THE TEACHING TREND
This generation calls for a new breed of teachers. The advent of technology sets the trend for new teaching strategies. For students, technology made learning fun and exciting. For some teachers, technology made teaching more complex.
As teachers, it is our responsibility to adapt with the change. But we cannot deny the fact that it is not easy to catch up especially for teachers who were born when technology were not yet a BOOM. Computers, LCD, projectors … they are all complicated to use, at first. Yes, at first, but everything can be learned. It is just a matter of exposure and practice of the new trend.
We are accountable for our students’ learning. Our students are at the center of the teaching pedagogy, thus, they should be our top priority. So coping with the technological advancement is not an option anymore but it is a must to provide the best learning experiences for our students.
The trend changes as time passes by so as with the learning style of the students. Traditional approach may not be that effective as before for our students are exposed to a new era of acquiring information. In one educational philosophy, Progressivism, to be specific, it says that we should consider the students’ needs and interest for that is the best way to engage them in learning.
One might ask, “how will a teacher expose herself to technology if in the first place there are no available resources?” The answer is easy. Teach in a way how the students learn. If they are exposed to technology, you should teach with technology. If they learn through traditional approach, apply the traditional method. The point here is we should teach the child in the best way they learn.
In reality, the world is advancing from time to time. There are e-books, online searching and online education. We are called to develop global learners. If you will defend yourself just to stick with your mastered traditional teaching methodologies, just ask yourself this, “Do I prepare my students to become globally-competitive?” If your answer is yes, continue to do what you are doing. But if your answer is no, then change.