My Teaching Philosophy
In Islam, teaching knowledge is considered a form of worship (ibadah). This is based on the idea that knowledge that benefits others is highly virtuous. If knowledge is delivered sincerely with the intention of benefiting others, it will become a form of worship.
Education is extremely important in our lives. Education shapes us to become the right people. Education may take various forms, including formal and informal learning. Believe it or not, we learn almost every day. Allocating 1% of new knowledge each day will help us become better people by the end of the year. I believe in equal education for all. All learners should be treated as equally as possible. The learners/students may come from various backgrounds and have different perspectives. As an educator, now is the time for me to engage with this group of learners in order to not only teach them, but also guide them to become people who are valuable to their families.
Having a good student does not imply getting all A’s or a 4.00 CGPA in their studies. However, there should be a balance between the academic and social perspectives. Current students can obtain all of their knowledge from the Internet, thanks to new technology known as Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI), which assists them in preparing structured information. But does Gen-AI provide emotional intelligence, communication skills, etc.? Students need to be properly guided. Blocking their ability to use technology is not a viable solution. It is more important to teach them how to use it properly than to simply use it. As an educator, I believe that showing them good manners (Adab) is the first priority.
Good manners will shape good learners and help them perform better in their careers. The manner cannot teach in a short period of time, but patience is required to see results.
My personal goal is for them to be inspired in their educational learning experiences. They must recognise that not all academic learning, whether theoretical or practical, will be applied in their daily job duties. However, the value of the learning process – how they communicate, behave, conduct critical analysis, and collaborate – will become more sustainable and relevant. As an educator, preparing them for the real world is difficult. As a result, I focus on several strategies to make teaching and learning more valuable for students, including:
1. Setting the intention (Niat) to learn.
Always remain positive when teaching and learning. If the intention is good, positivity will flow throughout the process. I also always remind the students of the benefits of learning as a form of worship (ibadah) that is rewarded in the afterlife.
2. Active learning.
Students tend to become bored in class, especially if the teaching and learning is linear. To ensure engagement with the instructor, active learning must be included in all classes. Enforce them to work in groups and allow them to actively participate in class activities.
To conclude my writing, I hope to be a mentor for the learner, who will gain not only knowledge from me, but also characteristics and behaviour that will enable them to become their own version in the future.
Written by
Ts Dr Mohd Zamri Osman