Teaching Studious Students (How to become good teacher - 3)

While the teacher makes some of students learn, the some makes the teacher learn!

There is a category of the students in each class – those who are eager to learn, but doesn’t know about the subject.  Here, the most important role of a teacher come in – it is quite true that interest and passion has to drive the students to gather more knowledge as well as to learn more.  So, the role of the teacher is to fuel the flame of interest in the student.  For any well experienced teacher, it is again a newer experience to teach these categories of students – without any background in the subject.  It is easy to teach the first category where the students know the topic or they have the fundamental knowledge about the subject.  For the second category, they find their own way of learning.  But this category of the students needs the help; support and motivation from the teacher – both technically and psychologically. Here also, teacher has to deal with them as a separate group so that the teacher reaches the level of each student to bring them up.  They should be given a chance to ask questions so that the teacher brakes the shell of shyness. Initially give them basic assignments on the topic taught, to work in the class/ outside the class. The assignments must be as simple as possible to gain confidence in the beginning itself. Give them the clues to solve, but not the entire picture of the solution.  Make them think by asking the questions during the lecture.  It is easy to explain the theory concepts by relating with the applications and give them hands-on exercise to gain more confidence.  When there is an urge to learn, they need confidence also to move ahead.  Sometimes, there is also a need to give personal attention.  A good teacher can always find weak students and good in the class.  After the class hours, focus on these students and try to bring them up by giving additional classes.  It is in fact a struggle, but the role of a teacher is complete only when this job is done.  There is no need to teach for those who already know the subject.  As teachers, we should try to feed those who are hungry.  At the same time, it doesn’t mean that the first category of students are neglected just because of the third category.  They should be given more competitive assignments and exercises.  The truth is, these set of students are the real motivation for the teacher to hunt for more knowledge.  If the class is a combination of 5 categories, there are two outcomes in this situation – either the first set get frustrated because teacher is teaching in only the basics; or the third category is demotivated because the teacher is teaching at the advanced level based on the first category.  Now, how to balance?  Teacher has to segregate these two groups and build a bridge to fill the gap.  Bridging the gap is possible only by taking fundamental classes otherwise called as “pre-requisites” prior to the commencement of class.  If this is not possible, arrange classes during holidays in the beginning of the semester, especially in the morning.  Convince the students why they should learn the pre-requisites to reach at least at the level of basics.  In computer science, I have seen students with Biology background sitting with the students with mathematics and computer science background to learn programming.  It is full of horror for biology students and they get demotivated like anything. They lose the confidence in the first year itself.  Now-a-days, programming is also considered as one of the basic courses in engineering.

How to become a good teacher - 1

This is quite a difficult question to answer.  But here are my experiences as a teacher.
Type of students:

Those who already know something about the subject and wants to learn more.

Those who already know something about the subject, but creates distraction purposefully by asking silly or unimportant questions during the lecture

Those who don't know about the subject, but eager to learn and are studious

Those who don't know about the subject, but not interested in learning.

One class of say, 60 students, it is a combination of the above categories. The first category may not be present in all the classes, but rest of the categories are always seen in all the classes.
For teachers who have joined as freshers:

It is a bit challenging for a new teacher to handle one ore more classes with given subjects. Sometimes, subjects may not be the part of interest area for the teacher.  First and foremost qualities expected from a teacher is the passion to teach and love towards the topic / subject assigned. Why I underline is that I have seen so called teachers joining college or institution, just for the sake a job. If teaching is very poor, it creates frustration among the students. A good teacher must always be a friend, mentor and philosopher of students.  This doesn't mean to have a sympathetic attitude by giving good grades and creating a sentimental approach towards the students.  Those who work hard and smart shall be encouraged well. 

