'If a child can't learn the way we teach, we must teach the way the child learns.' - Ignacio Estrada.

Teaching since ages has been regarded as a very noble and respected profession. A teacher is someone who attempts to bring a change in the personality development of the individual. Teachers are those people who decide the future of the country as their pupils are only going to be the leading citizens of the country.

Teaching was earlier restricted to the traditional classroom model while in the era that succeeded the pandemic has moreover given it a blended form. It has become a mixture of both offline and online learning types. In what so the medium of teaching is done, the manner in which 'Behaviour and Instruction' laid out to students becomes a key player. Teaching is regarded to be effective only when it is able to achieve a defined set of educational objectives.

Here are '11' ways by which teachers can improvise their performance in their profession. A system where the proficiency of both the teacher and the student is guaranteed.

1) Recognizing Individual Differences:

It's true that it is expected that a teacher is required to teach similarly to the whole class. But isn't it true that requirement and needs of every student is different. Of course, it is. That is why, teaching must take care in mind principally that every student is different and not all will react to the same content similarly. Some will find it extremely basic, some moderately tough and some totally going clueless. Some will prefer rote learning for a concept while some quickly grasp it analytically. Every child is born with some innate talent. It can happen that the child may find difficulty in recognizing his qualities or talents. So teacher being in a much more mature person should take it as a duty on himself or herself to help the student develop an insight about his potential and possibilities. Using labels such as 'mentally retarded', 'dumb', 'bookworms' goes a long way with the students. Avoiding any judgemental remark for the student shall help the student to develop a confident personality. Some students prefer to read by a book while some by writing notes. Accordingly, the instruction given by teacher should fit the norms of individual differences.

2) A Small Appreciation:

Though not recognized much, small tokens of appreciation helps up boost the mental confidence of students. Students always seek for a moment of praise from their teachers even for the slightest of work they do. It occurs as a positive stimulus. Students are encouraged to do that work for which they are positively sanctioned. However, it should also be remembered that praising too much and regularly shall diminish the objective of it. It's because students get satiated after sometime of the desire to urge a positive stimulus. Hence, healthy criticism is good but extreme comments should be generally avoided by a teacher. Sincere and mature comments are things that are expected by a teacher.

3) Shift from Rote Learning to Comprehension:

In the initial years of learning in our lives, a child is expected to retain more facts and information. Sensory features come into operation. Later, when these concrete things are understood by the child, teacher attempts to explain concepts to child through giving examples. This is when relational learning develops in a child. The schemas learnt by an individual are assimilated and accommodated as the demand of situation surfaces. Later, in higher education, abstract ideas, critical and creative thinking become a part of the new learning type. Teachers are less involved here and only work as a facilitator here. Students are more responsible and accountable for their learning. When both physiological maturation and metacognition develop, it is regarded as the most Thoughtful Level of Learning.

4) Attempt to Understand Student's Situation:

A teacher must try to grasp the situation of the student. It can happen that a child is deliberately procrastinating his tasks. But sometimes the situation is too burdening and overwhelming for the student that a student can't help himself and gets vulnerable to the increasing overload of curriculum. In this case, the teacher must try to understand the cause and situation of a student studying instead of immediately passing any remark. Teachers must open their hearts out and tell the students that you are with them. It's okay that if they didn't complete the task but should take it as a promise from them that they complete their task as situations resort to normalcy. In this situation, the student will open up more with the teacher and tasks will get completed. A sense of mutual understanding will prevail and will make the process more interesting and enjoyable.

5) Transition from Old School to New School Teaching:

The traditional models of teaching have now gone. Although, the tenets of its still survive. Now teaching has got blended. Online education has become a popular choice. Students are becoming independent of the teaching-learning system that was practiced in classrooms. Now teacher is not the only source which they can seek for knowledge and hence the teacher should resort to a variety of new options. Teacher should look out for multiple ways to guide a student. A lot of content and guidance is already available in the market but what makes you special is the skill sets you offer. Teaching is a professional course and it should modulate itself according to the needs of the present era. Students are already updated and upgraded with the new development. Hence, while explanation giving them relevant examples closet closer to their domain of interest can make learning extremely fruitful. Retention and reproduction of knowledge become a piece of cake in the class. Concepts once clear and one time revision of it cheers the whole process.

