As the new academic year has well and truly set in, it is a good time to reflect on the extent to which teacher’s roles are no longer limited to giving facts and information, disciplining the class, and testing students are specific times.
It is commonly said that a teacher is no longer a sage on stage but a learner who is eager to share learning with others. Gone are the days when teachers had all the knowledge, because in a way, knowledge itself is accessible to everybody, thanks to digital technology.
Even until a decade ago, a teacher’s job was primarily to provide knowledge, facts and figures which would be tested in a standardised form. In this scenario, teachers would stand on a metaphorical pedestal, imparting words of wisdom to be unquestioningly absorbed.
Today, teachers are more like managers – planning projects, managing time, facilitating events and encouraging leadership. This is on top of their more traditional job descriptions which include curriculum development, setting of exams, and keeping up with the latest content and teaching techniques. On top of this, teachers are now psychologists, counsellors, and even conflict mediators.
These are too many hats to wear. Whether teachers are compensated sufficiently or not is another question, but there is no doubt that they mold young minds, teaching them lessons not accessible anywhere else.
This is because the nature of education has itself seen a drastic change. Parents expect schools to offer students a holistic experience which goes far beyond gaining content. Critical thinking, time management, communication and social interactive skills are some of the many soft skills students are expected to inculcate over their years in school.
Technology is another field in which teachers need training and re-skilling. In fact, this is one area in which teachers may find themselves less knowledgeable than their students. It is no longer enough to have a power point presentation or use a smartboard. To engage students, it is important to use upcoming technology which the digital natives are accustomed to.
More importantly, students can be guided to use the innumerable sources available online with critical thought and judiciousness.
Inculcating values of social responsibility and citizenship are equally important to a teacher for whom educating students in sustainability and climate change are central.
It is commonly said that students are now being educated and trained for jobs which don’t even exist yet. In its absence, learning can only be life skills that are interdisciplinary and interchangeable. Students need to be able to use the information they acquire critically and collaboratively. The information itself is easily available.
It is said that ‘if we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow’. Teachers today need to see themselves as facilitators, not providers of knowledge. They also need to be able to instill a love for knowledge and encourage life long learning. Donning all these hats simultaneously is not easy, but the rewards can be immense.
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