Professional development skills for modern teachers (Adaptability, communication, confidence, team player, ability to manage online reputation, continuous learner.
Introduction
Crucial
skills of the most effective teachers today are very different from those of
about twenty years ago. It takes more than expertise in one academic field to
be an effective teacher. Knowledge is still important, but today’s teachers
must also possess the right skills to be successful. Again, the complexity and
rapid evolution of knowledge that teachers are expected to convey and the
“bundles of habitual action tendencies” that teachers are expected to
communicate in order to be effective are growing exponentially. In today’s
world, a different breed of teachers are required. Great teachers know their
students and connect with them. Knowing your students is more important than
knowing your subject.
There
has been a shift in research since the mid 1990’s. Previously, research
reported that the most important aspects of teachers were classroom reward
structure, classroom organization and curriculum. More recently, focus is on
the quality of the teacher–student relationship the concept of “pedagogical
caring” has become the subject of more recent research. Nothing drives
learning as powerfully as eye contact, touch and voice which are the essential
elements in the pedagogy of care.
In
this modern, digital age, teachers need to be flexible and able to adapt to
whatever is thrown their way. Whether it is to the way students learn, the
behavior their classroom exhibits, or their lesson plans, being able to adapt
is a skill that every modern teacher must have.
Confidence
Every
teacher needs to have confidence, not only in themselves but in their students
and their colleagues as well. A confident person inspires others to be
confident, and a teacher’s confidence can help influence others to be a better
person.
Communication
Being
able to communicate with not only your students but with parents and staff is
an essential skill. Think about it, almost all of a teacher’s day is spent
communicating with students and colleagues, so it is crucial to be able to talk
clearly and concisely in order to get your point across.
Team
Player
Part
of being a teacher is being able to work together as part of a team or a group.
When you work together as a team, it provides students with a better chance to
learn and have fun. Networking with other teachers and solving problems
together will only lead to success. Doing so fosters a sense of community, not
only in your own classroom but school-wide as well.
Continuous
Learner
Teaching
is a lifelong learning process. The world is always changing, along with the
curriculum and educational technology, so it is up to you, the teacher, to keep
up with it. A teacher who is always willing to go that extra mile to learn will
always be an effective, successful teacher.
Imaginative
The
most effective tool a teacher can use is their imagination. Teachers need to be
creative and think of unique ways to keep their students engaged in learning.
Leadership
An
effective teacher is a mentor and knows how to guide their students in the
right direction. They lead by example and are a good role model. They encourage
students and lead them to a place of success.
Organization
Modern
teachers have the ability to organize and prepare for the unknown. They are
always ready for anything that is thrown their way. Organized teachers foster
more effective learning environments. So, it is even more imperative to be
organized if you want higher-achieving students.
Innovative
A
modern teacher is willing to try new things, from new educational apps to
teaching skills and electronic devices. Being innovative means not only trying
new things, but questioning your students, making real-world connections, and
cultivating a creative mindset. It is getting your students to take risks and
learn to collaborate with others.
Commitment
While
being committed to your job is a traditional teaching skill, it is also a
modern one. A modern teacher needs to always be engaged in their
profession. The students need to see that their teacher is present
and dedicated to being there for them.
Ability
to Manage Online Reputation
This
21st century, modern teaching skill is definitely a new one. In
this digital age, most, if not all, teachers are online, which means they have
an “online reputation.” Modern teachers need to know how to manage their online
reputation and which social networks are okay for them to use. Social
networking site profiles, such as Instagram or Facebook, should remain private
and separate from students.
Ability
to Engage
Modern
teachers know how to find engaging resources. Nowadays, it is essential to find
materials and resources for students that will keep them interested. This means
keeping up-to-date on new learning technologies and apps, and browsing the web
and connecting to fellow teachers. Anyway that you can engage students and keep
things interesting is a must.
Understanding
of Technology
Technology
is growing at a rapid pace. While these developments may be hard to keep up
with, it is something that all modern teachers need to do. Not only do you need
to understand the latest in technology, but you must also know which
digital tools are right for your students. It is a process that may take time
but will be greatly influential in the success of your students.
Know
When to Unplug
Modern
teachers know when it’s time to unplug from social media and just relax. They
also understand that the teacher burnout rate is high, so it is even more
critical for them to take the time to slow down and care for themselves. They
also know when it is time to tell their students to unplug and slow down. They
give their students time each day for a brain break and let them unwind.
Ability
to Empower
Teachers
inspire; that is just one of the qualities that come along with the title.
Modern educators have the ability to empower students to be critical thinkers,
innovative, creative, adaptable, passionate, and flexible. They empower them to
solve problems, self-direct, self-reflect, and lead. They give them the tools
to succeed, not only in school but in life.
The
teacher-learner relationships
Teacher-learner
relationships are characterized by closeness or dependency and related to
students’ adjustment to school. When the teacher-learner relationship was
dependent the learner’s academic performance, attitudes about school and
engagement with school were negatively impacted. Teacher-learner closeness, a
healthy relationship rather than a dependent one, increases the likelihood of
the learner liking school, wanting to attend school and self-directedness.
