Great students make great teachers

Will your students look back and remember you as the person who shaped their lives?

A great teacher is one a student cherishes forever. Teachers have a longlasting impact on the lives of their students, and the best students inspire their teachers, too. Years ago, as a young, eager student, I would have told you that a great teacher was someone who provided classroom entertainment and focused very little on discipline and assignments. Now, after working for 35 years in education including 26 years of heading institutions and related administrative experience and having been involved in hundreds of teacher evaluations, my perspective has changed. My current position as a professor of higher education gives me the opportunity to share what I have learnt with current and future college faculty administrators and through friendly banter with my postgraduate students about what it means to be a great teacher.

Attitude is key

Teaching is hard work, and great teachers work tirelessly to create a challenging and nurturing environment for their students. Great teaching seems to have less to do with our knowledge and skills than with our attitude towards our students or our subject. Greatness in teaching is just as rare as greatness in medicine, dance, law or any other profession. Although the qualities that make great teachers are not easy to inculcate or duplicate, understanding these qualities can give all teachers a standard of excellence to strive for and guide higher education institutions in their efforts to recruit and retain the best teachers.

To that end, I offer the following observations about the key characteristics of great teachers. This list is certainly not exhaustive, and the characteristics do not appear in any particular order of importance but are based on the singular premise that for a teacher to be called great, the students must also aspire to be great.

Respect: In a great teacher’s classroom, each person’s ideas and opinions are valued. It takes a lot of confidence for students to feel safe to express their feelings and learn to respect and listen to others. This facilitates a welcoming learning environment for all students. Facilitating questions is mandatory.

A sense of belonging: The mutual respect in a classroom provides a supportive, collaborative environment. In this way there is an acceptance of a certain structure where there are rules to follow and assignments to be done, and each student is aware that he or she is an important, integral part of the group.

Good students know that they can depend not only on the teacher but also on the entire class. Presentations, assignments and project deadlines are welcomed.

Accessibility and Care: Teachers who are approachable, not only for students but for everyone on campus, can find solutions to any problems or concerns. Great teachers who possess good listening skills ensure that every student leaves his personal baggage outside the school doors. The problems of the young must be handled flexibly.

Shared expectations: Students generally give teachers as much or as little as is expected of them. Teachers realise that their expectations of their students greatly affect their achievement. Variations in grades serve as positive reinforcements.

Love of learning: Great teachers inspire students with their passion for education and constantly renew themselves as professionals in their quest to provide students with the highest quality of education possible. As a result, the student has no fear of learning new approaches or incorporating new technologies into presentations. Customised guidance is useful.

Skilled leadership: Effective teachers focus on shared decisionmaking and teamwork, as well as on community building. As a result, students take up opportunities to assume leadership roles. Nominations, posts, responsibility and accountability are cherished.

Creativity and Innovation: Brilliant students find new ways to make presentations to make sure that every other student understands the key concepts. The teacher also responds with concerted guidance. Shifting gears is the order of the day.

Collaboration: Rather than thinking of themselves as weak because they seek help, great students view collaboration as a way to learn from a fellow professional. A great teacher uses constructive criticism and advice as an opportunity to grow as an educator. Age, experience and seniority cannot be imposed.

Professionalism: Good students emulate teachers in different ways from personal appearance to organisational skills and preparedness for each day besides exemplary communication skills. The respect that the great teacher receives because of her professional manner is obvious to those around her. Role modelling is a creative way of teaching.

While teaching is a gift that seems to come quite naturally to some, others have to work overtime to achieve the great-teacher status. Yet, the payoff is enormous for both you and your students. Imagine students thinking of you as that great teacher they had in college! No one can produce a complete and definitive list of the characteristics of great classroom teaching but I hope that this list provides a starting place.

Knowing the qualities of greatness can help teachers strive for the highest standards and help educationists, professors, teachers, and administrators jointly craft preservice training or in-service programmes that build on these qualities.

