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In defining one's personal education philosophy, perhaps one of the most important questions one must answer is "What is a good teacher?" I believe the best teachers in the world will display the basic characteristics of a Christian character. These teachers will exhibit patience, self-control, compassion, and sensitivity in their relationships with students. This is the first step toward motivating students to value the material being taught. To this end, teachers will also need a thorough knowledge of the subject area they teach, a contagious enthusiasm about the topic, and a desire to help students master the field.
Similarly, good teaching is primarily motivational teaching. A teacher who can convince students that the information being presented is valuable and worthwhile will be successful. Good teaching will involve students in the learning process, excite them about the material, and compel them, of their own accord, to learn. Students cannot be forced to learn; they must want to learn. Good teaching, after motivating, provides students with the tools of learning: the facts and applications of the material. For this reason, teaching should be structured in an orderly manner. However, a good teacher will recognize that students needs are dynamic and will be flexible enough to adapt to these needs.
A good learner reacts positively to the efforts of a good teacher. He perceives the value of the material and is thus motivated to comprehend it. The good student will be conscientious in his studies, will care about learning, and will be willing to work for the benefits knowledge offers. Realistically, not all children entering the average classroom will be exemplary students. Teachers must take the responsibility for encouraging and motivating these students to attain that ideal.
Learning is the process of converting information into knowledge. Students do not learn simply by exposure to cold facts which, by process of osmosis, enter students brains. If this were possible, schools would do well to dismiss their teachers and replace them with Internet capable computers. As education technology expert David Thornburg notes, "Any teacher who can be replaced by a computer should be." His point is that a good teacher does more than present material; the Internet can present far more information than a teacher can. A teacher exists to help students transform material from information into knowledge. This transition is facilitated by a focused, structured environment where students want to and are given the opportunity to learn.
The main objective of education is to provide students with a solid academic base on which to build their lives. Students therefore should be taught the basic academic disciplines: reading, writing and arithmetic as well as history and science. In addition, students should be taught to appreciate fine art and music. Life skills, such as use of computers and the Internet, are yet another area in which students would benefit from instruction. Finally, this should be constructed on a foundation of moral values and the Scriptural models of virtuous character.
Effective teachers will structure lessons in many formats, using a variety of presentation styles designed to engage and hold the attention of restless learners. These may include lectures, discussions, projects, and cooperative learning. The information and multimedia features of the Internet and CD-ROM based resources should also be used where they aid comprehension. Finally, a good teacher will use real-life and hands-on application of material wherever practical.
Students should be evaluated using a combination of formative and summative styles. During the school year, quizzes, papers, class participation, and demonstration of a will to learn should be considered. At the end of the quarter or year, a final test can help to determine whether students have learned the material presented in the course and at what academic level they are performing. This exam should test both for knowledge of facts and for ability to apply these facts.
Teachers should be evaluated periodically by superiors to ascertain their ability to teach. Perhaps the most obvious method of testing teaching ability is observing their success, or lack thereof. If a teacher's pupils are leaving his class with no more knowledge than they entered with, it is a reasonable assumption that this teacher is not effective at his job. Likewise, the supervisor should observe the teacher's attitude toward his students, whether he is approachable, willing to help, and respected by the students. Good teachers will also evaluate themselves on a daily basis, deciding whether they have used their instructional time to its fullest potential and making changes as necessary. If students haven't grasped material the way it was taught once, an effective teacher will reteach the material in another way, ensuring that his students receive the ultimate education.
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