Reflective Essay: Role of educator (Essay Sample)

Reflection essay
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My experience in this unit is fairly interesting, and I consider it as a transformative for two main aspects. The first aspect, as a learner, it is manifested by having the opportunity to evaluate my learning experience in my life and reflect on it. It was a valuable experience to write about my learning experience in my life and have the opportunity to critically analyse myself and realize some secrets and meanings in my life. The second aspect, as a future educator, is manifested within the content of the unit. As a future educator, I have learnt valuable theories and information which would really enhance my knowledge in my future career. When I first joined this course, I was looking for an education unit which is available for this semester and fits in my time table. I was expecting myself to learn about learning importance and educational information, my perspective was very simple, however, with attending the lectures and tutorials it seemed very interesting. The unit content reflects more on learning as a transformative aspect, and it focuses on several influential elements in learning and teaching styles.
With discussing “learning” as a process, there were some questions in lectures and tutorials which I have never thought about. What is learning? How is it happening? How do you know it? What is its role in one’s life? For me, Learning is more about gaining knowledge in terms to implement it in our life. It is the education that is also our experiences in life. Thus, for me this is my motivation. However, individuals have different motivations for learning as well as they have different methods in learning. Many researchers at the teaching and learning fields focus on this aspect and for some scholars or educators it is a simple process. “The importance for educational theory and practice, of an intelligible account of learning is clear. Methods of teaching, techniques of training and guidance, will continue to be hit and or miss until educators realise what a simple and unmistakable process learning really is”(H. L. Hollingsworth p.63).
How is learning happening? Individuals have also different styles of learning. Learning about the different styles and methods in learning, would help us as a future educator, to understand more how the term "learning style" refers to both individual's preferred method for approaching learning and group approaches for learning and gaining knowledge. According to Kodesia, (2013) workplace educator should have efficient understanding of various learning styles in order to accommodate student’s variety ways of learning and acquiring information. Since I enrolled this unit, I apprehend more about the importance of a student’s learning style and my role as an educator. In addition I can adapt to different learning situations that best compliment the preferences and strengths of the student in classrooms. Therefore, the impact of individual learning styles in classroom is recognising that students may vary in their response to various learning opportunities, strategies, and show students how to learn (Honey & Mumford, 1992; Kolb, 1984). There are Many learning models, and theories have been documented to enable teachers understand the process, strategies and dynamics of learning.
Influential elements in learning and teaching process
In reflecting on the difference between emotional intelligence and empathic intelligence in learning in the teaching process, we discover the connections between feelings and cognitive thinking, and how that have an effect on the building of positive relationships that facilitate learning. As a future educator and teacher, I think this is a significant area to explore. It is effective to highlight the necessity of the energetic field between students in learning situations, rather than focusing on teaching techniques. Therefore, this creates a challenge for any teacher in his career to look at learners as individuals who are different in their abilities, learning situations, emotions and their learning styles. As a student, I had the opportunity while I am learning about the theories and the different styles on learning. I was also able to reflect on my experiences. In my previous experience I was able to think about my favourite classes and subjects. Did my emotions have influenced me in my learning process? How many classes did I hate? Were the teacher’s negative approaches have influenced my learning? All those issues I experienced in my learning experience.
Role of educator
In terms of the teacher‘s role in individuals’ life, I distinguished how it is instrumental in children’s behaviour and how a teacher can take on a substantial role in their life. Teachers are educating the children as well as they are preparing them to contribute well in their societies. Michael (2011) states that, in terms of difficult decisions, individuals make their choices depend entirely upon their relationship with parents and teachers. Unlike the old educational discourse, in the modern life, student becomes the focused within the educational process. This process aims to prepare the student spiritually, mentally, cognitively, and emotionally. The teacher is responsible, and it is a big challenge to achieve these goals. Indeed, the teacher’s role becomes more influential, and it does not rely only on academic knowledge and the quality of delivery. Moreover, the role of the teacher becomes more and more influential and effective.
Despite that young learner needs the knowledge, nonetheless, they also need to learn skills that would assist them in their learning process. Consequently, they will become more motivated in class. It is essentially that teachers need to consider the motivation in teaching strategies to motivate students extrinsically (Linley 2011). Followed by, teacher can obtain strategies and targets in teaching the subject in terms to enhance students' interest and create supportive atmosphere in classroom.
Another significant role I have discovered in my learning experience is the role of teachers as observers. This is one of the strategies that teachers have been encouraged to acquire in their teaching practices. As observers teachers can be able to understand students and their learning needs. Through observation, teachers are also able to observe learners various learner’s competencies and skills outside the classroom. Observation also helps the teacher to understand the student’s weakness and any other problems that might be affecting their learning. As a teacher’s role, teachers needs to share their observation through recording the progress of the students inside and outside the class to their parents or guardian in order to enhance the students learning experience. This role is also vital in ensuring that teachers attend to all the students needs in class. During observation teachers need to listen and reflect on the each student’s needs and activities and respond to each need. Observation also includes monitoring student’s behaviours through seeing what they do, how they react to each other and how they interact in classroom activities. It is through observation that teachers are able to identify which teaching and motivational strategies they can use in class. As observers, teachers, need to build strong relationships with their students. Alt and Reigngold (2012) suggest that teachers need to work closely with students in their activities in order for teachers to observe the uniqueness in each student. Students need to develop positive relationships with teachers to ensure that teachers have a smooth task in observing the students. Like any other person, students need to develop...