Question 1: Individual Work

Name: Muhammed Ahsan Bin Mohamed Ayub

According to the newspaper cutting from Berita Harian from the issue of 1 Mei
2014, teachers creativity and innovative skills can indirectly influence pupils
interests in the particular subject as well as improving their result. Furthermore,
creative and innovative teaching aids also able to help pupils in understanding the
teaching and learning process.
As a teacher, there are several roles to be fulfilled in order to achieve the
above situation. First of all, as an educator, teacher acts as a researcher where it is
one of an effective strategy to increase teachers professionalism by performing
research that is related to education. The main goal of an educational research
conducted by teachers is to provide an ideal solution for the problems faced by the
pupils. According to Cohen, Manion, & Morrison (2000) by forming a critical
environment during the research, teachers are able to enhance their educational
practices as well as conducting various kind of teaching methodology which are
essential to inculcate pupils interests. A lot of new ideas regarding the teaching
pedagogy need to be explored by inculcating culture of research and academic
writing among teachers to increase their own professionalism in the field of
education. Increasing professionalism is an ongoing process which requires
realization about what is going on and why are things happening that way. Teachers
also need to go through a reflective process so that the problem faced by the pupils
can be resolved. By going through these processes it will benefit the pupils in the
future because we are finding the easiest way to help them understand the subject
better by improving our methods of teaching. Jaan Mikk, Marika Veisson, Piret Luik
(2010) said that to increase their professionalism, teachers must make the teaching
profession as a research-based profession which is based on scientific research
through the culture of research and not only based on their opinion alone.
In schools, there are a lot of teachers who involve themselves in conducting
research in order to improve pupils achievement. This type of research in particular
is known as action research where it is an ongoing process of reflective process to

find the best solution for the sake of solving educational problems. Action research
is a research controlled by an individual or a small group and supervised by
professionals. The research conducted by the teachers will be very beneficial
especially when there is another teacher who is facing the same kind of problems.
After conducting a research, a teacher must share the research outcome to the
others so that the information can be useful to help the pupils. This is how the
collaborative principle take place where everyone involved will be finding the most
suitable solutions for the problems that arise. During the collaboration process, the
teachers involved should exchange their ideas and share the research outcome so
that a mutual understanding can be achieved. By achieving mutual understanding,
it can ease the decision making process.
Next, teacher also has a role as a mentor or guide to their pupils. Appo
Pushpavalli (2015) mentioned that mentoring refers to the process of helping
students to develop the understanding and skills to address life issues and
challenges of life effectively. The most crucial part of pupils growing year is during
the period of primary school where it is important for them to be guided by a
mentor who understands and guides them towards a better future. A teacher must
be there when the pupils are learning to adapt to a new lifestyle which is school. By
entering the school system, pupils then start to get to know about the concept of
school with the image of a teacher in his mind. It is the teachers responsibility to
motivate their fellow pupils to learn in an innovative and creative manner by aiding
the teaching with a variety of teaching aids.
A teacher has a positive influence in pupils decision making skills. They tries
to follow the person they look up to and setting their goals to follow their footstep.
Social development is the aspect that the teacher has the greatest impact on. They
will try to follow the way they foster relationship with others. Students observe and
learn from their teachers behavioral pattern and they adopt it. Odell & Ferraro
(1992) said that educators need to keep a tab of their attitude and behavior while
interacting with pupils as students observe them carefully and they are quick to
accept and exercise any new behavior that they see. It may be any new verbal
words that they hear or any new behavioral act that they have seen and observed
from their teachers. A positive influence has also a great impact in pupils approach
of learning. By showing good examples, the teachers are being a role model and

pupils would want to follow their footstep to be as successful as them. To achieve

this realization from the pupils, teachers must assist and help them in any way
especially with learning difficulties and social-development.
A teacher must be very smart in guiding his or her pupils especially in
overcrowded classroom. One of the strategies is by dividing them into several study
groups. In these groups, teacher appoints a trustworthy leader which can guide
them in facing their problems. If the problem gets out of hand, this is where the
teacher takes matter on his own hand by trying to help them in providing a suitable
solution for the problem. The pupils are also encouraged to share their problems
with others in case someone has already experienced it and can provide his or her
own opinion about it. This is one of the way for pupils to express themselves and
easing the burden of their problems.
Mentoring is proved as a successful method to ensure the pupils
performances in the subject because they have the feelings of not being left out.
This can indirectly boost their confidence in learning new things from the teacher
whom they are comfortable with to share their problems. DeBolt (1992) mentioned
that, there are several reports from researchers and teachers suggest that a culture
of mentoring and coaching will, over time, have an impact on young people and
their learning. This shows that by being a good mentor we as a teacher can create a
comfortable environment for them to learn without being worried and anxious about
their own problems.
Teachers also act as a motivator who always guides pupils in both easy and
difficult times. They are the one who give the outmost support in order for the
pupils to achieve academic excellent. Thoonen, Sleegers, Peetsma, & Oort, (2011)
stated that, a school environment that is not well tuned to the interests, needs and
values of students will adversely affect their identification with school and as a
consequence will lead to a decrease in their motivation and efforts in the long run.
This statement clearly shows that teachers play a pivotal role in influencing the
pupils interest to learn. So, teacher must be very wise in choosing their teaching
aids and methods of teaching so that pupils will be highly motivated to learn. Study
shows that pupils are more eager to learn with the presence of creative and
innovative teaching aids such as the usage ICT and puppets during a story telling

