What is ABC of Good Teaching?

1. WHAT IS A B C OF GOOD TEACHING?
Dr.T.V.Rao MD
Can anyone be a great teacher?Quite simply,no.There are certainattributesapersonmustembody
inorder to be a great teacher.Nextquestion — Are greatteachersbornand notmade?Though
some people definitelypossessaninnate “gift”forteaching,mostgreatteacherswere notborn.
Theywere made!The teachermakesa difference tothe studentsfromthe textbookstheyreadand
whattheysee inthe Internet,Teachingisage oldtraditionnotknow toowell tomanyof us,
everythinginlifeof ateacherisa newexperience,andIbelievenoone canbe tooconfidentwith
everything,Irealizedlife isamatterof learningandconstantup gradationof knowledge,and
transferthe bestof us to the Students,inthe bestof my experience onlythe artof makingmatters
simple,isthe onlyexpectationsinthe worldaseverysubjectisgetting,more andmore complicated.
My bestlovedteachersare mostsimple andhumble people whoneverassumedassomethinggreat
and theyeducateduswithbestof the traditionswithhumanvalues.Allteacherswanttobe better,
don’tthey?Andsince noone has everfinishedlearningtoteach,continuedimprovementisa
priorityof any effective teacher.Ialwayswishestobe teacherwithmanyideals,howeverall may
not workhoweverIalwaysmore whenIused,ShortwordsShort sentencesShortparagraphsNo
jargon's,Cut all clichés Preferactive topassive tense.Donotbe too muchimposing,“Studentswon’t
care howmuch youknowuntil theyknow how muchyou care” isas true todayas it has alwaysbeen.
The simple actof greetingwithaffectionandsinceritymakesthe difference whichmade usto near
to the heart.Appearhappyand enthusiasticandinterested.Asteachers,asrole models,we are
oftenactors ona stage.Iseverythingwe teachthe mostexcitingandinterestingthingwe've ever
taught?No. Butthe studentsshouldn'tknow that.Butthe studentscan’tknow that.If students
don’tbelievethatyou’re happytobe teachingthemandenthusiasticaboutwhatyou’re teaching,
theywon’tbuyintoyour lessons.Youcan’texpectthemtobe any more enthusiasticthanYOUare.
Unenthusiasticteachershave classroomsof studentswhoare everybitasunenthusiastic.Many
yearsof experience proves,Aseducatorswe mustteachouryoungoneswithPASSION.We all
medical teachersshouldtryourbestof teachingpracticable andimprovingthe skillsof ourpupil.
Make lessonsmeaningful.Studentsdon’twanttolearnwhattheycan’trelate to.Period!Youdon’t
have to change your content.Justchange the wayyou teachyour content.Whenteachinganything,
simplyaskyourself,“Whyisthisskill importanttothe students?”Thenteachthatway.Do not share
your personal problemsinlifewithstudentsitwill make amanof noprivacy.Great teachersdonot
allowtheirpersonal problemstobleedintotheirteaching.Insimplestterms,theydon’timpose their
moodson theirstudents.Be aman of humor Great teachershave a sense of humor,andtheyshare
it dailywiththeirstudents.Greatteacherscontinuallystrivetomake learningfun,relevant,
interesting,challengingandengaging.Inthe classroomsof greatteachers,studentsare encouraged
to question, discuss,debate,experiment,inventandmake lotsof mistakes.Whenwe make a
mistake,donottry to hide the mistakesGreatteachersare not perfectteachers.Whentheymake
mistakes,theyactas goodrole modelsdo,admittingtheirmistakes,learningfromthese mistakes
and offeringapologiesif necessary.Notsurprisingly,greatteachersare alsosome of the most
humble peopleyouwill evermeet.Theyare the real difference-makersineducation.Manyof them
do notevenrealize justhowexceptional they reallyare.Orif theydo,they’re justtooeagerand
humble toadmitit.Neverforgetlife isamatterof learningandteachingbetterskillstoourstudents
BertrandRussell saysthatman has outdone animalsbecausehe has'acquired'skills.Itisso
interestingtonotice thatthe physical evolutionhasplayedsuchanimportantrole.The manwill be
reallyevolvedwhenthisextendstohisinnerworld.The trulygreatteacheristhe one whowill help
the Studentstoknowhimself andacceptwhateverhe knowsandthenmotivateshimtopursue his

2. strengthsandlearnmodestytotake helpinhisweaknesses.Be agood actor inlife Greatteachers
understandthattheyare actors ona stage.Yes,actors. Theyare performerscapable of entertaining,
capturingand enrapturingtheiraudienceseveryday.Theirenthusiasmiscontagious,andtheyactas
thougheverythingtheyteachistheir favourite thingtoteach.Today'seducational systemisfor
rapidchange everyone cannotbe a teacherespeciallywheneducational systemsare comingup
majorchanges.Onlyteacherswithskillsandcompetencywillsurvive andrestare forgottensooner
than Later?
Dr.T.V.RaoMD Professorof MicrobiologyFreelance writer