Teaching and Training Myths Explored
No matter what industry you work in, there are always myths and misconceptions about certain things, and the teaching & training industry is full of them! What with the introduction of the internet and fake news, it is easy to get wrapped up in a world of delusion. Today we are taking a look at the top teaching and training myths and explaining why they are completely and utterly false.
“Anyone can teach”
In order to be a good teacher, enthusiasm is key. After all, you have a large group of bleary-eyed learners to engage and motivate. You need to be able to inject this passion into your students, and have a natural ability to teach. Now in order to train or teach, you must be qualified in your subject area as well as having an appropriate teaching qualification.
People often change their careers and decide to go into teaching once they have achieved the required qualifications and techniques needed to teach their students. Passion is key when it comes to teaching as it is more than just a profession, it is a true vocation.
“PowerPoint is the king of software for teaching”
Just because we have all the technology at our fingertips, it doesn’t mean that we have to rely on it at all times. PowerPoint is a great tool as it allows you to teach larger groups of students, and it appeals to different types of learners – both those who like to read and those who like to listen. It can help to enrich your teaching using PowerPoint and make your lessons more colourful.
It is important that with the introduction of new technology that you don’t forget about traditional methods like class discussions, group activities and demonstrations that have worked for many years and continue to engage learners. You should think about what teaching method is best suited to the subject you are teaching, rather than opting for the latest trend. Don’t rely on PowerPoint too much!
“Adults find learning difficult”
Often this myth is actually completely the opposite. In fact adult learners are often a lot more motivated than the younger generation as they have chosen to improve their education, whereas children are just going through the motions. Adults do tend to require more support and attention from their teacher, and may struggle with disruptions to their learning (for example family issues), but they are more focused to achieve their goals. They want to learn because they can see how much it will help their future career, so they are often much more fun to work with.
“Good teachers memorise their notes”
No one is perfect or has a photographic memory. As a teacher you will need to prepare for your lessons in advance by creating a lesson plan, but this doesn’t mean you can’t look at your notes throughout the lesson itself. Most teachers prepare additional notes that act as prompts during lessons, there is nothing wrong with having notes as a backup. It is worth bearing in mind that you shouldn’t read straight from your notes, unless you want your students to be thoroughly unmotivated, just use them as a guide to help you.
So there you have it, some of the teaching myths debunked for you. If you are considering becoming a teacher and would like further information on the Level 3 Award in Education & Training, give us a call today on 01205 805155.