In today’s fast-paced society where classrooms go beyond mere rooms, utilize high-tech instrumentation, and vary in instructional processes even for the same course objectives, we no longer expect teachers to be mere purveyors of information; we expect them to be an agent of change, a creator of creativity, and a future architect of future ready skills. We are caught in a transformative sense of educational engagement; we are further driven by numerous student needs, are technology reliant embedding in our education systems, and are relying on personalized learning trajectories. Thus, increasingly, it is more eminently apparent to question what it means to be an outstanding teacher when one starts with dissecting today’s teacher roles and the ideal qualities of a good teacher.

In a 2023 report from McKinsey & Company, they emphasize how technology advances along with a movement towards personalized education has completely redefined the teacher’s role – the teacher adapts to technology, differentiates instruction, and engages various learning styles to foster students’ critical thinking. As we consider roles of teachers, they exist in a multifaceted, holistic capacity. They are more than simple educators; they are mentors, guides, innovators, etc. It is one of the best qualities of a good teacher to create “safe” places for students to assume control of their learning while developing future skills.

Atlantic International University (AIU), understands how volatile the nature of the modern education system can be. Our educators are not educators; rather they are dedicated facilitators who are not simply ingrained in technology and personalized tools, rather they are dedicated to knowing each student, and have a vested interest in personalizing the engagement for each of them. With a commitment to academic freedom, maintaining flexibility, and innovative teaching and learning methods, AIU views students beyond students; we understand the importance of engaging and inspiring students to plan and create their academic self, as well as, but more importantly learning about self-found opportunities and experiences that they are intrigued by.

What Defines a Modern Teacher?

A modern educator is a flexible practitioner, who is bound by the fundamental principles of pedagogy, while factoring in modern technologies, and the principles of equity and inclusion as it relates to education. Educators are not simply knowledgeable transmitters; they are facilitators of dynamic and usable, lifelong learning.

What are the Characteristics of a Great Teacher?

The amazing teachers who can smartly accommodate the increasingly evolving educational scenario possess some exclusive characteristics. In a nutshell, they are:

• Embrace technology in a way that aids instruction.
• Value critical thinking and collaboration.
• Accommodate learning style, ability, and background differences.
• Be dynamic and adaptable to increasingly rapid change in education.

A publication produced on ResearchGate states that modern teachers are undertaking hybrid roles—mentors, curriculum developers, tech navigators, etc.—to deal with the increasing complexity of today’s educational system. Technology plays an integral role in educating, training, and preparing learners for skills and capacities needed for today’s and future work environments.

Teaching in the Latest Educational Landscape

Modern education has learner-centered assessment practices (as opposed to teacher-centered) that are technology-enabled (rather than teacher-led) and skills-based (as opposed to memorization and assessments). What makes a good teacher nowadays is to encourage students to explore, inquire, and apply knowledge in meaningful and authentic contexts.

• A report from the U.S. Department of Education (2024) referred to the increased integration of AI in today’s education.  It indicated that these changes require teachers to practice mentoring, designing human-centered learning experiences, and interpreting information to better assist students’ learning trajectories.
• AI Platforms such as Kira Learning and ChatGPT can be used to help with automating marks, planning lessons, and understanding gaps in learning, freeing educators to spend more time focusing on human connectivity and critical thinking.

AIU’s Impact on Virtual Teaching: Transforming Virtual Education

Virtual education has emerged as a significant and viable form of education in the world. It is able to break down and transcend geographical barriers faced by individuals based on locations, time zones, and the tradition of time, the structure, and format of the classroom. Whereas traditional education requires a person to incite physical presence and pressure rigid scheduling for education, virtual education creates educational flexibility allowing people to participate in an educational experience in a personalized way and self-paced method of learning with the learner, centered in education, and formalizes the freedom of choice to do this in any arrangement of order they want, if when they learn, how they learn, and in which environment they participate in learning.

Leading the way is Atlantic International University (AIU) who is disrupting educational models as integrated with technology and innovation. AIU offers two live classes per day where students connect live with faculty and the global learning community. AIU’s live engagement sessions are intentional and created around learning in a more engaging and constructive way and providing immediate feedback, and an opportunity for deeper holistic academic engagement as a group within the learning community. AIU helps student learner’s to feel connected and have a support system.

For education practitioners, this truly means a lot more than teaching learners on an online platform. The shift offers a chance to change from being a content deliverer to being a learning facilitator, digital content deliverer and online mentors. Educators engaging in a virtual classroom must continuously be innovative, to gain motivation, understanding, and the ability to make progress for their learners. Educators must always be reportative and use technology to availability and actualize their role as educators through enhanced engagement in an educational platform and engagement in a virtual educational environment.AIU utilizes this transformation to embed collaborative and fully integrated technology tools with collaborative and fully developed educational technologies like Moodle, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning systems. These tools provide synchronous (live), and asynchronous (self-paced) learning; and assist educators in creating closely resembling online digital classrooms based on inclusivity, collaborative possibility, and data informing educators in virtual classrooms. Overall, the tools have some components that include; questions, gamified quizzes, collaborative group projects, and instant feedback: leading to increased engagement and maximum continued retention of learners.

UNESCO’s 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report clearly details that digital technology can access and improve quality education only with thoughtful engagement for technology integration, and support by teacher on-going training. The Brookings Institution also completed research to frame the success of students strongly associated with the digital competence of the educator and the accessibility of digital or digitalization infrastructure to the virtual learning environment.

AIU is that vision using fully integrated, education technology with technology integration to create learning experiences. The additional promise of live sessions, with increasing numbers of and numbers of continuous learners on the virtual campus and the academic freedom and understanding of andragogy show the AIU is not just adopting, but rethinking, reframing, and leading the way of the digital era (or age) of education. Virtual education is not the back-up plan; it is an innovative new way to educate and inspire learners and empower learners across the globe.