The best teachers are those who are both very human and very
professional, both student-centered and subject-centered. Effective teachers
seamlessly blend together positive personality traits, content knowledge, and
pedagogical skillfulness coupled with an in-depth understanding of their
students and their learning needs.
Top
teacher qualities
While
there are numerous different ways to teach effectively, the most effective
teachers have certain characteristics in common. They recognize that they are a
role model for their students, and they know how to integrate the learning
style needs of their students with the material to be taught. The top qualities
they identified include:
1. Positive
– They are confident enough to view students as teammates, not adversaries.
They realize the importance of keeping students motivated and recognize that
different students are motivated by different things. Teaching is a serious and
important profession, but they know how to have fun in the classroom, and know
how to balance focus on lesson plans with being creative and innovative.
2. Prepared
– They understand that in the same way students are expected to do homework and
prepare for class, teachers are responsible to do the same. If they are unclear
about a concept, they review it prior to class. They do not procrastinate until
the morning of the class to prepare.
3. Organized
– The most effective teachers prioritize the content they will communicate in
order to cover the most important concepts in class. They facilitate the
integration of their work, including reading, labs, exams, papers, lectures,
etc. Helping students synthesize information and experiences from each of those
contexts helps them to learn how to think about the subject rather than simply
memorize the facts.
4. Clear
– The most effective teachers become experts in their subjects so that while
they probably know more about the subject than most, they can simplify it and
present it in a way that is easily digestible for their students.
5. Active
– The most effective teachers recognize that lecturing is not the best way for
students to learn material. They allow time in class for activities other than
traditional lectures by employing tactics such as using small groups to problem
solve and engaging with the material.
6. Patient
–
The most effective teachers realize that teaching is a process, not an event.
It’s much more than presenting content and moving on to the next thing. Both
teaching and learning are hard work. What makes the light of learning come on
in one student is unlikely to work with every student. Being frustrated when it
feels like the light will never come on for a particular student only short
circuits the teacher’s ability to teach and the student’s ability to learn.
7. Fair
–
The most effective teachers know the importance of setting clear expectations,
applying them consistently and being willing to admit when they are wrong. Once
the standards are set, they know it is essential to apply them equally and
consistently, and they do not play favorites.
The
21st century skills that teachers should possess which includes: Adaptability,
Confidence, Communication, Team Player, Continuous Learner, Leadership,
Organization, Innovative, Commitment, Ability to Manage Online Reputation,
Ability to Engage, Understanding of Technology, Know When to Unplug, Ability to
Empower and Imaginative. Again, effective teachers have certain classroom
management characteristics such as they care, they listen, they are
knowledgeable, they are flexible, they teach students in ways that communicate
to them and they are committed to a student’s success. They do not blame the
student for not learning, rather, they look to how they could adjust their
teaching style to match the students’ learning style.
Four
crucial teaching skills every great teacher need include:
i.
Mindset – teachers do not need to teach students
as much anymore as they need to allow them to learn.
ii.
Collaboration – teachers need to develop a
Professional Learning Network where they can learn and collaborate.
iii.
Relevance –The most important thing is to
stay relevant.
iv.
Humor –Humor is a key to longevity as a
teacher and teachers should not take themselves too seriously.
The
table below list the skills that effective teachers exhibit, and reflect the
skills with similar content.
|
Foundational Skills of Effective
Teachers |
|||
|
Adaptability |
They
teach students in ways that communicate to them |
Positive;
Organized; Active; Patient |
Relevance |
|
Confidence |
They
are flexible and are committed to a student’s success |
Positive;
Patient |
Humor |
|
Communication |
They
teach students in ways that communicate to them; they listen and are
knowledgeable |
Prepared;
Positive; Clear; Active; Patient; Fair |
Mindset |
|
Team Player |
They
care; they are flexible; they are committed to a student’s success |
Clear;
Active; Fair |
Humor |
|
Continuous Learner |
They
care and are knowledgeable |
Active |
Collaboration |
|
Imaginative |
They
are flexible; they are committed to a student’s success |
Prepared;
Positive; Active; Patient |
Relevance |
|
Leadership |
They
are committed to a student’s success |
Organized;
Clear; Active |
Mindset |
|
Organization |
They
care |
Prepared |
Relevance |
|
Innovative |
They
listen |
Active |
Relevance |
|
Commitment |
They
teach students in ways that communicate to them |
Prepared;
Organized; Active; Patient; Fair |
Mindset |
|
Ability to Manage Online
Reputation |
They
are knowledgeable |
Organized |
Relevance |
|
Ability to Engage |
They
care; they listen |
Positive;
clear; active; patient |
Relevance |
|
Understanding Technology |
They
are knowledgeable |
Relevance |
|
|
Know When to Unplug |
They
care; they listen; they are flexible |
Positive;
organized; patient |
Humor |
|
Ability
to Empower |
They
care; they listen; they are flexible |
Positive;
Clear; Active; Patient; Fair |
Mindset |