session. Pupils like this kind of teaching aids because there is a lot of colours and
movement involved which can trigger their imagination and indirectly they can
learn on how to express themselves by watching the animated character.
Thoonen, Sleegers, Peetsma, & Oort (2011) mentioned that motivation is a
very strong factor for the educators to educate the people and if the motivation is
powerful and strong, the rest of process will be easy and comfortable. Pupils are
easily affected and attracted to different kind of things. They are easily influenced
at this age group. So, a teacher must take this opportunity to influence them
towards the teaching and learning in the classroom. So a proper motivation moves
them to grasp the lesson carefully and seriously. In a school we see that the
students like the specific teachers because those teachers always use the
interesting presentation and sometimes he maintains the pleasant environment and
surrounding. In school, a teacher uses different motivational skills to motivate the
students to learn and towards the different good habits depending upon the
students age and level. There are a lot of innovative and creative ideas to apply
such as inspirational songs, educational excursions, co curricular activities, and so
many. The proper and creative use of these activities makes a proper, interesting
and energetic environment.
Anil Sahu (2013) stated that in modern age we are using different kind of
smart and active teaching learning methodologies where several researchers have
been searching innovative ideas in education. As a teacher, we need to remember
to reflect our teaching everyday to find the strength and weaknesses as well as
designing the perfect strategy to motivate our pupils to participate in classroom
activities. We must avoid monotonous teaching by changing around the design of
our class. Teaching through games and discussions instead of the usual spoon
feeding are able to create a warm and stimulating environment.
Lastly, it is one of the important roles for the teachers to be as an agent of
change. K. Lukacs and G. Galluzzo (n.d.) stated that one of the greatest challenges
facing education systems is implementing the changes that make schools, and
therefore, nations, internationally competitive. Teacher needs to be the one who
inspire the realization in pupils mind if they need to change their approach to life
because they are the one who our pupils trusted the most. This is exactly how great

of an influence a teacher is to someones life. So, teacher is considered as a strong

force to face the upcoming challenges by occupying themselves with the current
knowledge of Information and Technology as well as educating the community
towards computer literacy. Teachers are obligated to introduce a new invention
which can either be a new strategy methods and techniques in teaching which are
essential in enhancing pupils understanding and interests towards the subject
which can indirectly instigate the creative and critical thinking.
In many societies teachers are looked upon as the individuals who can help to
bring about positive changes in the lives of people ("Teachers, educators and their
organizations as agents of social change (IPEC)," n.d.). Through their own
organizations and in cooperation with other educators they can collaborate with
each other to work on curriculum development to strengthen the school
management system in which they can somehow change or improve the current
educational policies in order to bring positive changes in pupils teaching and
learning session.
References
Anil Sahu. (2013, June 10). Teacher as a motivator | Education Today. Retrieved
from http://www.edutoday.in/2013/06/teacher-as-motivator.html

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2000). Journal of Research Methods in
Education.

DeBolt Gary P. (1992). Teacher Induction and Mentoring: School-Based

Collaborative Programs. New York: State University of New York Press.

Lukacs K., & Galluzzo G. (n.d.). Beyond teacher leadership: Teachers as the agents
of change in schools | Karrin Lukacs - Academia.edu. Retrieved from

https://www.academia.edu/3473560/Beyond_teacher_leadership_Teachers_as
_the_agents_of_change_in_schools

Mikk Jaan, Veisson Marika, and Luik Piret. (2010). Teacher's Personality and
Professionalism. Frankfurt: University of Tartu, Multimedia Center.

Odell, S. J., & Ferraro, D. P. (1992). Teacher Mentoring and Teacher

Retention. Journal of Teacher Education. doi:10.1177/0022487192043003006

Pushpavalli Appoo, Norain Md. Noor, V. Murali Tharan, Velloo Ragavan, & Mohd.
Roslan Abd. Razak. (2015). Leadership & Teacher Professional Development.
Selangor, Malaysia: Pelangi Professional Publishing Sdn. Bhd.

Teachers, educators and their organizations as agents of social change (IPEC).

(n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.ilo.org/ipec/Partners/Teachers/Teacherseducatorsandtheirorganiza
tionsasagentsofsocialchange/lang--en/index.htm

Thoonen, E. E., Sleegers, P. J., Peetsma, T. T., & Oort, F. J. (2011). Can teachers
motivate students to learn? IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science.
doi:10.1080/03055698.2010.507008