Professional development trainings for teachers should be relevant to their needs
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 imperative to do justice to our students’ journey. Similar to a school bus driver where you are entrusted with the lives of school age children 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 the teacher of your children. As a second parent to my students, seeing them safe and sane with their homework and all is a top priority. Giving them all the support they need, academically and all, should 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 has become the new normal and face to face is considered an option based on the safety concerns of students and teachers alike, in a school setting. Each must be healthy enough to interact with each other, so vaccination is required, strict health protocol measures apply.
Online trainings, workshops, and the like via Google Meet, Zoom, and other apps are the only feasible way to gain new skills, knowledge, and anything related to pedagogy trends and the like. Browsing various websites for content, ideas, and feedback on a new teaching/learning strategy is a good thing to do in coping with this new normal situation, where classes are held online, virtual, or mixed, etc.
Managing the online class requires a lot of skills for learners to know and be proficient in real life skill applications. 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 get something valuable out of 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 plenary. Yes, this type of break-up in small groups is a good strategy to give each student the opportunity to participate in a discussion, give their opinion or suggest something about a certain project or task.
Great teachers abound, given all the motivations to excel in performing assigned tasks. And, attending skill-enhancing seminars, workshops and the like are the best ways to gain competence and passion for your job.