Jonathan Osler has been an educator for over 20 years, but he never thought of himself as a “teacher” until his mid-30s. He has always wanted to have a lasting impact on his students and realized that the perfect way to do so would be by being an effective educator. His journey is not unlike many people who are passionate about their profession, but it doesn’t get easier when you’re trying to make a difference. Osler shares with us some of the critical components that effective educators like him have on their students and inspires learners by caring about them.
Key Components used by Osler as Effective and Impactful in Education
- Empathy
There are many different ways to be an effective educator, but Osler has found a few key components that have the most significant impact on his students. The first is empathy. When he was in school, he had a teacher who cared about him and understood the material. That teacher changed his life and showed him that he could make a difference by caring about his students. He makes sure to include empathy as one of the first and most essential parts of being an effective educator because he knows that it has made all the difference for him throughout his journey.
He knows that empathy isn’t something you can turn on or off, so he strives to be an effective educator by practicing self-care and ensuring his students know they are cared for. Osler believes in the future of education when it comes to changing people’s lives because he has seen both sides of what is possible with a great teacher. - Collaboration
Another critical component he emphasizes is collaboration. Osler believes that the best way for students to learn and teachers to grow is by working together, whether it’s between different grade levels or across departments. Osler has found that he knows more when his colleagues are open about their struggles and how they work through them because this creates a space for everyone to learn.
When it comes to collaboration, He also believes that educators must model what they want their students to do. He asks his students to work together on projects and tasks to develop teamwork skills, and he is always willing to help them out when they need it. By working together, both him and his students can learn and grow in their ways. - Passion
His last key ingredient necessary for an effective educator is passion. Without it, he doesn’t think he would be as successful as he has been throughout his career. For him, teaching isn’t a job – it’s his life’s work. Osler believes that being an educator has opened up so many doors for him, and he wants to show his students the same kind of opportunities.
Being passionate about what you do is essential because Osler knows there are many different ways to be a teacher, just as there are many kinds of learners in classrooms today. Jonathan Osler never wants to be complacent or stagnant because he knows that his students will benefit from it. He is constantly searching for ways to improve himself through reading books, attending conferences and seminars, and talking with other teachers about their ideas to bring the best practices into his classroom. He sees every day as an opportunity to grow, just like how he grew up with a teacher who cared about him.
Being an effective educator is more than just having the right tools, and Osler knows this better than anyone. It’s about connecting with your students, collaborating with colleagues, and having a passion for teaching that comes from the heart. He has been able to do all of these things throughout his career, and he wants to help other educators do the same. He believes that if you have a heart for your students, then anything is possible!
About Jonathan Osler
He has been a lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley and has always had a passion for equality in the education system. He is the founder of RadicalMath, which empowers educators to shed light on social and racial justice in math classrooms. Through the resources he provides, he is determined to make a difference.
He has developed a method for effective teaching called The PEAK Process, which helps teachers create an inclusive classroom by fostering teamwork, improving communication skills, and taking advantage of creative thinking. He is a nationally-recognized speaker who has given presentations at schools and conferences across the United States. Osler’s work as an educator has not gone unnoticed, and he was recently awarded the Milken Educator Award, which is known as the “Oscar of Teaching.” He is genuinely changing lives one student at a time.
