The Role of the Educator in Supporting Students’ Self-Educated Talent Development Based on the Diary of Ferenc Balogh (1836–1913), a Theology Teacher

Abstract

A key responsibility of educators is to help their students develop their full potential. The most effective way to do this is by supporting self-directed learning activities based on students’ individual interests, in which they engage in high-quality exploration of topics with personal commitment and deep involvement, produce original work, and then report on their findings. Self-education circles in Reformed colleges have a rich history; among these, the focus of the present study is the Theology Department Self-Education Society of the Reformed College of Debrecen. Its founder and subsequently influential teacher, Ferenc Balogh (1836–1913), documented the organization’s goals, events, and his own personal involvement through extensive diary entries. This study seeks to answer what pedagogical approach accompanied the Society’s success and, based on this, what constitutes an effective teacher who fosters talent.