Teaching: What is necessary?

As an instructor that has worked in both the online learning environment and the traditional classroom, I have experienced many different scenarios, age levels, and teaching methodologies. Constant professional development sessions for my school district, and now for my colleges, help to update me on the latest trends in instruction. However, trends come and go and sometimes we only learn the wrong ways to teach our students by trial and error. So what is necessary for me to provide my students with effective instruction? Does it differ by age and grade level? What philosophy do I hold to in order to provide the best possible learning environment?

My philosophy of teaching is something that I have thought about quite a bit. I cannot seem to fill out a job application without having to include my philosophy of teaching. While I want to look professional and make it all sound wonderful to my potential employer, for this blog post, I want to dig deep and really reflect on what I believe my students need and what is absolutely necessary for me as an educator. Not that I don't adhere to my philosophy of teaching that I include with potential job applications, but let's get "real" and break it down to the nuts and bolts.

I believe that in order to meet the needs of my students, at any age, I must provide differentiated instruction. Whether it is in teams, or individual, it needs to exist for all my students. We all learn differently and there is no mold that fits everyone. Accommodations for my students' learning needs are imperative. Second, I must engage my students. Whether that is standing on my head and giving my lecture via webcam, or dressing up like Raggedy Ann for my elementary students, they must be engaged. I must go the extra mile to make it happen. I cannot sit back and be a mediocre educator. I must find a connection and use it to engage my students. This will take time and effort outside of what is normally required in the classroom. This means thinking "outside" the box. This means using a variety of learning theories like: social constructivism, cognitive learning theory, and connectivism (a mixture of the other two, not yet recognized as a learning theory). I need to provide a learning environment that my students can absorb, that allows them to use critical thinking skills, and that builds on their prior knowledge.

Finally, I need to be present. Whether it is in the traditional classroom, or the online learning environment. My students need to know I am there and that I will support them and guide them along the journey. Distance education should not be "distant" in the classroom. Making it personal and getting to know my students will help me to build the trust and connections that will help them to feel comfortable and safe in the classroom. Only then can I teach them...or rather as a wise man once said: "I never teach my pupils, I simply provide the environment in which they learn." ~Albert Einstein

Cynthia