Study Effective Teachers

My dream -- to be an inspiring music teacher. But, this blog is about effective teachers. As I ponder this difference, I am puzzled that I never thought about the inspiration versus the effectiveness of my work as a teacher. I'm rather chagrined to discover that the more appropriate goal, and most helpful for my students, is to be an effective teacher. An inspiring teacher may be riveting, engaging, and, well... inspiring... all the while being completely ineffective. Contrarily, an effective teacher may have inspiring moments, but true effectiveness means that students are learning, growing and being challenged. Inspiration may have more to do with personality or energy, while effectiveness has to do with a long lasting desire to learn.

I have a college professor who is an inspiring, effective teacher. She inspires me because I mysteriously connect with her, or at least think that I do. She motivates me by who she is. I gain energy and excitement from being in her classroom. She is also effective. When I leave her classroom and I am charged with completing my homework or assignment or project, she is not there to inspire me. Her effective instruction and thoughtful assignments are what I actually lean on when I am away from her. The things that she has taught me will go with me. She's given me a gift. I can succeed without her.

I had another college professor last semester who did not inspire me as much. Though I felt he lectured well and easily engaged me in class, I did not feel inspired in the same way that I do with the professor from this semester. However, his effectiveness was equal to that of my inspiring teacher. His class was well prepared. The assignments were meaningful and pointed me a direction that caused me to learn and grow. I felt he was readily approachable, helpful and thoughtful. Again, the things that he taught me will go with me.

So, the question yet to explore -- can a teacher be inspiring without being effective? I believe this might be more rare than either of the other two cases. (Unfortunately, there are far too many cases where the teacher is neither inspiring nor effective.) Though rare, I will hazard a guess that it does exist. I once had a music teacher who inspired me to practice and inspired me to perform. But, when my work with him was complete, I found that I was left with little long-term increase in knowledge. I had played important works without learning about the composer, the form and structure, the genre, the historical events that occurred when the piece was written. I had not learned how style connects to history nor how to approach the next piece with an independent mind to interpretation. In short, I left with a touch more technical skill, but just as ignorant of music as when I entered the class. Still, I love this teacher. He did inspire me to continue to play. He did inspire me to compete. He did inspire me to study music in college. So, in the end, his effectiveness was related to long-term motivation. For other students, though, he must have been sorely ineffective. Many did not go on to study music, and they must have been left with some vague notion of band music and its relation to school-life, but little else.

The things that I have observed from my effective teachers:

• well-planned lessons
• organized class periods and coursework
• thought-provoking assignments
• clear objectives
• a passion for the content
• thorough knowledge of the content
• a willingness to learn

I might dream of being an inspiring teacher, but I will aspire to be an effective teacher.