Innovative Teacher

During the teaching of scientific subjects a teacher must learn to be innovative. It is wrong to think that all children are destructive and can not be trusted. The truth is otherwise. Children are constructive, happy and energetic human beings. They like to be trusted and taking responsibilities. In the same way people in the surrounding environment of the children are not as vice as a teacher may think.

Trying out new techniques, in itself, is not a bad idea, neither any sensible person would deny it. Trying out techniques that fail, again and again is a bad idea. Any teacher should be able to reflect upon his/her teaching methods. They should be able to point out the weak and strong points of their teaching and overcome his/her weakness.

An innovative teacher is one, who is never scared to learn. Innovative teacher is ever ready to experiment with established teaching methods and techniques. An innovative teacher is open to criticism and use it positively to eradicate his/her weaknesses. (s)he is always learning and trying out new things. Teaching and experimenting with the new techniques and mechanisms.

During the training class teachers came up with the following arguments against using new teaching methods.

There is a general conception that children in our public schools are destructive and unaware of using various equipments used in science teaching, because of the backgrounds they come from. I think that the reason behind this concept is that teachers never try new methods with them and never trust them with anything. If a teacher take students in confidence and tell them about the value of equipment and the practical they are going to do, kids will very careful with the handling of the equipments and other  resources.

The other reason that most teachers give is that they have got limited time to complete mammoth syllabus. I think that by involving students in research and teaching process, teachers can lessen their burden and make the syllabus interesting and easy for children to understand. it only needs dedication on part of the teacher to think of new ideas.

There is a lack of resources and limited resources are kept safe, was another argument. A teacher should be able to design and collect his/her own resources. A teacher has every right to reason with the custodian of the resources. Trust should be built and expectations should be met to get access to those resources.

One last and general advice for teachers is to use effective time management routine. Instead of wasting time and chatting or doing personal work they should concentrate on teaching and making it easier for themselves and their students. All great teachers did not wait for someone to come and wake them up or make them do great things. They took initiative themselves and started changing things.