In the initial stages, all teachers may not get the subject of interest.  But it is important and necessary that the subject whatever is assigned is taught well. It is the stepping stone towards a good teaching career. Ideally, the preparation has to start at least before a month of commencement of classes by preparing the course plan, finding assignment questions, examination questions, etc. Firstly refer the books as per the syllabus because students might have already procured the books before the semester. Learn maximum from the referred texts and then the next best choice is the internet.  Always try to gather best examples for all the concepts to be taught in the class.  Getting example from web is very easy.  Rely only on the .edu sites and lecture notes prepared by good professors of good universities / colleges.  In the first class itself, it is better to show the course plan and as much as possible stick on to the plan.
Theory class and lecturing

It is essential that students should feel relaxed in the class rather than making them sitting like robots. Theory classes must always be interactive by asking questions so as to make the students think about the concept you are talking about. Questions must be from the teaching topics, related with a real time application which the students might already have come through their life.  For example, any subject in computer science can be taught by citing examples in social networking, gadgets like tablets, smart phones, etc.  This makes the student listen to what you talk and it creates interest on the subject taught. When the students answer, you come to know about the level of each student. Do not tease them if they don't answer or they answer wrongly.  Because, if they don't answer or give a wrong answer, they haven't understood what is taught and then you have to come down to one more level to teach them. Asking questions and making them answer helps the students to come out of the shell of fear.  Use chalk & talk to the maximum possible.  Write legibly on the board.  Clean the board before starting the class.  Writing on the board without cleaning indicates your lack of interest in teaching and love for the subject.  Use presentations in case if you want to explain an application to describe the concept. Body language is very important and walking in front of the board by explaining the topic keep the students alive in the class. If you wish to teach with a presentation, make it rich with images and reduce text as much as possible. Presentation must always be crisp. With the points listed in the presentation, explain them in your own words.  I have seen some teachers just copy pasting the sentences in the text which looks too boring in the presentation.... to be continued in next post

Next post:

Encouraging students to ask questions

Learning tips for students

Why students cannot follow a lecture?

The students usually complain that they are not able to follow the topics taught in the class.  First of all, the student should have fundamental knowledge about what the subject is about.  I don't think many of the current generation students has a fundamental understanding about the subject being taught. The students hear about it for the first time only when they attend the first class. It is always good to have a thorough visit of the topics given in the syllabus.  Most of the student doesn't even know what all are the subjects and who all are teaching.  Once the vacation starts, they are all set to enjoy.  Of course, that is very much required, but not by completely sacrificing the academic career.  Now a days, internet connectivity is not at all difficult and there a lot of open course lectures, video lecture, tutorials, presentations available in the web.  So, finding articles and notes on any topic is not at all a difficult task.  The are digital Libraries like ACM Digital Library, IEEE, Computer Society, etc are some of these.

Listening the lecture: Primary responsibility of the student is to listen to the class carefully.  One hour should be spend outside the class on reading the topics taught for one hour in the class.  Now-a-days, it never happens or the teacher must be enthusiastic enough to make the students read the topics by making the classes interesting. Spending some time on reading the topics can be of great help as it is memorized naturally.  Because, what ever is taught in the class and if you have listened it carefully (not just heard!), it is more than enough to link the topic while reading it outside the class.  You might have noticed that the receptivity loses as the day goes on and the receptivity you had in the morning is completely lost by afternoon and get bored.  You may feel too sleepy also.  There is only one solution for this.  Your determination. If you have a goal in the mind to complete your studies successfully and if you are aware about it always in the class, it will help you a lot.

During the lecture:  Some students write the key points during the class time.  I never allowed it for the students.  If you go back to our old way of teaching and learning, there was no concept of "taking down the notes".  It was completely memorized.  Now, the technology has improved and we need some kind of external help to keep the memory alive.  One way writing can help - just to mug up the topic.  But to understand the topic conceptually, listening is more important.  When the teacher talks about the topic, your mind should have already visualized the topic and then it is complete.  Later, the reading will supplement and make the topic memorized.

Teacher's role: As is written in my post "For Teachers", it is important that the teacher is able to keep the students on the same page as he/she is.  It is rather a necessity to make the course completion successful. After the parents, teachers play crucial role in making the student's career bright.  One who loves to teach and loves the subject will only be able to transfer the knowledge. 

Google Scholar  Google Books