Michael Donkor

The teachers I have had who stand out in my memory have similar attributes in common: they presented their subjects in a way that caught my interest, clarified complicated topics and led me through complex areas, and put knowledge into context so that its importance was obvious. These role models have influenced my approach to teaching: I view myself primarily as a catalyst of learning, rather than as an expert who simply delivers information to students. When planning a curriculum or interacting with students, I am always conscious of their different learning styles and rates, what they have already learned and what they will need to learn in the future. Feedback from students has been vital to the process of growth I have undergone since I began teaching: I learned from them, for example, the pacing of teaching, and effective ways to help them learn in small group discussions.