Required traits of an awesome teacher

Mike Hankey

Ability to convey the material at the level of your audience. Recognize your pupils strengths and weaknesses and adjust your teaching style accordingly.

The problem with borrowing money from China is 30 mins. later you feel broke again.

Reiss

Richard Feynman[^] is probably the epitome of what a good teacher should be - not only was he an expert in his field, he had the ability to explain the topic to those of us without his level of genius - too often the greats can't explain it to use mere mortals, as it is "obvious" to them and the can't understand why we don't "get" it.

super

He/she should not be elitist for a good teacher IMHO humilty is important trait too.

cheers, Super ------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it

JavedFeroze

The obvious thing is to be able to capture their interest. The scores of Cliché movies and Robin Williamseque mannerism might help in you that regard. :P However, what I find important is to allow the students to express themselves. I mean, lateral thinking as it is called. They may digress. Allow it. It is you who are responsible to lead the conversation back to where it must head. Also, being able to answer most of the questions, even those that sound stupid, is a major plus. Bur again, you shouldn't be too slack either. I have never taught per se but have been in that kind of a position to put in my two cents. :)

Slacker007

super wrote:

humilty is important trait

Yes it is. :thumbsup:

Just along for the ride. "the meat from that butcher is just the dogs danglies, absolutely amazing cuts of beef." - DaveAuld (2011)

peterchen

Some old fart said it best: Those who can, do. Those who understand, teach. admitted, that's required but not sufficient. For me, the key "soft skill" is putting oneself into someone elses shoes: watching your student and understanding his confusion, his slow pace, why he comes to the wrong conclusions. Failing that (or in addition): patience.

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Slacker007

peterchen wrote:

putting oneself into someone elses shoes: watching your student and understanding his confusion, his slow pace, why he comes to the wrong conclusions.

exactly.

Just along for the ride. "the meat from that butcher is just the dogs danglies, absolutely amazing cuts of beef." - DaveAuld (2011)

S Houghtelin

Just like any job, a good teacher enjoys what they do. The teachers that I’ve learned the most from had an enthusiasm and passion for what they taught and for teaching. When they see the light bulb go on in a student’s eyes, that gives them a high. The same feeling most of us get with a nice piece of code and a job well done.

It was broke, so I fixed it.

V 0

Enthousiasm

V.

Not Active

A good teacher must also be a good student. They must enjoy continual learning, not just of their subject, but others as well. A good teacher has a passion for the subject and the best teachers inspire their students with that passion. Teachers must also be adaptable, not everyone learns the same way, so they must be able to change and effectively communicate, in whatever medium or style works for the student.

I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt

GuyThiebaut

A good teacher needs to be interested, even fascinated, in what they are teaching, they need to be willing to explore with the student rather than 'teach' the student. The teacher needs to convey their enthusiasm rather than knowledge - as teaching is really about helping another to learn rather than conveying facts and figures...

Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.(Winston Churchill)

Maximilien

I remember one math teacher in high school; he was about 8 feet tall, had a green tint to his skin ... he was called the green monster! He was passionate, he had patience, but only for those who tried their best, whether they were good or just average, if the students worked hard he would work even harder to have them learn and as much as possible make them enjoy his classes. For those who did not deign work hard, he just dropped them off and failed them. That was the best math class ever. and I passed with high marks!

Watched code never compiles.

CPallini

Slacker007 wrote:

What are some other traits that you think are important to teaching someone who wants to learn?

Finding 'someone who wants to learn'. :)

If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles]

CMullikin

peterchen wrote:

Those who can, do. Those who understand, teach.

I've always heard it a little bit different... Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. But I don't think that is what he wanted in this thread... lol

The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin

Single Step Debugger

Patience, kindness and a big stick. :-D

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wizardzz

Listening. I think it is important for the teacher to listen. Might sound odd, but think about it.

"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.

Steve Mayfield

You cannot teach everyone in the same way - so true, that's the one thing that frustrates me the most when I'm out in the field doing interactive on-site training for our product lines. On the other hand, my class sizes are usually 4 to 8 people at a time, so it is much easier to give some one-on-one and the other students pitch in too. :cool:

Steve _________________ I C(++) therefore I am

RaviBee

Slacker007 wrote:

What are some other traits that you think are important to teaching someone who wants to learn?

The ability to inspire. /ravi

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