by Dr Mushtaq Rather
Modern educators must read diverse literature to evolve as real repositories of knowledge. Great teachers are made, not born, through a long and rewarding process.
The role of a teacher is no longer confined to transmitting black-and-white information within the classroom. Instead, it has become a multifaceted, response to the challenges of the 21st century. As the teacher plays a central role in shaping a child’s future, their efforts are crucial in facilitating the smooth progression and transition towards actualising the child’s innate potential.
To prepare modern learners for the challenges of the 21st century, teachers must create a conducive learning atmosphere that fosters the acquisition of 21st-century skills, including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. Teachers must update and refine their pedagogical skills to render their students viable and competitive in the 21st century.
Essential ingredients of a good teacher: In today’s global landscape, teachers face the arduous task of ensuring their learners fully engage in learning activities. In meaningful classroom transactions, teachers must have a well-thought-out strategy to arouse interest and ‘readiness to learn’ among learners. Once motivated, the teacher’s job becomes easier, disseminating requisite knowledge with reasonable expectation of attainment of desired learning outcomes. What makes an exceptional teacher? What are the hallmarks of a great teacher?
Teachers should experiment with pedagogical tools to make the teaching-learning process enjoyable and outcome-based. They must take risks and try different methodologies to teach concepts without fearing failure. Despite potential threats and failures, a versatile teacher is willing to ‘take the road less travelled’ when designing innovative teaching strategies.
A 21st-century teacher’s hallmark is in-depth knowledge of technological tools for effective teaching-learning transactions. To be effective, teachers must acquaint themselves with digital interventions in education and continuously update their technological skills. As facilitators, they must balance traditional pedagogy with technological innovations. In the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), where Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are transforming education, teachers cannot rely solely on traditional practices. They must find ways to incorporate blended learning (hybrid mode) into their teaching.
Teachers must abandon the outdated notion of being the sole authority in the classroom and equally involve learners as stakeholders in the teaching-learning process. Teachers must move away from the ‘Chalk and Talk method’ to a more inclusive approach to remain relevant. Modern learners are no longer empty vessels to be filled with irrelevant content. The NEP 2020 and NCFSE 2023 emphasize shifting from a behaviourist to a constructivist model, where students are considered co-creators of new knowledge. The teacher’s role is to ignite the learner’s mind and create a conducive environment, enabling them to construct new knowledge based on prior knowledge. This approach will help address pressing issues like climate change, solid waste management, and cyber security.
Self-reflection is a powerful tool for teachers to introspect on their achievements and areas for improvement. Versatile teachers regularly reflect on their professional and academic pursuits, asking themselves: Did my students learn today? Could I have done better? Was my pedagogic strategy effective? Did I collect and analyze student feedback? This introspection enables teachers to look back and forth, becoming better educators. Teachers who fail to introspect lack the propulsion to move forward.
A strong social commitment drives a teacher’s acceptability and versatility. Teachers must exercise utmost caution and diligence in safeguarding the fragile ecosystem and reaching out to marginalized sections through education. It is the teacher’s responsibility to instil in their students a concern for the environment and weaker sections, motivating them to engage in transformative extension and outreach activities. This dream of creating an equitable world requires teachers to establish a cohesive bond with the community, rendering their institutions vibrant learning centres.
The moment a teacher stops learning, they cease to be a teacher. Professional learning is a continuous journey, not an event. Educators must engage in their learning to replicate it among their learners. A modern teacher is expected to have an in-depth understanding of their subject and other subjects. The NEP 2020 denounces the hard separation of subjects, prioritizing a multi-disciplinary approach. Modern educators must read diverse literature to evolve as real repositories of knowledge. Great teachers are made, not born, through a long and rewarding process. While grounded in their disciplines, teachers must undertake inter- and multi-disciplinary projects, conscious that knowledge is whole.
Case Study and Research Oriented: A versatile teacher engages learners in real-life complex problems through relevant case studies and research problems. Case studies are a dynamic learning methodology, involving students in complex real-world issues and encouraging viable solutions. If executed in its true spirit, case studies can act as a potent tool for learning across diverse disciplines. They foster an engaging and stimulating learning experience, linking theoretical knowledge to practical application. Practising teachers should overwhelmingly welcome action research projects to find answers to classroom problems.
The author is an educator from Mattan, Anantnag. Views are personal)
