As a childbirth educator, you care about providing your patients the most relevant and helpful information. But sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether your teaching is as effective as you intend it to be. Below are some findings regarding what makes a teacher successful that you can use as a benchmark.
Qualities of the Most Effective Teachers
There has been a lot of research on what separates effective teachers from ineffective ones. In study after study, effective teachers were shown to possess similar qualities. Below is a list of five of them.
1. Highly organized and prepared
The most effective teachers are well prepared for every class and conduct their research ahead of time. They have a strong understanding of their subject, which enables them to clearly communicate topics so that students can understand and relate to what is being presented.
These teachers also frequently use examples, details, analogies, and metaphors when explaining material so that students not only understand what they are learning but have a better chance of retaining the information.
2. Dynamic, enthusiastic, and passionate
Effective teachers are passionate about what they teach and love sharing their passion with others. Their enthusiasm engages students and makes the learning process more enjoyable and rewarding.
3. Encourages interaction
The best teachers use different methods of instruction to reach various types of learners. Through these methods, teachers encourage students to interact with one another, to ask questions, and to share their own thoughts and opinions. Due to the open and welcoming environment these teachers foster, students see them as approachable and become comfortable participating in discussions and activities.
4. Gets personal
Teachers who genuinely care about their students as individuals and take the time to get to know them on a personal level are more effective and make more meaningful connections. And this works both ways — these teachers are willing to share a bit about themselves, which builds rapport with their students.
5. Takes time to reflect
Effective teachers set aside time to reflect on their teaching. They assess what went well and what didn’t in a given lesson and think about the changes they can make to improve going forward. By regularly assessing their performance, teachers prevent themselves from becoming complacent and ensure they continue to grow, both on a professional and personal level.
With this in mind, revisit this list regularly to assess yourself and make any necessary adjustments, whether it be to your delivery, content, or classroom environment.
Be sure to check out our educational materials online when looking for new resources to use in the classroom or as supplemental material to provide to your patients. Feel free to contact us with any questions!
Coming soon: More ways to keep students engaged using our app, featuring a CCI client!