6) Rapport for Student's Grievance Redressal:

Parent-Teacher meetings or Teacher-Guardian meetings have continued to dominate the landscape of evaluation in the teaching sphere. It is fine to address the progress report of the child to his or her guardians. But isn't it impractical to share the problems of learning of the child with a generation that is already with a generation gap with the students? Instead, an alternative environment should be set up where in the atmosphere should be transparent in such a manner that the grievances of both the student and the teacher are exchanged with each other. I, personally believe that those involved in the learning process can better bring change in it. Submitting report cards to authoritative parents and complaining about students takes a heavy mental toll on the consequence that follows. Parenting should be a part of assessment process but the discussions for assessment quality improvement should be between the teacher and student instead of teacher and parent.

7) Stress on Qualitative Assessment over Quantitative Assessment:

No matter how many times..it has been highlighted that marks don't define the ability of a student. Still, it does and that's the irony of all this. Marks play a huge role in summative assessments as they help in promotional learning as well they help the teacher to provide a remark to the student. The marks scored by a student are indicative to some extent the performance of an individual while at the same time it also has the potential to mark the positives and shortcomings of the institution. Marks are numbers which sooner or later will be forgotten by everybody, even the child himself. Whatever has been the learning and learning outcome of the student rests with the student as a part of life-long learning. Although, this is not a new point in discussion still the implementation of it is very late. As a positive change, the marking system is being changed to grading system and credit system.

8) Student's Learning is a Teaching Style Objective:

It is often burdened on the student that if he or she fails in learning, that the faults lay with the child. However, it is not always there. The teaching type is a primal factor which defines the parameters of interest or disinterest seen in an individual. Successful student learning is something what defines the standards of effective teaching. The teaching style highly impacts the thinking of students as a particular teaching style directs the cognitive ability of the student. Remember, if the teacher is clear or confused while delivering a lecture in class so the students too get a similar vibe. Instead, of a passive learning mode, an active learning mode should take place to replace it and continuous and comprehensive evaluation along with timely feedback should join the course of learning.

9) Accepting Feedback on Teaching:

Teachers are considered as 'Gods' in our societies. But that doesn't mean that they won't make any mistakes. They tend to make and should not be judged by the students immediately and we should try to be relativist at that moment. Teaching types are something which are like a shoe which can't fit for all. Requirements vary from person to person. Hence, a particular teaching type can elicit different responses from different students in the class. Some teachers don't even like questioning in their class but there are some who like open criticism and positive feedback. The teachers should try joining the latter category. Feedback no matter how much experience and expertise one holds becomes important as continuous self-development not only shones human skills but only makes it better. A teacher should try to understand the various learning theories, teaching models, and in general a course of teaching aptitude to be able to perform better on terms of classroom management. Hence, feedback serves as a catalyst to the process of learning.

10) Teacher must respect the Subject itself:

For a teacher who wants that his or her subjects should love the subject that the teacher is teaching, the first and foremost thing that is required that the teacher should respect the subject itself while at the same time respecting that every subject has its due importance. Inter-disciplinary learning should be highlighted as subjects though distinct from each are still related to each other. Instead of merely teaching the chapters mentioned in a textbook, the teacher must try to ask questions like - what's the purpose of studying this subject, what's the inference we draw from its study and what's going to be the overall outcome. Students have to be taught the chapters of a particular subject in such a manner that they don't merely learn it for their summative tests but also as something which stays with them and becomes a part of applied learning in the real world today.

11) Encouraging Teaching as a Profession to both Genders:

Teaching since ages has continued to be an expectation from the females as a career option opted for. However, teaching requires seamless communication and expertise of subjects which can be mastered by any of the gender. Restricting them to one would go against the principle of gender equality. Teaching in the modern days should be open to everybody. Teaching should not only been seen as a job but a moral authority position through which one can attempt for social services too. Teaching only gets better with time as it's both an art and a science. Incorporates both scientific and creative. Teachers are indeed future markers and should be openly accepted to all and open for all as a professional count.

Teaching and learning are not outcome-oriented. Rather, are process oriented. Enjoying the process makes you not feel cumbersome. Attachment to the journey makes it remembered and enjoyable at the same time. Outcome-oriented is only helpful for the short run and is only helpful for providing judgments based on performance in summative assessments.

Teacher by choice and Teacher by Profession are two respective terms in learning affairs. The former in all cases is the best teacher while the latter may or maybe not prove to be an effective one.

Teaching and learning are integrated and synchronously related to each other.

Happy Teaching to all the Teachers Out There...! 

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