The writer is the advisor and dean for the programmes of MSW and MHRM at D.G.Vaishnav College, Chennai.

Source | The Hindu | 6 September 2015

Reading for its own sake

When was the last time you picked up a book or a magazine for pure pleasure?

Many of my friends in the teaching fraternity were happy to hear author Amitav Ghosh tell a young woman that the best advice he had for a writer-in-the-making was “to read.” It’s something we keep telling our own students, but (we tend to think) it is one advice that is disregarded the most. But then, those same students would ask, aren’t we reading all the time? What, other than reading, are we doing each time we pick up a book to study for an examination or a test? If you search online for the distinction between the terms, as I just did, you’d be hard pressed to find a clear one. “Studying is an advanced form of reading,” says one contributor on quora.com. Wikipedia defines reading as “the act or process of studying.”

But let us set aside those academic or dictionary distinctions, for the time being, and get to what I mean by reading. Not studying. Not swotting from notes for an exam. Not going over and over the textbook to memorise definitions or descriptions. Not poring over a reference text in order to add to the classroom lecture.

With all the information around us, we are spending more and more time engaging with texts of different kinds. We scan Facebook posts and Twitter feeds, we click on video links and laugh at visual and verbal memes that come our way, we look at articles that our friends share so that we can either like them or add a comment, thus marking our participation in the great online social space.

But when was the last time you picked up a book or a magazine for pure pleasure and curiosity, without your fingers itching to hit a “like” or a “share” or type in a smart comment? Again, I am not talking about the hurried scanning of headlines on paper or screen that most of us do before we rush out each morning, but a more sustained, sitting-down submersion in words.

Reading for its own sake is what we are talking about here. There is a difference between this and reading for the purpose of knowledge acquisition — although I would argue that reading of all kinds leads to knowledge gain in the long run (much of what I know about life in the Roman empire comes from the Asterix comics). When you study, there is a certain anxiety that keeps you focused only on what is necessary for that exam or test. Purposive reading (to learn, to understand, to remember) is limited by its purpose. When you read without that anxiety, your mind is free to wander about and make connections with other things you’ve read, to relate what you are reading to your own life and experiences, or to stop and think and consider something the writer has said. This kind of reading also develops the ability to look beyond the surface meanings of the words to what is held between them. When we are freed from purpose, our minds can begin to appreciate a piece of writing more fully.

When we read this way, it feeds back into our academic reading — that is, reading as a process of studying. We become more efficient readers because we are able to scan a text quickly and grasp its meaning without too much difficulty. We can figure out which parts of the text are important and which ones are only supportive. While reading a novel, for instance, we know that description is used to set a scene while action and dialogue move the plot forward. Over time, as we read more novels, we understand where to pay attention, where to dwell on the words and where to skim over them. We get the plot even if we don’t always get the details.

I hate to think that I am advocating reading for pleasure as a way to improve one’s ability to read academically — that would seem to be self-defeating! The hope is that even if people begin reading because they think it is useful, they will begin to enjoy it for its own sake!

Granted, the time we have for extra-curricular reading is gradually being eaten away by other, supposedly more urgent tasks (like moving to the next level on our favourite gaming app or catching up on social media). But we also have more reading material available to us today than at any point of time in the past. Books are easier to get, more people are writing about more subjects, and they are also available in a variety of forms such as e-books and audiobooks. That would imply that more people are reading. So, perhaps my colleagues and I are wrong about young people not reading. So, maybe it’s not so much about whether people are reading, but about how they are reading?

Source | The Hindu | 6 September 2015

                              Becoming a Better Public Speaker: Tips From the Greats

Heart thumping so loud I know everyone can hear it. Face and neck flushing red. Sweat beads beginning to sprout and then trickle down my forehead.

