Apr 29 2012: Someone can be a great artist and not even understand what they teach, so there is no way for them to simplify it. Being able to draw a wonderful double helix does not mean they can explain the awesomeness of the replication machinery or the importance of tRNA. Just like being able to understand those concepts doesn't make one a good teacher either... like any real problem, it takes a spectrum of talents to teach effectively from creativity, to sales, to intellect and understanding.
Apr 29 2012: No, just that trait alone does not make a good teacher. Having a full spectrum understanding of a subject alone is also not sufficient. The best teachers have BOTH creativity and a solid foundation in their subject mixed in with empathy...this allows for a teacher to assume the role of the student mentally and CREATE appropriate connections to their SUBJECT that the students can understand.
Teachers are the easiest thing to criticize because we ALL had great ones that made it look easy and awful ones that left impressions.
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A reply on Conversation: Do artistic/creative individuals' make better teachers?
A comment on Conversation: Do artistic/creative individuals' make better teachers?
Teachers are the easiest thing to criticize because we ALL had great ones that made it look easy and awful ones that left impressions.