The Qualities of a Great Educator and My Role in Instructional Design

I have wanted to be a teacher since I was very little. I remember lining up all my dolls, whom I named Nicole, and giving them lessons on the ABCs and Numbers. I can only think this must have been something I emulated from what I saw in my preschool; I believe an educator can have that kind of effect on impressionable minds.

I also remember that by the time I got to 1st grade, those feelings had faded, and I slowly began to shrivel into my own bubble, shying away from answering questions and from participating. I believe that a teacher can have that kind of effect on a student. The difference between the two experiences is that one was a positive educational experience, and the other was teaching lessons.

As I became an adult, I looked back on my path in early childhood education. I gained valuable insights into early learning, instructional knowledge, classroom organization, and communication. I also gained skills in education such as being a trustworthy, dependable, and caring teacher who respects myself, students, and those I worked with.

An effective educator possesses qualities such as leadership skills, cultural awareness and appreciation, along with empathy and a commitment to a person's ability to grow, and embodying these qualities will later assist me in the field of Instructional Design, allowing me to design engaging, inclusive, and flexible instructional experiences that help students to achieve both academic and personal success.

Analyzing the Qualities of an Educator

Most people think of educators and teachers as interchangeable. However, they have two distinct roles. They both have the same outcome in mind: mastering concepts. A teacher is responsible for delivering instruction to students in a classroom setting or some other space. It is important for students to have teachers who focus on cognitive development to encourage growth in mental skills and problem-solving (Chapter 1.3 Miller 2023 textbook). Examples of this kind of learning come from regular academic lessons such as math and literature.

An educator refers to anyone who is involved in the process of education, including teachers, administrators, and other professionals (Chapter 1.2 Miller 2023 textbook). Educators share and follow a framework built on the 6 pillars of Character: Trust between you and everyone involved in the education and learning experience. In addition, an educator should hold people to the same standards regardless of who they are or their background. Be responsible for ourselves and our actions. Treat everyone fairly and be impartial in your thoughts and judgments. Caring for the success of others and being an example of good character in moral standards and civic duties that show us how to behave in the community (behavioralinstitute.org; Six Pillars of Character, Josephson Institute). These Qualities are important because they can further aid instruction and the student's overall development.

Why I agree these qualities separate a teacher from an educator

As I started with my earliest memories above, I believe that story embodies the difference between an educator and a teacher. To add to my story, in preschool I remember the warm smiles, hugs, singing the ABCs, learning numbers and shapes, and show-and-tell with my favorite Monchhichi doll. Those activities fostered self-awareness and trust and showed me, as an educator, that she cared about me and where I fit into this world. In 1st grade, those personal moments were replaced by math facts, reading and sounding out hard words, and homework packets. It was also the time I started looking at my peers as competition rather than other learners who were on the same level as I was and trying to figure it out. At that time, I thought the teacher was mean; I now know she was doing her job and instructing me instead of giving me an educational experience. Furthermore, becoming an educator involves much more than a job title. Even if one becomes a teacher at the moment, one begins working; one’s professional identity as an educator is constructed over time. Developing an identity and a set of successful practices in education is best understood as a process of becoming (Dinkelman, Margolis, Sikkenga, 2006, Vol. 2, Article, pp. 5–23). It takes time for educators to foster positive learning environments, student engagement, and academic and personal growth, in addition to acquiring emotional intelligence, understanding different learning styles, and creativity in education, which are important qualities to have to educate learners.

Why do I want to be an Educator?

Three qualities I believe I possess to be an educator are trustworthiness, leadership, and the ability to understand that there are diverse learners with different learning styles.

Being able to hold someone's trust and have them trust you back is not easy for people. However, it is critical that all involved in the learning experience build strong relationships based on trust. A trusted educator demonstrates honesty and consistency while encouraging learning. An example of trust from an educator involves being dependable and treating everyone with respect. I have always held trust as an important part of life, and I believe this quality will help further my career as an educator in designing materials that will support learning, build confidence, and provide guidance for learners.

Leadership allows educators to motivate and support learners in being successful and reaching their potential. An educator who understands how to lead will set clear goals. Model leadership behaviors and encourage learners to be responsible for their actions. Educational leaders also guide and support by sharing their knowledge to encourage continued growth. Leadership allows an educator to map out visions for creating learning materials and educational experiences. Leadership will play an important role for me as an educator, as I am organized and understand the purposefulness of learning experiences.

For educators, understanding diverse learners and differentiating instruction to accommodate different learning styles can be key to quality education. Learners come from all walks of life and have varying capabilities. Educators should be flexible and versatile in educational approaches. Educators who understand and recognize diverse learners and include them in learning environments can lead to a melting pot of ideas and thoughts. This aids inclusive teaching strategies and variable learning outcomes. Educators who design instructional materials can benefit from a multitude of learning styles and learner needs, encouraging me to use different strategies, such as technology, visual instruction, and activities, to be more inclusive and engaging for learners.

Conclusion

Teachers and Educators are different. Examples of their differences include teachers who provide instruction and educators who provide experience, and they span various educational backgrounds. As I embark on a new journey in my field of Instructional design, I have found that I want to be an educator who embodies the six pillars of character, particularly leadership and trust. Incorporating qualities such as honesty, integrity, tolerance, acceptance, accountability, and equity when designing instructional materials will make it easier for other teachers to become effective educators who possess those same qualities, to help students achieve both academic and personal success.

Reference

Miller, N., Miller, S., & Allar, I. (2023). How does “educator” look on me? The University of Arizona Global Campus. Chapter 1.2

https://behavioralinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-Six-Pillars-of

Character_Josephson-Institute.pdf

Todd Dinkelmana*, Jason Margolisb and Karl Sikkengac a University of Georgia, USA; bWashington State University (Vancouver), USA; cUniversity of Michigan, USA. From Teacher-to-Teacher Educator: Experiences, expectations, and expatriation. Studying Teacher Education Vol. 2, No. 1, May 2006, pp. 5–23