10 Key Characteristics of a Good Teacher Backed by Research

Teaching is more than delivering information; it is about motivating and engaging students to be their best selves and to realize their full potential. Good teacher traits have a certain combination of qualities that are based on more than subject matter knowledge, creating a space for students to succeed. Below are the 10 qualities that researchers have shown in their studies, which are important qualities in developing effective teachers.

1. Content Knowledge

Research studies consistently show teachers who demonstrate strong content knowledge influence student performance. The knowledge of the teacher becomes more important than the knowledge of the students. Research has shown that when teachers demonstrate content knowledge on the amount and extent students they teach with higher standardized test scores and levels of academic achievement, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) when measuring subject-matter knowledge, students taught by teachers demonstrating subject matter knowledge perform 10% better on standardized achievement tests.

2. Communication Skills

Communication is an important quality for promoting understanding and enthusiasm. The particular details teachers use to explain ideas and keep open-lines of communication with students are necessary to an engaging learning experience. The study of teacher communication skills reported in The Journal of Educational Psychology, detailed that teachers used clear, concise, engaging communication skills to build students’ comprehension and retention. 76% of students report they feel engaged when their teachers use good communication.

3. Classroom Management

A teacher’s classroom management is fundamental in establishing a learning environment when it comes to students. Results from the literature support that teachers with effective classroom management create settings that support positive student behavior, even when teachers with strong classroom management skills attract that negative behavior. The International Journal of Educational Management reports  a correlation (p < .01) to teacher’s classroom management skills with student outcome measures. Researchers found teacher’s classroom management skills reduced student disruptive behaviors by 30% of the time. Teachers utilize classroom management skills that lead to academic productivity by 15%, students learn differently in settings that support a strong classroom management approach.

4. Adaptability

Adaptable teachers and those who can adjust their teaching methods to accommodate various learning styles and needs lead to better results for their students. According to a publication in The Journal of Teacher Education, a flexible teaching method will lead to higher levels of students’ engagement and achievement. From their research, the classroom experience of adaptable teachers leads to significantly higher levels of student participation (>40%) in a class that accommodates diverse learning styles.

5. Patience and Empathy

Patience and empathy are two important ways teachers must invest into building positive student-teacher relationships. Patience and empathy help teachers understand student suffering and offer help and support. A study published in The Journal of Educational Psychology found that students who felt emotionally supported by their teachers were significantly more likely to report higher levels of motivation and academic performance. Teachers who offer their students emotional support have a 20% higher rate of academic engagement from their students.

6. Passion for Teaching  

One of the top qualities of a teacher is to demonstrate passion in their teaching can inspire or ignite a more comprehensive engagement with learning for their students. The enthusiasm of the teacher’s pedagogical choice can motivate the level of student motivation to undertake that learning. Research reported in Educational Researcher indicates when teachers demonstrate passion for their subject (and teaching) the teacher creates a mentoring experience that adds a level of dynamism to the classroom from their learning experience and encourages a stronger commitment to that subject matter. 85% of students report increased motivation when taught by their passionate teachers.

7. Continuous Learning

Teachers who engage in continuous professional development stay informed about new teaching methods, educational technologies, and subject-specific developments. Research highlights the importance of ongoing teacher education, with the Learning Policy Institute reporting that teachers who participate in professional learning communities have students who perform significantly better on standardized assessments.Teachers who regularly participate in professional development report a 25% increase in student learning outcomes.

8. Critical Thinking

Encouraging students to develop critical thinking skills is one of the most effective ways to promote deep learning. Teachers who foster critical thinking create more independent learners. Research published in The Journal of Educational Psychology found that students who engage in critical thinking exercises under teacher guidance perform better in problem-solving tasks and show enhanced academic abilities. Students taught by educators who emphasize critical thinking score 20% higher in standardized reasoning assessments.

9. Creativity

Creative teaching strategies keep students engaged and make learning more interesting. Innovative lesson plans that incorporate various teaching methods, such as project-based learning, help students connect with the material in unique ways. A study from The Journal of Creativity in Education found that teachers who encourage creativity help students become more adaptable and resilient learners. Creative teachers see a 30% increase in student engagement and retention of material

10. Student-Centered Approach

A student-centered approach to teaching focuses on meeting the individual needs of each student, fostering autonomy and promoting active learning. Research shows that this approach leads to higher student motivation and achievement. The International Society for Technology in Education notes that student-centered classrooms lead to higher levels of academic success and personal growth. Student-centered learning methods lead to a 15% increase in overall student academic achievement and a 20% increase in student satisfaction.These qualities, supported by research, are integral to creating an effective, engaging, and nurturing learning environment for students.

Conclusion: The Power of Great Teachers in Shaping Futures

Great teaching is more than teaching – they influence the ways students learn, grow, and interact with the world they live in. Each great teacher possesses, to varying degrees, strong content knowledge, empathy, creativity, and a passion for learning; all of which not only enrich the classroom experience but also lead to concrete academic achievement.

Atlantic International University (AIU) values what it means to be a great teacher and what great teachers can do for students. As a student with guidance from great educators, you will experience a personalized, student-centered learning experience. If you are ready for a life changing educational experience with great teachers that support you all the way, join AIU and see what great teachers can help you achieve!

Author Bio

Ananya Biswas, Senior Content Strategist at Atlantic International University, blends creativity with strategy to craft compelling narratives. With 9+ years of expertise in content strategizing, creation and marketing, she champions in meeting high quality content standards and empowers global audiences through impactful storytelling and brand engagement.