Becoming a Better Teacher | Mariappan Jawaharlal | TEDxCPP

Summary

The speaker, an assistant professor, shares his initial fears about teaching due to language barriers and lack of confidence. He humorously discusses the traditional teaching method, where educators follow a syllabus and give hard exams, questioning its effectiveness. The professor then advocates for engaging students by being original, renouncing the notion that teaching equates to learning, getting to students' eye level, allowing them to make mistakes, and encouraging them to 'reinvent the wheel' through active learning. He concludes by emphasizing the importance of educators creating immersive learning experiences.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker was initially excited and terrified about starting a teaching job due to language and communication skills concerns.
• 🏫 The speaker humorously points out that students are unaware of what the teacher doesn't know, which eased his knowledge concerns.
• 🗣️ English being the speaker's third language, he was worried about being understood by students, highlighting the challenges of non-native English speakers in academia.
• 🎬 A moment of revelation while watching a Disney movie with his daughters led to a change in the speaker's teaching philosophy.
• 📜 Understanding the teaching system's flexibility was crucial for the speaker, as it allowed him to focus on topics without being constrained by a rigid structure.
• 📚 The speaker prepared hard exams, which he later realized were too hard and unrealistic, even for someone like Isaac Newton.
• 🤔 Feeling a disconnect in his traditional teaching approach, the speaker realized students were not truly learning or engaged.
• 📈 The speaker learned from comedian Phyllis Diller's code about the irony of teaching children to be quiet after teaching them to communicate.
• 🌟 To be a good teacher, the speaker concluded that one must be original and true to oneself, as all bad teachers are boring.
• 🚫 The speaker advocates 'renouncing teaching' to focus on student learning, emphasizing that teaching is not the same as learning.
• 👶 Getting to the students' eye level means understanding the subject from their perspective and explaining complex concepts in simple terms.
• 🔄 Encouraging students to make mistakes is vital for learning, as it allows them to understand consequences in a controlled environment.
• 🚲 The speaker suggests avoiding the 'bus ride' teaching method where the teacher controls the pace and content, instead advocating for a 'bike ride' approach where students are active participants.
• 🧠 Reinventing the wheel in learning is encouraged to ensure students understand concepts deeply, rather than just memorizing them.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial feeling about teaching?

The speaker was both excited and terrified about teaching. Excited because they always wanted to teach and got the job, terrified because they were unsure if they had the knowledge, language, and communication skills to teach effectively.

Why was the speaker worried about their language skills?

The speaker was worried about their language skills because English was their third language, they were not fluent, and they had an accent, which made them unsure if students would understand them.

What revelation did the speaker have while watching a Disney movie with their daughters?

The speaker had a moment of revelation when they asked themselves in front of the mirror how they could be a better teacher, which led to a realization about the teaching system and their approach to it.

What is the traditional teaching system as described by the department chair?

The traditional teaching system involves the department chair or school principal giving the teacher a curriculum or syllabus with a list of topics to cover within a certain timeframe, such as a semester. The teacher is expected to give quizzes and exams, and the method of teaching, pace, and depth are up to the teacher.

Why did the speaker feel something was missing in their traditional teaching approach?

The speaker felt something was missing because they sensed a disconnect; students were doing better on exams but not truly connected or engaged in the learning process.

What did the speaker learn from Phyllis Diller's code about teaching?

The speaker learned from Phyllis Diller's code that after teaching children to walk and talk in the first 12 months, society often tells them to 'sit down and shut up,' which highlights a problem in student engagement and active learning.

What is the first lesson the speaker learned about being a better teacher?

The first lesson the speaker learned was to 'be yourself' and 'be original,' meaning not to copy other teachers but to teach in a way that is authentic to one's own personality and style.

Why did the speaker suggest 'renouncing teaching'?

The speaker suggested 'renouncing teaching' to emphasize that teaching is not the same as learning. Teaching focuses on the teacher, while learning is about the students. The speaker argued that teaching should be more about facilitating learning rather than just transferring information.

How does the speaker propose getting to the students' eye level?

The speaker proposes getting to the students' eye level by understanding the subject matter from the students' perspective, explaining concepts in simple terms without technical jargon, and being able to communicate complex ideas in a way that a fifth grader could understand.

Why is it important to allow students to make mistakes according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, it is important to allow students to make mistakes because learning occurs through trial and error. Making mistakes in a controlled environment like a classroom helps students understand the consequences and learn from them, which prepares them for avoiding bigger mistakes in life.

What does the speaker mean by 'reinventing the wheel' in the context of learning?

The speaker means that students should experience the process of understanding concepts for themselves, similar to how one would reinvent the wheel to truly understand it. This involves individual discovery and experience, rather than just memorizing information.

How does the speaker use the question 'What do you think?' in teaching?

The speaker uses the question 'What do you think?' to encourage students to think critically and come up with their own solutions to problems. This approach promotes self-discovery and deeper understanding, as opposed to simply providing answers.

What is the main difference between a 'bus ride' and a 'bike ride' in education according to the speaker?

In education, a 'bus ride' means the teacher controls the learning process like a driver, while a 'bike ride' allows students to actively participate and control their learning pace and direction. The speaker advocates for the latter to engage students in their learning.