic by referring various books and then only he should enter the class as Joseph Joubert correctly said, “To teach is to learn twice”.
A good teacher should not only know ‘How to teach?’ but also should
know ‘How to learn?’ Because the way he learns and the same way he can teach with wider applications and implications. To put it in the words of John Carolus S.J, “We think too much about effective methods of teaching and not enough about effective methods of learning”.
If necessary a good teacher must carry audio, visual material, newspaper cuttings, to the class to experiment and experience the topic lively. The teacher should not be static on the dais like a statue; he must move his body from place to place to make the teaching natural and pleasant. In the middle of the teaching he should ask relevant questions about the topic to keep students agile, active, awake and alert in the class. Smile, as and when it is essential to put the students at ease.
He must link the topic from previous class to the present and to the future classes and there should be effective interconnectivity of the topic so those students can feel that the subject is being taught with a natural flow. He should also ask questions from the previously discussed classes so that the students will prepare seriously at home to avoid ambiguity and confusion in the class. If necessary, tests have to be conducted periodically to ensure that the students study seriously at home and also to overcome from examination fever.
When the author took up teaching profession about Management Science (M S) subject in an engineering college initially, the students did not understand when he introduced his name along with his defense background. A student got up and asked seriously, “Sir, I did not hear your name properly and would you mind repeating your name?” To that, the author further questioned the student to name the subject he was teaching. Then the student quickly replied as Management Science. Then the author asked the student to name the subject in abbreviated format. Then the student replied as M S. Then the author further asked the student to add RAO as suffix to M.S. and then the student felt greatly happy to remember the author’s name as Prof. M.S.RAO. This is also a way of teaching by questioning and involving in conversation and it is popularly called as Socratic method of teaching.
While teaching apart from the academic curriculum the students should be taught about the practical application of the concepts taught and whenever something is related their career, it must be focussed firmly and finely. It is advisable and desirable to reconfirm from the students during the course of teaching by using sentences like ‘Is that OK? Is it clear ?, Do you understand ?, Is it alright ? And so on. It is a fine technique to keep the students totally immersed in class.
Conducting regular quiz programs or topic related quiz activities encourage the students to involve actively and briskly even at home related to syllabus studies. It is far better by gifting the bright students based on score they get during such programs. Or else, providing ‘appreciation letters’ or ‘participation certificates’ for such activities will also motivate them to stay to the academic syllabus.
Teacher should respect their students and should hold them to high standards. Teacher should not snub students if they ask for any clarifications during the session. And it is essential to conduct question and answer session at the end of each session by catering some time. It is like taking stock of the session and often it serves as an effective feedback. A teacher can also assess and gauge himself how effectively he taught. A teacher should always stay focussed on the subject and should never lose sight of. If warranted, it is necessary to repeat the things to students.
A good teacher must step into the shoes of the students and must empathize. Offer model answers as guide and it helps them to address the examinations effectively. Preparation of various model answers is a must to have a feel of the examination. Teacher should adopt multiple methodologies and strategies while teaching. It is like ‘end’ is one where as the ‘means’ are many.
WHY SHOULD ANYONE BECOME A TEACHER?
It is the noblest profession and there is a great degree of sanctity attached to it. Most of the people take up this profession by chance not by choice. The qualified people when they pass out from their institutions look for jobs immediately and a few utilize this profession as a stopgap one. If one likes this, then one can get attached and attracted to this profession forever or else, can make a switch over to other professions.
In fact, there is a sense of thrill while teaching to the students because shaping of students’ future only depends in the hands of the teacher. And a teacher can derive great sense of job satisfaction and sense of achievement when he learns that his students achieved miracles in their career. A great teacher takes pride in molding the future of their students.
This profession brings out both creativity and innovation to the fore both from the teacher side and from the students’ side. Consciously or unconsciously many hidden things unfold during the process of teaching. Rather one can tap one’s own natural and creative things spontaneously.
A teacher can feel like a commander till the completion of the class as the total students obey the teacher with discipline and dedication. And none can enter the class without his permission thereby having full command and control over the students.
A teacher can also feel like a priest/pastor as the schools are treated as temples of learning thereby attracting a great amount of dignity.
A teacher can learn his best from his students by posing various questions to the students thereby getting multiple shades of views, opinions, ideas and comments on each topic. This will help grow richer in knowledge and stature.
A teacher can work at best by experimenting various things in the class room and rather each class can be treated as a workshop. He can adopt trial and error method for each experiment and if he passes in the trial he can adopt the same strategies/tools in other classes. And if he fails, he can reject the same. In a nutshell, a teacher can compare his classroom like laboratory for conducting many experiments.
In this profession an individual can wear many masks, like that of a Hollywood stars who plays different roles in their film career.
