Learning is an ongoing process. An individual never stops learning, even when their official schooling has ended. Teachers are typically supposed to be know-it-alls since they are the ones who teach wisdom. It is the responsibility of educators to instruct the future generation of thinkers and to offer them advice. A teacher must first study with a teachers training program in order to become the greatest mentor they can be.
In 2024, educators will need to acquire new abilities to keep up with the younger generation. For educators to excel in their roles, they must acquire pertinent professional skills. It is imperative that instructors pursue professional development in order to meet industry requirements and give students access to modern skill sets and improved learning environments.
It is the responsibility of school administrators and personnel to ensure that teachers have optimal professional development opportunities to enhance and refresh their abilities, as well as to improve learning. Teachers can benefit from professional development in a variety of ways. According to NEP, 2020, every teacher in India is required to engage in CPD (Continuous Professional Development) for a minimum of 50 hours annually.
What is Professional Development for Teachers?
Professional development for teachers is a means to broaden their skill sets and improve the learning environment in the classroom, according to research conducted by the Organisation for Economic and Co-operation Development (OCED). Professional development for teachers can refer to any activity or method that helps a teacher enhance and grow their teaching abilities.
Types of Professional Development
Different strategies are used for educators' professional development. The following are a few of the most popular methods used by educators for professional development:
- Workshops and courses
- trips to other institutions for observation
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Peer Review Certification Programmes
- Meetings or workshops
- Research
Benefits of Professional Development
1. Boost to the profession as a teacher
Schools that provide teachers training program for their educators see an increase in teacher morale and give them the tools they need to advance in their careers. It is widely acknowledged that professional development is what drives educators to improve their attitude to their work and equips them with the skills they need to carry out their daily responsibilities with more professionalism.
2. Increase in Salary
Teachers can increase their pay by developing new skill sets through teachers training program. Teachers with additional skill sets are willing to be paid more by schools and other educational institutions.
A teacher will be able to obtain a higher salary than one who can only demonstrate subject mastery on her resume if she completes a digital education course, such as the Google Certified Educators programme or the Microsoft Certified Educators programme, and becomes a digital certified educator.
Furthermore, higher pay contributes to improved performance. There's a decrease in teacher turnover as salary increases.
3. Updated Skills and Resume
A company always selects the finest résumé when shortlisting applicants for a position. An Indeed.com report states that companies take six to seven seconds to review a CV. The most visually appealing applicant has a better chance of landing the position.
Professional development classes assist applicants in showcasing new abilities on their resumes. They might differentiate themselves from the competition by showcasing their abilities with legitimate credentials.
4. Burnout and Turnover in Teaching
A significant portion of newly hired teachers quit their jobs during the first five years of employment, and many professional instructors wish to leave their positions. There is a genuine problem with teacher burnout and turnover in the school system that has to be addressed. Insufficient financing, handling challenging parents, excessive workloads, problems with classroom management, and other similar factors are among the factors that contribute to teacher burnout.
With the aid of professional development, teacher turnover and burnout can be decreased. The skill sets that contemporary teachers need to handle these everyday problems with a more professional attitude will be given to them through professional development, which will aid in keeping teachers in the classroom.
5. Educators learn new and better ways to teach
Thus far, we have observed that teachers training program helps instructors advance their careers and earn higher salaries, which in turn has a favourable indirect impact on the learning process in the classroom. However, teacher professional development may have a direct impact on the classroom and give educators access to fresh, creative, and more effective teaching methods.
For example, if instructors at an institution are given the chance to become proficient in integrating digital resources into the classroom, they would be able to provide students a better learning environment. The implementation of fresh and creative teaching methods by educators will enhance student learning in the classroom.
6. Collaborate with Other Professionals
Teachers may network with and gain knowledge from other experts in their area by participating in a variety of teachers training program. Different people, or different professions, think in different ways. Working together in a professional setting, having brainstorming sessions, and having conversations with others who have various perspectives and experiences all facilitate collaboration. This creates several chances for instructors to advance their knowledge and skills.
7. A deeper understanding of Subject Matter
Instructors must continuously refresh their knowledge in their areas of expertise. Professional development programmes assist educators in learning new teaching methods and strategies, developing professional networks, and enhancing their resumes with new skill sets. Additionally, they assist teachers in making the connection between their subject matter and the recently acquired abilities, which they may then utilise to maximise their comprehension of the subject matter.
8. Teachers learn better organisational skills
Indeed.com predicts that one of the most important skill sets for teachers in 2024 will be organisational abilities. Teachers have a lot of paperwork to manage, including assignments, report cards, records, and other items of that sort. The necessary organising abilities must be developed by a teacher. Teachers can employ contemporary tools and approaches for improved organisation by utilising professional development. The majority of professional development courses assist educators in acquiring and refining their organisational skills via practice and real-world scenarios.
In the end, the next generation of leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, artists, and other professions are trained by their professors during teachers training program, who act as mentors. In order to give their students the greatest learning experience possible, teachers must continuously update their skill set in a dynamic learning environment. This means that teachers are lifelong learners. Instructors must be lifelong learners, and educational institutions may benefit greatly from offering a range of professional development opportunities to help teachers take advantage of the chance to enhance the learning environment in the classroom with Tech Mahindra Foundation.
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