A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education
for pupils (children) and students (adults). The role of teacher is often
formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education.
In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain
specified professional qualifications or credentials from a university or
college.
These professional qualifications may include the study of pedagogy,
the science of teaching. Teachers, like other professionals, may have to
continue their education after they qualify, a process known as continuing
professional development. Teachers may use a lesson plan to facilitate student
learning, providing a course of study which is called the curriculum.
A teacher's role may vary among cultures. Teachers may
provide instruction in literacy and numeracy, craftsmanship or vocational
training, the arts, religion, civics, community roles, or life skills.
A teacher who facilitates education for an individual may
also be described as a personal tutor, or, largely historically, a governess.
In some countries, formal education can take place through
home schooling. Informal learning may be assisted by a teacher occupying a
transient or ongoing role, such as a family member, or by anyone with knowledge
or skills in the wider community setting.
