What makes a good teacher good?

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macduffer

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As a teacher myself (albeit of English Literature to 13- 18 year olds; UK high school) I often wonder why some people seem to teach (whatever it is they teach) extremely well, while others are very poor. This seems - based purely on my personal experience - at least as true of golf professionals as it does of schoolteachers.

Initially I thought about knowledge: but then some academics I know are appalling teachers. Everything comes so easily to them they simply can't relate to those who find things harder. So while knowledge is important, it can't be the be-all and end-all.

Then I considered the ability to relate to one's student(s). Yet once again, my own finest teacher at school was a very odd man with an unhealthy obsession with bee-keeping. He was, however, a fantastic biology teacher.

My view - eventually arrived at- is that being a good teacher means:
  1. Being able to identify a student's needs
  2. Having the knowledge to meet those needs
  3. Having the communication skills and flexibility to deploy that knowledge in way(s) that the student understands; and
  4. Always having an alternative available if your first teaching strategy fails

I'd be interested to know what Brian and others think about this
 
ggsjpc

ggsjpc

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Me too...

I've also wondered about this question. Here's my list:

1) A true desire to help the student learn.
2) A desire to learn as many different ways as possible to explain a topic.
3) The ability to communicate info. in a way the student can comprehend and utilize.
4) A thirst for learning. I think good teachers are also good learners.
 
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Slicey McDuff

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Being an IT trainer my take on it is this:

A HUGE desire to learn yourself.
An ability to explain the same concept 50 differnt ways.
The patience and desire to find WHICH of those 50 ways THIS student grasps.
A bit of eccentricity, nobody learns from a automatron.
And definately a desire to see the student "get" it, the best moments are when you can see the lights come on as they grasp a concept.
 
Richie3Jack

Richie3Jack

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I'm thinking along the same lines.

Just a desire to be the best teacher you can possibly be which extends to having an open mind towards learning and thinking outside of the box.

IMO, if you're legitimately putting an effort in to become the best teacher you can possibly be and have an open mind, then you should increase your knowledge about a subject and increase your ability to convey your knowledge to your students.



3JACK
 
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HowardK

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along same lines

to me, a good teacher (speaking golf now) is a diagnostician....

look at the swing.....and immediately (or close to it) see whats right....and WRONG)

have the ability to fix it

DIAGNOSING AND REMEDY = BRIAN MANZELLA

BRIAN AND KEVIN ETC ETC....CAN FIGURE IT OUT QUICKLY.......

to me.....thats the good teacher

h
 
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torvine

New
Call me dumb !

But I would pay good money to have a lesson 50% instructor hitting balls 50% me hitting.

demonstration is a fantastic teaching aid.
 
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Jim Kobylinski

Super Moderator
torvine said:
Call me dumb !

But I would pay good money to have a lesson 50% instructor hitting balls 50% me hitting.

demonstration is a fantastic teaching aid.
Click to expand...

That wastes students time imo. I demonstrate very very little, maybe just enough to say "i want u to look like this." Other than that, it's very rare for someone to see me doing something and then tell them to repeat it
 
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Kevin Shields

Super Moderator
On that note, EVERY golfer should have the opportunity to watch , up close, a top tier Tour pro practice for an hour. Any part of the game. You cant imagine what even the untrained eye would pick up if you look at all.
 
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niblick1

New
Kevin Shields said:
On that note, EVERY golfer should have the opportunity to watch , up close, a top tier Tour pro practice for an hour. Any part of the game. You cant imagine what even the untrained eye would pick up if you look at all.
Click to expand...

Even just very good players. There's a couple guys who plays some Nationwide events and a good D1 golf team at my course. I especially like watching them on short game.
 
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