Teaching is reciprocal learning! It is not only the students who learn from their teachers but teachers learn much more from the whole experience of teaching. I believe that teachers have responsibilities towards their students and that students have duties to their teachers.
No matter what I teach to any age group, the following 12 concepts are forming the pillars of my teaching philosophy:
- Energy: If I don’t feel excited about the subjects I teach, why should my students? I feel strongly passionate about the subject of the courses I have chosen to teach or design.
- Positivity: I believe we are human and mistakes are our opportunities to explore, learn and improve. By applying this idea to my teaching my focus is on the learning process of the student and I will let them explore and learn by their mistakes.
- Creativity: I believe there are many different ways of approaches that I can consider while teaching. I try to know each student on a deeper level and learn about his or her background. This will help me as a teacher to find a more effective way of communication with them.
- Celebrating individual talent: I believe that each person has a unique voice and a unique learning approach, which must be heard. Students need constant encouragement when they succeed to stay motivated.
- Value and Sharing different ideas and group activities: Discussing different individual’s approaches and share it in a group create the secure environment: One success is all success. Student learn being part of a team, leadership and time management and learn how to vote to or select an idea.
- Clarity: I believe I should be clear about what I expect from my students to learn or do. Setting the right and clear expectation elevates the sense of security and trust, which affects the learning.
- Fairness in Evaluation: I believe student should be asked and evaluated based on what I have taught them not beyond that. Also I like to divide the evaluation system to different activities, which covers many categories such as research, writing and presentation. I believe the student should be evaluated in a way that they will be evaluated in a real work environment in the future.
- Openness: Learning is a process not a one-time event. Having high and equal expectation from all is not a powerful method in long term. I believe a teacher should be open to one-on-one discussions and help students individually if needed.
- Empowerment. I believe that anyone can do well if they are willing to spend the time at it. The most important job of a teacher is to create that motivation for students so they WILL to learn not HAVE to learn.
- Encouragement: My motto is: Value students’ effort and productively in the process. As long as they are moving towards the goal and being honest at their efforts they must be encouraged.
- Respect: My task as a teacher is to facilitate student’s learning process and respect their abilities.
- Feedback: Hearing student’s feedback can better serve me in the future professional developments.