In this profession, one enjoys maximum number of holidays and as a result wok-life balance can be maintained effectively. One can pursue writing books during holidays and leisure or can go for part time employment during long vacation. And if possible, one can involve in experimentation of what he learnt and taught in the classrooms in the outside world thereby generating his own case studies.
Even if a teacher does not have sense of humor, the same can be cultivated by moving friendly with their students. One can feel young both in mind and heart as they move with students freely and frankly. By being with young people a teacher thinks very young all the time and he can work with higher levels of energy and enthusiasm.
Every profession is getting highly complex and complicated due to the growing technologies and thus leading to higher levels of stress and burnout. In this profession, there is a least possibility of getting burnt out. Even if one gets stressed out he can regain and recoup very easily due to the availability of more leisure time.
As long as the teacher commands subject he will command respect from their students, from their superiors and it helps and ensures job security. So why not to choose this noble profession as a wonderful career option?
GREAT TEACHERS:
A teacher should have passion, persuasive skills, presentation skills, involvement, application of knowledge, role-playing and should base on trial and error methods of teaching.
An average teacher teaches the topic, a good teacher converts dull students into bright students and a great teacher creates great students who in turn excel in their area of chosen line. And such great teachers become teaching legends. Alexander the Great quoted, “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well”. The great teachers across the globe are Aristotle, Galileo, Isaac Newton, Pythogorous and so on to name a few. They are great because they contributed their best in their life times. In India, every year on 5th September, Teachers Day is celebrated and across the world the Teachers Day is celebrated on 5th October. It indicates the importance and significance attached to teachers and to the teaching profession. “Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions”, someone suitably said.
HOW TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL TEACHER?
Think of teachers those who made an impact in your mind right from your childhood. And find out the reasons what made them so memorable in your minds. Recollect the tools, techniques, strategies, methodologies etc., which made prints in your mind. Analyze one by one slowly and list out. Then gradually apply them in your practical life whenever you get an opportunity. Teaching must ignite passion in the minds of the students. Inculcate and cultivate the out of the box thinking, unconventional thinking and travel the uncharted path and leave a mark behind. Always think, dream and sleep over the novel methods of teaching. With interest and by regular interactions with students, one can evolve one’s own methods of teaching. Read and reread the books of great teachers across the world and find out what made them stand distinct from the rest. Visit Webster related to teaching you will get bundle of knowledge and information.
Look at your strengths and weaknesses and always try to overcome your weaknesses by regular practice and training. Take active part in various seminars, workshops and training programs and learn. Especially in such wonderful workshops, the birds of the same feather flock together. And that is yet again a wonderful platform to interact and learn many things.
Regularly take feedback from your students and always find out the key areas that needs for improvement and betterment. Students are the source of strength for any teacher. The student’s mindsets’ are not controlled and conditioned. They are young, fresh and energetic with virgin minds. They are far away from preconceived notions and views. Their views and comments are authentic and genuine.
The feedback covers many areas such as body language, communication skills, relevance, examples, data, novelty and so on. Every area must be given to a point of scale and it can be measured accordingly periodically.
Similarly take feedback from your subordinates, peers, and superiors and discuss with them regularly the ways and means of bringing out the best out of you and also out of your students.
MEKA’S METHODS OF TEACHING:
Plutarch quoted, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited”. Usage of blackboard is essential as it provides effective visual effects and the human brain remembers more when presented in visual rather than audio effects. In listening there is a popular term ‘Time Lag’. It is the gap between what a teacher can speak and what a student can listen. Human brain is a vast powerful and wonderful device and it accepts 500 words per minute where as the speaker can deliver between 125 to 150 words per minute on an average. This gap between the speaker and the listener is termed as ‘Time Lag’.
Apart from visual and audio effects the teacher should question the students related to the topic in the middle of the teaching. As a result, the student’s mind does not wander during the time lag and student summarizes what the teacher has taught and keeps totally away from daydreaming in the class. By this process, the student is encouraged to involve effectively and also to keep his mind with in the class but certainly not out of the class.
The teacher must touch upon the topic systematically, chronologically by point wise by arousing curiosity from the beginning to the end of the session. By referring relevant case studies or personal examples or anecdotes a teacher can enhance the students’ mental presence in the class. The teacher should be flexible in his body language and move around the dais/podium with a friendly smile and encourage the students’ participation. The author interconnects and applies all the tools and techniques in order to make the teaching process a pleasant and memorable one.
MESSAGE:
According to Hindu philosophy, the Mother is the first supreme (Matrudevo Bhava), the Father is the second supreme ( Pitrudevo Bhava ) and theTeacher is the third supreme ( Acharyadevo Bhava ). The teacher is accorded one of the highest statuses and which is indeed unquestionable.
Teachers are not born, but with practice, they can be made. The great teachers are not born in the minds of their students but they are born in the hearts of their students. And the greatest teachers are born in the hearts of the great teachers.
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