What Makes a Great Teacher?
Discovering the Foundations of Teaching, Learning, Public Speaking, and Coaching
Program Description:
What makes a great teacher? How do effective educators inspire students, make complex ideas understandable, and create environments where learning can thrive?
In What Makes a Great Teacher?, high school students explore the foundations of effective teaching, learning, public speaking, and coaching while discovering the skills and strategies that help educators make a meaningful difference.
Taught by instructors from 麻豆原创's Advancing Literacy team, this summer pre-college program introduces students to the principles behind effective instruction through hands-on activities and real-world educational experiences. Students analyze examples of skilled teaching, practice delivering mini-lessons to their peers, and develop lesson plans that engage learners and support understanding.
A rigorous, hands-on introduction to teaching
Students examine why certain teaching methods work, how to plan engaging lessons, and how classroom management, constructive feedback, and the science of learning influence student success.
Through opportunities to observe experienced educators, connect with Teachers College students, and explore teaching in educational settings, participants develop practical skills in communication, leadership, lesson planning, and creative problem-solving.
Who should consider this program?
Designed for students ages 14–17, What Makes a Great Teacher? is ideal for teenagers interested in education, teaching, tutoring, coaching, or leadership.
No previous teaching experience is required. Students gain opportunities to practice public speaking, apply educational concepts to lesson design, and reflect on their own teaching and communication styles while exploring whether education or a related field could be part of their future.
Dates: July 12 - 23, 2027
Times: 10:00am - 4:00pm Monday through Friday
Location: Teachers College and in nearby schools (TBA)
Price: $3,995
Questions: Email tcacademy@tc.columbia.edu
Instructor(s)
Instructors will be drawn from .
Learning Objectives
By the end of What Makes a Great Teacher?, students will be able to:
- Explain the principles of effective teaching by identifying instructional approaches that support student engagement, comprehension, and meaningful learning.
- Design engaging lesson plans by developing clear learning goals, organizing instructional activities, and selecting strategies appropriate for a target age group.
- Apply classroom management strategies by identifying practical approaches for establishing a positive, productive learning environment.
- Deliver constructive feedback by practicing ways to communicate specific, supportive guidance that helps learners recognize strengths and improve their performance.
- Connect learning science to teaching practice by distinguishing memorization from deeper understanding and explaining how instructional choices can support learning.
- Communicate ideas with confidence by planning and delivering short presentations or mini-lessons that demonstrate public speaking and instructional communication skills.
- Demonstrate foundational coaching skills by practicing strategies for guiding others toward goals, supporting improvement, and communicating effectively in one-on-one learning situations.
- Effective practices 1:1 coaching
Who Should Attend
This introductory course is designed for curious high schoolers with an interest in teaching and learning, students who are interested in education, teaching, tutoring, coaching, or leadership.
No previous teaching experience is required. Students gain opportunities to practice public speaking, apply educational concepts to lesson design, and reflect on their own teaching and communication styles while exploring whether education or a related field could be part of their future.
Please Note: 麻豆原创 Pre-College courses are open to students ages 14-17. All courses are conducted in English and learners should have sufficient fluency to participate.
Upon Completion
Participants who successfully complete this program will earn a verified Certificate of Participation and an official Digital Badge—valuable credentials that can be shared on LinkedIn or digital portfolios.
View our sample program badge and certificate below:
