PERSONAL QUALITIES OF AN EXPERT TEACHER

• Ability to embrace and enthusiastically implement the concept of the ideal learning place
• Has a mission which they want to share to enlighten their students with e.g Jesus
• Vocational - Jesus was the quintessential teacher
• Has an exceptionally high level of knowledge and passion for their subject area - Drama

"What teachers do cannot be distinguished from who they are."

• Humble and Compassionate -

"Humility is admitting that I don't know the whole story. Compassion is recognising that you don't either." (Margaret Wheatley)

• Balanced
• Loving
• Personal Prayer and Reflection - Meditating and keeping a journal
• Patient
• Educational Doctor: 1. Diagnoses learning situation; 2. Prescribes appropriate treatment
• Respect - has great respect for their students not only as learners but also as people.
• Respect - commands that respect is returned
• Highly Organised but also a great improvisor and highly creative thinker (Adaptable)
• Spontaneous (Relates to Adaptability)
• Well developed sense of Humour (often to diffuse situations)
• Strong sense of Self and personal view of the world
• Advocates Social Justice
• Wisdom and Stillness
• Able to build healthy relationships with students which foster greater learning
• Positive
• Relates well and connects well with students on levels other than the specific subject area
• A Leader rather than a Dictator
• Confident
• Desire to educate, inform, enrich and inspire
• Promotes constructivist education and connectivism
• Aspires towards becoming a digital native so as to implement effective ICT within the classroom
• Ethical

5 Major Dimensions of Expert Teachers:

1. Can identify essential representations of their subject
2. Can guide learning through classroom interactions
3. Can monitor learning and provide feedback
4. Can attend to affective attributes
5. Can influence student outcomes (teaching is the greatest source of variance for educational results)