The best jobs in the world
Many teachers will tell
you that despite the stress, testing, and paperwork,
teaching is still the best job in the world. Those who don’t teach often joke that it is
because teachers get three months off in the summer. However, those that do teach
know that the reasons behind this statement are so much deeper.
For many teachers, getting to observe the moment a child grasps a new
concept is absolutely breathtaking. Most teachers understand there is a constructive
struggle that comes with learning new material. For some students, they grasp the
idea and move forward with application of that skill. For others, it takes longer to
be able to understand how to tackle a skill. However, when that struggling student
first discovers the way to solve a problem or complete a science experiment and
their eyes brighten and their smile widens, the teacher shines within. It is that “Ah-
ha” moment that makes the struggle of the learner fade away and the teacher shares
in the pride of knowing a new skill has been mastered.
Teaching is the practice implemented by a teacher aimed at transmitting skills
(knowledge, know-how, and interpersonal skills)
to a learner, a student, or any
other audience in the context of an educational institution. Teaching is closely
related to learning, the student's activity of appropriating this knowledge. Teaching
is part of the broader concept of education.
A teaching method is a set of principles and methods used by teachers to
enable student learning. These strategies are determined partly on subject matter to
be taught and partly by the nature of the learner. For a particular teaching method
to be appropriate and efficient it has take into account the learner, the nature of the
subject matter, and the type of learning it is supposed to bring about. The
approaches for teaching can be broadly classified into teacher-centered and
student-centered. In a teacher-centered (authoritarian)
approach to learning,
teachers are the main authority figure in this model. Students are viewed as "empty
vessels" whose primary role is to passively receive information (via lectures and
direct instruction) with an end goal of testing and assessment. It is the primary role
of teachers to pass knowledge and information onto their students. In this model,
teaching and assessment are viewed as two separate entities. Student learning is
measured through objectively scored tests and assessments. In Student-Centered
Approach to Learning, while teachers are the
authority figure in this model,
teachers and students play an equally active role in the learning process. This
approach is also called authoritative. The teacher's primary role is to coach and
facilitate student learning and overall comprehension of material. Student learning
is measured through both formal and informal forms of assessment, including
group projects, student portfolios, and class participation.
Teaching and
assessments are connected; student learning is continuously measured during
teacher instruction.
A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person
who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of
teaching. Informally the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. when
showing a colleague how to perform a specific task). In some countries,
teaching
young people of school age may be carried out in an informal setting, such as
within the family (homeschooling), rather than in a formal setting such as a school
or college. Some other professions may involve a significant amount of teaching
(e.g. youth worker, pastor). In most countries, formal
teaching of students is
usually carried out by paid professional teachers. This article focuses on those who
are employed, as their main role, to teach others in a formal education context,
such as at a school or other place of initial formal education or training.
Training is teaching, or developing in oneself or others,
any skills and
knowledge or fitness that relate to specific useful competencies. Training has
specific goals of improving one's capability, capacity, productivity and
performance. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of
content at institutes of technology (also known
as technical colleges or
polytechnics). In addition to the basic training required for a trade, occupation or
profession, training may continue beyond initial competence to maintain, upgrade
and update skills throughout working life. People within some professions and
occupations may refer to this sort of training as professional development.