The Great Teacher

The great teachers teach a way of learning: critical thinking, problem solving, deductive logic. They help the student work out the answers on their own. Instead of imparting bits of knowledge and facts, they open resources and doors that allow the learner to traverse those fields of knowledge independently. When students work out problems or answers on their own, those solutions are more likely to make sense and solidify in the mind in contrast to low-retention memorization. Thus, the great teachers must give their students room to think; they give their students independence to try different approaches, even if they know that those choices could be wrong. They strike a balance between hand-holding and independence, sometimes nurturing, sometimes watching from afar, always supporting and guiding. Great teachers know how to finesse that balance between facilitating a student's critical thinking so they work something out on their own and guiding them away from potential pitfalls and problems. Clinically, these teachers will give their students the right balance between responsibility and supervision even in situations that are emergent, challenging, and novel. They resist stepping in prematurely but also know how best to help the trainee do everything correctly and efficiently. Not only that, great teachers have a particular attitude. They consider their students peers, they welcome challenges to their ideas and teachings, and they are constantly learning.