No, this is not the moment in front of the crowd and under the spotlights—this comes from just THINKING about that moment! Whether it’s speaking in front of our school faculty, presenting at a local school board meeting, or testifying in front of Congress, many of us feel anxiety about public speaking. So what can we do to be better prepared as public speakers? Here’s a few lessons from some speaking greats.

Embrace the Anxiety

Did you know that Warren Buffett used to be terrified of speaking in public? According to this story in Forbes magazine, he picked out his college courses based on whether he’d have to speak in front of the class, avoiding the ones where he knew he’d be forced to face his fear. He even dropped a public speaking course.

But then he decided he would have to overcome this fear to be in business. And that he did—becoming not only one of the world’s richest people but also a well-respected storyteller.

We can all do the same thing. A fear of public speaking is not just common; it is innate. Our ancestors had to be accepted into social groups in order to survive, instead of standing out and being alone (and then possibly being a predator’s dinner!). We have to acknowledge our fears; don’t try to pretend they’re not there! Instead, harness the jitters and refocus them by thinking of those nerves as positive energy and excitement. If we reframe anxiety as our desire to do our best, it can help us control those feelings.

Connect With Your Audience

Have you ever watched Bill Clinton speak? I recently talked with several people who have, and one thing rang true for them all: He can make connections! Clinton seems to have a way of making people feel like he is connected to them and who they are.

So the lesson here? Don’t talk to people, talk with people. Whether it’s 25 or 250 people, in your head, frame it as a conversation, not a speech. Think of the faces in front of you as your flock. Nurture them and your relationship with them. Make eye contact. Bring them along on the conversational journey.

Be Aware of Your Body Language

This is another homage to Bill Clinton. He smiles during positive points, gestures with his palms for added inflection, and furrows his brows during serious moments. When he is making a point, he uses his index finger to tap the podium in front of him.

This behavior is backed by Harvard professor Amy Cuddy’s TED talk and research, which shows that our body language can send just as big of a message as our words. Albert Mehrabian, a UCLA professor who has done extensive research on nonverbal communication, stated in a communication study that, in regards to liking a speaker, seven percent happens in spoken words, 38 percent happens through voice tone, and 55 percent happens through general body language.

This can be hard to focus on while you’re up in front of the masses, so sometimes I need some help. I write messages to myself in the margins to relax. Smile. Have fun. Think about what message my body is sending that I might not be aware of.

Tell a Story

Think about the elements and flow of a great story. What drew you in? What kept you reading or listening? Chip and Dan Heath mention this in the book Made to Stick. The same elements go into a great speech! Paint a picture with your words. When it comes to advocacy, this is especially important. Show the faces of your students and what affects them.

Connect With Your Emotions and Show Passion

Don’t be afraid to be human in front of an audience. There is something great about human connection that builds relationships, even from behind a podium. A great example of this is Rita Pierson, who emits her love and passion through every syllable in her speech “Every Kid Needs a Champion.”

Be Succinct

Think of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Big message, 265 words. I think we sometimes think more is more, but the mantra “less is more” really stands true.

Use Wit

Think of the last line of Socrates’s famous speech, given after he was condemned to death: “But it is now time to depart—for me to die, for you to live. But which of us is going to a better state is unknown to everyone but God.” Now, I wasn’t a literature major, but I am a connoisseur of witty banter and comments. I took that comment as the ultimate example of a witty closing comment (pun intended).

Think About Cadence, and Don't Be Afraid of Silence

The perfect example of cadence? Martin Luther King, Jr., in “I Have a Dream.” The intonation, the inflection of his words, the rhythm, and the power of a carefully placed pause. Don’t be afraid of silence—it can be more powerful than any word. I have another trick here: I write notes to myself. “Pause,” written in capital letters, or underlining words to emphasize. I read lines over and over again until the cadence feels right.

Use Repetition as a Golden Thread

Repetition can tie your message together. Think of Winston Churchill’s “Blood, Toil, Sweat, and Tears,” where this great orator would weave a phrase through both the beginning and end of a speech. I wouldn’t use this strategy all the time, but it’s a good trick to have in your back pocket.

