“Teaching is a calling too. And I’ve always thought that teachers in their way are holy—angels leading their flocks out of the darkness.” —Jeannette Walls, Half Broke Horses
I make it a practice to attend seminars on teaching and training programs to understand the latest tools and techniques and developments. In October 2015, I had the privilege of attending a seminar on the “Art of Teaching” delivered by an experienced educator with 32 years of teaching service. He delivered the seminar for almost two hours with high-energy levels. He kept moving in all directions during the seminar to connect with the entire audience and to gauge our body language. His passion was evident throughout the seminar. He was around 65 years old. It was a post-lunch session. Usually it is tough to grab and hold the attention of the audience at this time because the post-lunch session often is referred to as a “graveyard session.” Additionally, it was almost the weekend, and the audience was eager to pack up rather than listen to the seminar.
The seminar participants were all experienced academicians who might disagree with the teaching tools and techniques shared by this experienced educator. However, I enjoyed his seminar, and, above all, his passion to share his experiences with his colleagues. I am a passionate learner, and I have the habit of learning from all sources to share my knowledge with my students. As such, here are my views on teaching.
Teaching Is a Calling
Teaching is more than a profession. Teaching is a calling. Teaching is the mother of all professions. It requires immense passion to share knowledge with others. Audiences will be of different mindsets, egos, emotions, and feelings. To reach out to them is a big challenge for educators.
Teachers must create a conducive environment in the classroom to ensure that the transfer of knowledge takes place from one person to another or to a group. They must arouse interest in students, develop curiosity in them, and engage them effectively to accomplish the teaching goals and objectives.
Teaching is a profession, but teachers may not be treated as professionals. Teaching enhances the abilities of students. Teaching is a transactional way of disciplining the students and a transformational way of developing them as personalities and shaping them as healthy citizens. The teaching profession doesn’t always give a decent income to teachers, but it gives a great respect to the teachers from students.
Teaching Is a Profession of Passion
If you want to make decent money, don’t join the teaching profession. In contrast, if you want to earn respect, join the teaching profession. If you are passionate about sharing your knowledge, join the teaching profession. The teaching profession is not for unethical individuals, but it is for individuals who appreciate sharing their knowledge with others with integrity. The teaching profession is for people who want to make a difference in the lives of students. Above all, the teaching profession is for those people who have the highest responsibility of building better societies.
Teaching Is an Art and a Craft
There are debates about whether teaching is an art or craft. In fact, teaching is both. The skill to teach is cultivated by various means, including learning, reading, training, observation, and experience. It is rightly said, “To teach is to learn twice.” It takes immense passion to become a great teacher. When teachers are passionate about sharing their knowledge with students and have a heart to make a difference, then the teaching profession becomes the mother of all professions as all the other professions are the outcomes of teaching.
Student-Centric Education
The world has changed rapidly, and the teaching pedagogy and techniques must change with the changing times. Previously, it was a faculty-centric education environment. Presently, there is an urgent need for student-centric education. Students respect the teachers who share their knowledge relevant to their expectations and aspirations. As such, teachers must update their knowledge and innovate their teaching tools and techniques constantly to ensure student-centric education.
For me, teaching is more than profession. It is my passion. I am a passionate teacher and learner. I love sharing my knowledge with my students.
“The calling of the teacher. There is no craft more privileged. To awaken in another human being powers, dreams beyond one’s own; to induce in others a love for that which one loves; to make of one’s inward present their future; that is a threefold adventure like no other.” —George Steiner, Lessons of the Masters
Professor M.S.Rao, Ph.D., is an international leadership guru and leadership educator, executive coach, speaker, and consultant. He has 34 years of experience and is the author of 30 books including 21 Success Sutras for Leaders (http://www.amazon.com/21-Success-Sutras-Leaders-ebook/dp/B00AK98ELI) that was ranked as one of the Top 10 Leadership Books of the Year – 2013 by San Diego University. His award-winning book “Success Tools for CEO Coaches: Be a Learner, Leader, and Ladder,” is the Community Award Winner for 2014 by Small Business Trends (http://bookawards.smallbiztrends.com/management-2014/success-tools-for-ceo-coaches-8/). His award-winning book, “Smart Leadership: Lessons for Leaders” (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D9S8SCW) has been published as a Spanish language e-book. His vision is to build 1 million students as global leaders by 2030 (http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in). He has been honored as an upcoming International Leadership Guru by Leadership Gurus International (http://www.globalgurus.org/leadership/upcoming.php) and listed as one of the leading achievers around the world in Marquis Who’s Who in the World in 2013. He serves as an advisor and judge for several international organizations, including Global Leadership Awards, Malaysia. He received the International Coach of the Year 2013 Award from Comprehensive Coaching U, Inc. http://www.terrilevine.com/coachoftheyear/winners.html Professor Rao coined an innovative teaching tool called Meka’s Method; a leadership teaching tool, 11E Leadership Grid; and a new leadership tool called Soft Leadership Grid, based on his new leadership style, “Soft Leadership” copyrighted with Jossey Bass. He led a Webinar on Soft leadership organized by International Leadership Association (http://www.ila-net.org/Webinars/Archive/Rao082012.html). A No.1 ranked speaker in India, reviews can be found at: http://speakerpedia.com/speakers/professor-msrao. Books can be found at: www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A16SKI0396UBRP. Most of his work is available free of charge in his four blogs http://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.in, http://profmsr.blogspot.com, http://professormsrao.blogspot.com and http://professormsraoguru.blogspot.com. You can e-mail him at msrlctrg@gmail.com and follow on Twitter at @professormsrao Contact him via e-mail at msrlctrg@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @professormsrao.
