You can’t give what you don’t have. Yes, in all aspects of our lives, this is true. As a teacher with 25 years of experience, I continue to believe that continuous learning is essential to do justice to our students’ journey. Similar to a school bus driver where the lives of school children are entrusted to him every day. Parents are not afraid that one day their children will be in danger due to drunk driving etc. However, there are other things that contribute to road safety and all that.
More of that trust will be given to your children’s teacher. As a second parent to my students, seeing them safe and sound and sane with their homework and all is a top priority. Giving them all the necessary support, academically and all, must be second nature to a conscientious teacher like me.
Therefore, the improvement of skills is essential. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, where face-to-face was a normal scenario and online was somewhat advanced; today, there is a reversal of this role. Online became the new normal and face-to-face is seen as an option based on the security concerns of students and teachers alike, in a school setting. Each one must be healthy enough to interact with each other, so vaccination is required, strict health protocol measures apply.
Online trainings, workshops and the like through Google Meet, Zoom and other applications are the only feasible way to acquire new skills, knowledge and everything related to trends in pedagogy and the like. Browsing various websites for content, ideas, and feedback on a new teaching/learning strategy is a good thing to do in dealing with this new normal, where classes are being held online, virtual, or blended, etc.
Managing the online class requires a lot of skills for students to be knowledgeable about and proficient in real-life applications of skills. Yes, deep learning is expected from the end point of the lesson. Actually, the beginning of a lesson is the beginning of a fun and meaningful journey. Each child should gain something valuable from their time through interactions with students online, especially during pocket discussion, small separate groups of students discussing their experiences or reactions to the topic being addressed in the plenary session. Yes, this type of breakup into small groups is a good strategy to give each student the opportunity to participate in a discussion, give feedback on it, or suggest something about a given project or assignment.
Great teachers abound, given all the motivations to excel in performing assigned tasks. And, attending skill-building seminars, workshops, and the like are the best ways to gain competence and passion for your work.
