Becoming an inspirational teacher

Here's just a quick heads-up. I discovered that one of the most popular articles on this website is one I wrote back in November 2009, so at the risk of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, I thought I'd let you know about it in case you weren't aware of it.

Entitled 10 ways to become an inspirational teacher, it discusses, erm, 10 ways to become an inspirational teacher -- specifically of ICT. I'm really pleased by the fact that, apart from a few conference dates cited in the article, it has (in my humble opinion) stood the test of time very well.

I think it’s very important for a teacher to be inspirational, and hopefully you’ll think one or two of these suggestions worth trying. If you have any further ideas, please leave a comment!

Comments

[Julia Skiner]

Another great one Terry. Have RT a couple of times!

[Terry Freedman, Educational ICT Consultant]

Thx very much, Julia. It's good to know that you like it, especially given that you were a headteacher. Was it your experience that inspirational teachers achieved better results than the ones who taught to the test?

[JR]

I enjoyed reading your article on how to become and inspirational teacher - and, you are right, it is a classic that has withstood the test of time. I've been an ESL teacher (for adults) for the past 12 years and I can confirm that tips 1-3 are very useful. Once a week, I start a lesson with an exchange on current affairs - language-related and otherwise. This enables my ESL students to practise their conversational skills but it also creates a very valuable student-teacher as well as student-student bond. Getting to know one another and creating a classroom atmosphere in which all participants are respected and valued as individuals is extremely beneficial for the learning environment. It makes students look forward to your classes - whether they are ICT classes or any other subject. This added motivation is key to the learning process. Some of my students have been with me - voluntarily - for as long as 5 years. So I think that there must be truth in what you are saying. I must also say that I think that the idea of using photographs is an excellent one. I think that you can re-present this article again and again and you will always have an audience for it.

[Terry Freedman, Educational ICT Consultant]

Thx for the encouraging feedback, JR. I think it's interesting to learn that at least some of the attributes of an inspirational teacher of ICT can be carried over wholesale into a completely subject.