Introduction
As one continues with the teaching career, he or she improves on quality with respect to roles, responsibilities and boundary observation. These qualities are assessed and communicated to teachers through the teaching/training cycle. There are various roles, responsibilities and boundaries that a teacher is expected to keep to during his or her career.
The main role of a teacher is to ensure that he or she has enhanced communication in class so as to encourage all students to participate in the discussion (1). The teacher is supposed to conduct regular assessments of the selected sessions so as to guarantee that they effectively meet their intended objectives in a manner that is understandable to all students. Through assessing various learning styles implemented on different groups as well as students’ motivation, a teacher can be able to come up with the best teaching method to use throughout the program.
Roles of a teacher
Apart from enhancing communication in class, the other role of a teacher according to the teaching cycle is to look for the most relevant materials to use in teaching. A teacher is expected to effectively organize teaching materials as per lesion requirements. For lesions that require audio or editorial facilities, it is the role of the teacher to ensure that he or she has organized for these materials in advance before embarking on the lesion.
For every subject, there is a set number of hours per week that a teacher is supposed to teach. These hours are set in a way that if the teacher keeps to them, he or she will be able to complete the syllabus by the end of the term. In this regard, it is the role of every teacher to ensure that he or she has taught the subject for the agreed number of hours per week (2).
As students continue with their studies, they require getting assistance from their teachers. The teacher has the role to guide and support the students as they go on with their studies. The teaching profession is a continuing process. Every teacher has the role of ensuring that he or she undergoes regular training to improve his or her teaching skills.
Responsibilities of a teacher as per teaching cycle
When teaching every teacher has various responsibilities that he is supposed to meet. The main responsibility is to regularly re-evaluate progress and change during the course and develop a flawless transition to ensure smooth delivery (3). As students continue with their studies, they become more conversant with the objectives and aims of the course. This leads to their needs changing. Teachers have the responsibility to assess the changing needs of their students so as to improve the quality and effectiveness of their subject delivery.
Course organization and its consistency are responsibilities that require adjustment and flexibility to meet the newly identified changes in students’ needs. According to the teaching cycle, the responsibilities of a teacher are not associated with teaching alone. Every teacher has the responsibility of being a good role model to his or her students. The teacher is supposed to maintain a good dress code, hygiene, behavior and mind the language he or she use when addressing students and fellow teachers.
The teacher is always supposed to ensure that there is equality in the manner in which he or she treats the students. In the case of students with difficulties in their learning, it is the responsibility of the teacher to look for ways to assist them (4). Teachers are not supposed to get into classes and leave without ensuring that every student has understood what has been taught. Every teacher has the responsibility of maintaining professionalism when conducting duties. This is through ensuring that one is always updated with the emerging teaching methods as well as changes in the subject.
Boundaries of a teacher as per teaching cycle
Boundaries are established in the teaching environment to ensure that all stakeholders execute their duties with the highest degree of ethics (5). They help teachers in understanding their limitations and realizing when changes may be required. According to the teaching cycle, some of the important boundaries are the appropriateness of good relationships between teachers and their students and following the established disciplinary lines in case of student misconduct.
Another boundary that every teacher is expected to utilize is understanding when students require further help that is beyond his or her ability. This would ensure that the teacher looks for other means of helping them. Every teacher is expected to keep his or her relationship with students focused on educational goals and never to show favoritism to some students. Effective learning depends on a good learning environment (6).
Every teacher is bounded to ensuring that he or she maintains an enjoyable teaching environment. In case of argument during discussions, teachers are supposed to look for amicable methods of coming up with a consensus. No teacher is allowed to use his powers to force students to go with his or her beliefs.
Conclusion
The teaching/training cycle provides a framework through which teachers can evaluate their roles, responsibilities and boundaries. This ensures that every teacher keeps to the expected roles, responsibilities and boundaries thus creating a good relationship between teachers and students.
Reference
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- Hall L, Marsh K. Professionalism, Policies and Values. London: University of Greenwich Press; 2005. p. 48-64.
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- Barnett KM, Conners, R. Transformational leadership in schools. Journal of Educational Administration 2001: 39(1): 24-46.
- Bush T. Crisis or crossroads? The discipline of educational management in the late 1990s. Educational Management & Administration 1999: 27(3): 239-252.