Relax and Have Fun

I have to remind myself to do this. So at the top of my notes for a speech, I write two words: “Breathe. Relax.” When your adrenaline is pumping and the spotlight is on you, what seems like common sense may slip our mind. A reminder really helps.

Know Your Style

Do you need notes? How much practice do you need until you feel comfortable? How much scaffolding do you need so you are comfortable in the moment? Should you print out your whole speech to have on hand in case panic strikes (yes, this happens.)?

Know yourself and give yourself whatever support you need to be the best “you.” I practice my speech and record it so I can listen, reflect, and refine. I also make sure to time my speeches so I know what content to cut and what needs additional work.

Keep Your Print Large

Twelve-point font is not always helpful under the spotlights, in front of a crowd, and when your heart is thumping like the Energizer Bunny on Red Bull. If you decide to print out your speech and notes, do so with a larger font size that you can easily read when you glance down. Also, highlight the important pieces of your speech so if you go off on a tangent, you make sure to hook back into those key points.

Source | http://www.ap.org

Using Your Voice to Get the Dream Job

New York:  Instead of resorting to a conventional written resume, sending your prospective employer a videotape recording of your professional credentials may increase your chances of getting hired, new research shows.

A resume hghlighting your professional credentials and experience could pique the interest of a prospective employer, but it is your voice that may actually help you land the job, the study said.

"In addition to communicating the contents of one's mind, like specific thoughts and beliefs, a person's speech conveys their fundamental capacity to think - the capacity for reasoning, thoughtfulness and intellect," said Nicholas Epley, professor at University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

The researchers found that when hypothetical employers and professional recruiters listened to or read job, candidate's job qualifications, they rated the candidates as more competent, thoughtful and intelligent when they heard the pitch than when they read it -- even when the words used were exactly the same.

As a result, they liked the candidate more and were more interested in hiring them.

"When conveying intelligence, it is important for one's voice to be heard -literally, Epley said.

In a series of experiments, the researchers asked a group of MBA students to develop a short pitch for the job candidaites to the company for which they would most like to work. They created written pitches and spoken pitches (videotaped).

Evaluators who heard the pitch reported liking the candidate more and were significantly more likely to hire that person.

Even professional recruiters were more likely to hire the candidates whose pitches they could hear than those whose pitches they read.

The study is forthcoming in The Journal of Psychological Science.

Source | http://www.ndtv.com/

Conquer your exam fears

Expert tips

Psychologist Dr Sharita Shah offers a few tips for parents and students:

Research has proved that the average attention span of a teenager is 45 minutes maximum. Parents must understand that it’s alright for students to take short, frequent breaks for them to charge up again.

Students shouldn’t completely ignore the hobbies they pursue or activities they like just because it is exam time. The brain needs its share of innovation be it sports, music or painting. Thirty minutes of recreation does no harm.

Set your own benchmarks rather than comparing yourself with your peers. Also it’s not advisable to compare and share notes just a few days before exams as it leads to anxiety levels soaring.

Limit your conversations with friends who are appearing for the exams themselves and for pleasant repartee, there is always a sibling or a friend who is not appearing for the exam.Talk to them instead.

Parents must be careful about not constantly double-checking the child’s preparation as their anxiety might tend to rub off on the child as well.

Eat right

Nutritionist Karishma Chawla offers a few essential pointers.

It’s very important to have a balanced diet. Eating at regular intervals, preferably every two hours, helps in keeping the blood sugar levels stable and eases concentration.

Having approximately two litres of water per day is necessary. If consuming plain water is difficult, add a dash of lime or orange for taste. Coconut water is a rich source of nutrients.

The focus should be on consuming iron and omega 3 rich food as it helps in concentrating better. Flax seeds, almonds, green leafy vegetables, cashew nuts are some of the rich sources. Adding a dash of lemon while serving green leafy vegetables helps in better absorption of iron as citrus contains Vitamin C.

