Teaching today's youth can be both fulfilling and a challenging career choice. Teaching requires a variety of skills, coupled with knowledge and experience, to be effective. There are a few basic requirements that fulfil the criteria of an effective teacher.
With the advent of technology and its infusion in the lives of human beings, it has affected the way students learn and teachers teach. It throws challenges upon teachers to be competent, not only in basic skills, but with newer skills too.
Here are some professional skills, or as we call modern skills, that teachers must possess.
Flexibility: Flexibility or adaptability is a skill every teacher must have. Teachers must adapt themselves to the way their students learn and behave in the classroom.
Teachers also need to be flexible and be able to adapt to whatever challenges are thrown at them, especially when new technologies are developed every day which changes the way students learn and teachers teach.
Confidence: Every teacher must have confidence. The confident person inspires others, and having this skill results in immeasurable benefits. Every teacher needs to have confidence, not only in themselves but in their students and colleagues.
Team Player: A teacher must be able to work as a part of the team. Working together as a team helps enhance the understanding of students in a fun and interesting way. Teamwork encourages networking with other teachers which not only foster the sense of learning, but also solves problems.
Continuous Learner: The profession of teaching does not limit the teachers from learning. Learning is a continuous process and there is always something or the other to learn in this fast-changing world. To keep up with this and to acquire knowledge, teachers must always go the extra mile to learn in order to be effective.
Leadership: Students look upon teachers and consider them as their role models. Thus, a teacher must have leadership qualities to guide students in the right direction. They must encourage students and lead them to the path of success.
Know How to Find Engaging Resource: In the era of the digital screen, students have access to information at fingertips. Thus, teachers must take the initiative to look for content which is engaging as well as knowledgable. This may lead to searching for apps to use in the classroom or planning lesson activities.
Innovative: A teacher should have the enthusiasm of trying new things listing from new educational apps to teaching skills, electronic device, etc. Being innovative means questioning students, connecting them with the real world and cultivating a creative mindset.
Imaginative: Imagination is the most effective tool a teacher can use to engage students in the classroom. Long, boring lesson plan easily distracts the students. Therefore, teachers must be creative and find imaginative ways to make learning fun.
Online Reputation: In this modern age, most of the teachers are on social media platforms, which means that they have ‘online reputation’. Therefore, modern teachers must take care of when and where to draw lines and what is right for them. Social media platforms like LinkedIn is essential for teachers to build networks and connections with colleagues.
Empower and Inspire: One of the best qualities about the teaching profession is that they inspire students and help them to set goals or ambitions. Modern teachers have the ability to empower students to think critically, encourage to be creative, passionate, etc. They give them the tool to succeed not only in school but in life.
Teachers play a significant role in guiding young minds for a better future. Therefore, people who choose to be educators must have the above-mentioned skills to make the teaching and learning experience a worthy one.