Teaching a class of students is a tremendous duty; it does not just imply that a person stands in front of the class and gives a lesson before leaving. A good teacher will get the best out of his or her students. Only a teacher has the power to sway a whole class of young minds and shape them into brilliant gems. For a modern educator, having a professional degree or certification isn’t enough. It is critical to have the necessary skills to aid in the growth of students.
Education has grown digitally as a result of modernization, yet many teachers are uncomfortable with it and prefer to educate using traditional techniques. Previously, simply giving a lecture in class was sufficient; however, this is no longer the case, and the instructor must improve their delivery approach in order for students to comprehend and conceptualize the material. Comprehensive education has shifted away from theoretical principles and toward practical studies. Educators must also have the necessary knowledge and expertise to connect with the profession.
Why skill development?
The pandemic and the unexpected shutdown of educational institutes, resulted in a great deal of trouble for teachers to manage and conduct online classes due to their unfamiliarity with using internet software, and, as a result, there was a lot of uncertainty among students.
Teaching is a profession that necessitates ongoing professional development to stay current with new ideas. Many institutes are emphasizing the development of students’ interpersonal abilities and soft skills, which are concepts that are foreign to the teaching staff.
Teachers must build their skills in order to analyze, study, and share their knowledge with their students in a classroom.
There are occasions when a teacher, despite his or her expertise in the subject, is unable to impart a lesson or topic to the class owing to a communication or language barrier. A teacher’s lack of patience with students may cause students to be afraid to ask questions; this may result in an insufficient understanding of the subject and will not assist them in resolving their doubts.
There are numerous aspects that influence a student’s development, and a good instructor plays a significant role in this.
What are the required skills of a teacher?
Aside from having solid subject knowledge, a teacher must also possess abilities such as:
- Communication skills: A teacher should be able to communicate effectively. This will allow them to deliver their lectures more effectively, as well as help comprehend and communicate with their students reducing the communication gap and helping render impactful and interactive lessons.
- Technical skills: As technology evolves, educational institutes are adding a lot of technical subjects for students to enhance their technical expertise, so a teacher must be conversant with the working of applications and software, various programming languages that will be taught in a class.
- Perseverance: A teacher should be approachable, which means that he or she should be able to be patient and polite with students and responsive in the classroom, as well as maintain classroom discipline.
- Creative thinking: Using a unique method of delivering a lecture will help students understand the material better and may even kindle their interest in the subject.
- Organizational skills: An instructor must have a schedule in place for conducting classes and providing notes that will assist students and must tailor his or her lectures to the needs of the students.
- Smart eye: A teacher must have critical thinking and an observant eye, and he or she must be able to assist and mentor his or her class, especially students who require more assistance than others.
How to develop these skills?
To begin, one must conduct a comprehensive self-analysis of one’s teaching and how it affects a class. Feedback from students or institutes will definitely help to understand oneself better.
There are numerous teaching training programs available to help teachers enhance their skills and methods of instruction.
Regular faculty training programs are provided by accredited schools and institutes for personnel to attend and obtain professional training in technical and non-technical subjects with certifications.
A teaching program is CPD (continuing professional development), and it is a vocation that requires ongoing learning. If one wishes to become an educator, they must enroll in a program that is accredited by their institutes or other government-affiliated programs that will undoubtedly benefit them in the long run.
An instructor’s soft skills must be strengthened in order for them to improve their own interpersonal abilities and, in turn, help their students benefit from them. For professional growth, there are a variety of online accredited courses accessible.
CPD is significant since it helps one comprehend his or her career progression, as well as assisting them in their assessments and boosting one’s professional career as an instructor.
Many leading colleges and universities are on the lookout for qualified instructors and professors with professional training and certifications in teaching and soft skills. Participating in hands-on training workshops that train in speaking, deliverance, and conceptualization for teachers and professors will definitely help boost self-confidence and help a teacher improvise the teaching methods that will, in turn, benefit them and their class.
Conclusion:
To sum up, whether it is students or teachers, skills are the most important aspect of anyone’s professional career and they need constant development. There is no such thing as an age limit when it comes to learning and gathering knowledge.
A skilled teacher can always bring out the best in students and help them build abilities that will enhance their educational careers.
To quote Mark Van Doren “The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery”.
About the Author: Samiah Fareed
Samiah has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and is currently pursuing MBA. She enjoys writing and creating content for digital platforms in her spare time. She is a determined and ambitious person who wants to follow her passion for writing.
This article has been re-published on Medium
