5 Secrets for Effective Teaching

It’s that time of year: Back To School. Learners of all ages are gearing up for another academic year. This year marks some big changes for me as well. I’m eager, excited, and a little edgy if I’m honest. Change does that.

I want to start the year off right, so I thought I would pull together my 5 secrets for effective teaching. They’re also great keys to unlock effective learning which is all the more reason to share them here.

Secret #1: Focus.

Our brains are funny. They actually work best when we do one thing at a time. We work faster and more efficiently when we zoom in and get one thing done. When I’m teaching, I ask, “What is the big takeaway for my students today?” Focusing on one key idea makes it easier for my students to see how things fit together. Students who jot down a quick summary of what they did after going to class or working on a project are more likely to remember that big idea. Teaching and learning are a lot easier when you can remember what you were trying to do in the first place.

Secret #2: Fence.

This secret is kind of funny, and a lot of teachers get it wrong. It’s easy to want to cram in #allthethings when you’re teaching. You want to strategize for every possible scenario, so that you can be the expert in the room. But when you fence, you set up boundaries around your goal.

A fence gives you space to let an idea come out and play. You can be creative and curious. Deep learning happens when students can ask their own questions. Putting up a fence gives space for curiosity to flourish, and I can remember what it was like to learn a new concept for the first time. Being enchanted by the learning process helps me create space for my students to discover the concept for themselves.

Secret #3: Field Test.

I believe that all learning happens when we enter into conversation and discovery with one another. As a teacher, I’m constantly testing questions and activities with my students. I need to see how my students engage in real time to get a sense if a particular lesson is working. By asking questions and getting feedback, I can refine both my understanding of the topic and how I teach.

Secret #4: Feed.

Curiosity is often overlooked among educational tools. When we participate in activities that feed our curiosity, we’re more motivated to learn the subject. As a teacher, I need to ask myself constantly, “How can I give my students activities worth their time, energy, and effort. I tend to look towards real world problems for inspiration and move from there. There’s always a way to explore math, science, and engineering in a meaningful, real-world context.

Secret #5: Fly.

I have yet to meet students who wouldn’t love to fly. Soaring through the air is an ultimate symbol of freedom and celebration. Whenever you’re teaching, it’s essential  to celebrate students’ victories. There can be celebration every time a student advances in their understanding. To me, that’s the only way to teach. It keeps me focused on the big idea and infuses fun into every bit of my teaching.

Effective teaching happens by design. It’s a rigorous and rewarding practice of seeing the world come alive in new ways. As an engineering educator, I’m always willing to help learners of all ages put together the pieces of math, science, and engineering so that they can experience more success exploring the world, building the future of their dreams, and unlocking new opportunities.

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