Functional exercise in any form, thrice a week, is recommended as it aids blood circulation and keeps the body active.

Carbohydrates keep the body satiated for a longer duration and if the student is full, focusing is easier. Complex carbohydrates like wheat, jowar, bajra, ragi stabilise the energy better than refined flours like maida.

Consuming one to two seasonal fruits in a day is also advisable as they are a source of natural vitamins.

Topper Speaks

Parth Kothari of Pace Junior Science College, was a topper in the Science stream last year, scoring 95.69 per cent. He says: “It’s very important to have concepts clear and well defined in advance. The basic criterion in the Board exams is to present your answers well, according to the board format. I had made it a point to keep separate notebooks for formulae and definitions for each subject and that really helped me during last minute revisions. Also it’s advisable to skim through the textbook once. It always gives an upper hand as the questions that finally appear in the paper, are twisted. I made it a point to flip through the previous years’ question papers a day before the exams to have an idea about the pattern. While writing the paper, skip the question or section that scares you the most and move on to the next. There are always options available and you can attempt the questions you are comfortable with first.

Source | Asian Age | 23 February 2015

10 million newspaper pages are now fully searchable

Just a month after hitting the 9.5 million page milestone, we’re very pleased to announce that there are now 10 million historic newspaper pages available at The British Newspaper Archive.

The website launched with 4 million pages in November 2011, which means there’s now 150% more to explore. If you’ve not searched the collection for a while, it’s definitely time to try again.

Thousands of pages are digitised every week and we’ve added some fantastic content in the last few months. Here are just some of our highlights – please do tell us yours in the comments section below.

Copies of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror

Did you know that you can search the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror from 1914-1918 at The British Newspaper Archive? The national newspapers provide fascinating daily news, photographs and illustrations from the First World War.

58 new Irish newspapers

We’ve been working hard on expanding our collection of newspapers from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in the last few months. At launch, seven Irish newspaper titles were available, but now you can search a total of 65.

Newspapers from World War Two

You can now search more than 350,000 pages from 1939-1945 at The British Newspaper Archive. 60 newspaper titles are already online, including the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, Lancashire Evening Post and Kent & Sussex Courier.

 What would you like to see digitised? You can suggest and vote for newspaper titles by using our feedback forum.

Source | http://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

10 ways to make time for reading

Here are some ways in which we can try and squeeze in some reading time, without altering our busy lifestyles...

Take a designated reading break

Every day, instead of chatting with friends or going for that extra tea or coffee break, dedicate even 15 to 20 minutes to just read a book.

Cut down on social media time

Instead of spending that extra hour checking out profiles and status updates or playing a random game online, try to give that time to reading.

Go digital with your reading

If you're traveling to work by bus, try and read an e-book on your laptop or tablet. If you drive, why not insert an audio book instead of playing the radio.

Find a reading buddy

At work, try to find a friend who likes reading and read the same books and compare notes. This way, it encourages

you to keep up with each other.

Cut down on Random browsing

Instead of reading those forwarded blogs or web links, try to utilize that time to read a book that you wanted online or at your work desk.

How about some bed time reading

A good time to read is before you go to bed. If you're married, why not pick a book that you and your spouse can read together. This adds to the 'us' time.

Go out on a reading date

If you're happy with your own company, head to a quaint coffee shop and read a book you wanted. This way, the ambience and the coffee perks you up.

Leave a book in the bathroom

Now, this doesn't need much explanation does it? Instead of the newspaper or magazine, read that book.

Say no to a bad book

If the first 50 pages seem daunting, read another book. This way, a bad book won't put you off when you're attempting to read more.

Read the movie

Yes, if you're planning on watching a new movie and it happens to be an adaptation of a book, then read the book first.

Source | Times of India | 9 February 2015