Educators are considered among the noblest of professions, for very good reasons. Is this profession for you? Read on to find out.

The career that every student is exposed to is that of a teacher. However, being a good educator is far from easy. The teachers we all remember best are those who were able to inspire us to achieve our full potential. To be an effective educator, you need specific soft skills in addition to a solid grasp of the subject you teach. The following describes the key values of effective educators.

 

Infectious enthusiasm

Teaching is much more than just the transfer of information. The challenge is in engaging students’ minds to seek out answers. From the outside, it may seem easy to be passionate about motivating young, eager minds. The reality is that educators have to be that way every day, despite administrative duties, paperwork, and in many cases, the lack of adequate facilities and resources. At the same time, they have to reflect the enthusiasm for knowledge, which they strive to instil in their students.

 

Customised, continuous effort

Students differ from one to the other, and so do class composition and chemistry. Therefore, an educator cannot use the same techniques for all students. He or she should identify specific exercises or materials that engage students of different interests and abilities. To be an effective educator, you need to understand and embrace the diversity of your students, and find ways to engage them meaningfully. Educators also need to plan, reflect, customise, and execute their lessons for different students on a daily or weekly basis.

 

Two-way communication

Educators may be the ones doing most of the talking, but listening is an essential part of the learning process. Student feedback not only affirms the effectiveness of your teaching techniques, but also allows the students themselves to see the value in their lessons. The projects and activities carried out must encourage student input and communication.

 

Exams matter

Students are not the only ones who are assessed; educators struggle with being evaluated as well. Many educators associate exam results with their own capabilities, sometimes resulting in a lot of personal dissatisfaction, or teaching to the test, i.e., teaching students to be good exam takers without genuinely understanding the subject. While exam results are important, teachers should focus on the bigger picture, and long term goals for the students. Ultimately, educators are preparing students for life, and not just to pass exams.

 

Part counsellor

Educators often play the role of counsellors. They try to find out what hinders learning and help students to overcome barriers to learning. They try to find out what motivates their students, and how to inspire them to perform better. They also try to persuade their students to explore areas of learning with which they are unfamiliar. Educators also try to make their students feel comfortable in the classroom and involve them in the learning process.

 

Training to be an educator

Educators are needed at every level from preschool to postgraduate. Depending on the level you wish to be involved in, you may need different qualifications. Generally, a teaching diploma or a bachelor’s degree in education is required to teach preschool, primary and secondary school students, while postgraduate qualifications are necessary for teaching university students.

 

In addition to formal qualifications, you need to embody the values described above if you wish to thrive in the profession. Ultimately, teaching is about changing lives for the better.