The Role of Teachers
The role of teachers in a child's education has changed from the old ways of "show and tell". Lecturing to students sitting in rows at desk listening to the teacher is no longer appropriate. Education environment is not only in the classrooms but extends in homes, society and environment. Information is no longer available in books but it is available in large amount in the internet. Students can no longer be treated as consumers of facts and figures. They are creative learners. Teaching is one of the most challenging job and vital in social , culture and economic health of a nation. Dramatic transformation in education are being planted. Prompted by massive revolutions in knowledge, information technology, and public demand for better learning.
Teachers have to do some rethinking of their role in their relationship with students, colleagues, and the community; the tools and techniques they use in teaching; their rights and responsibilities; the form and content of curriculum; as well as what standards to set and how to assess whether they are being met. Teachers should be reinventing themselves and their profession in order to serve the schools and students better. Gone are the days where information-dispensing, child care and sorting out academically inclined students from others is done. Gone are the days where teacher are told what, when and how to teach. Gone are the days where teachers are expected to use the old ways of teaching. Any deviation from traditional practices was discouraged by supervisors or prohibited by education laws and regulations. The essence of education is a close relationship between a knowledgeable, caring adult and a secure, motivated child. Their most important role is to get to know each student as an individual in order to comprehend his or her unique needs, learning style, social and cultural background, interests, and abilities. Teachers have to be committed to relating to students of many cultures. Students have to be counsel as they grow and mature. Teachers have to integrate their students' social, emotional, and intellectual growth so that the union of these sometimes separate dimensions yields the abilities to seek, understand, and use knowledge; to make better decisions in their personal lives; and to value contributing to society. They must be prepared at any time and in any way to make sure that learning occurs. Instructions that challenges students to take active role in learning must be adopted. Project base and active participation of students in the learning process is very much needed. Assessments must measure real accomplishment. Students are more responsible and encouraged when they are given the opportunity in creating their own learning plan and demonstrate that they learned what they have agreed to.
Teaching is no longer to give facts and information to students but to help them learn how to use them in developing their abilities to think critically, solve problems, make proper judgments with facts, and create knowledge that benefits both the students and society. In order to achieve this the school structure must be changed. Teachers must be given more time, support and space to do their job. Skills and knowledge to be taught should not be made into blocks and units. They should be taught as a whole unit where students are able to explore the possibilities and create their own ideas and innovations. Standardized test should be redesign. Current standardized test do not measure many abilities as well as not taking into account the different way people learn best. Good teachers, active teachers, innovative and creative teachers should be available in all schools. Schools should have a greater mix of teachers who have appropriate levels of responsibility based on their abilities and experience levels. Teachers should spend time in researching various questions of educational effectiveness that expand the understanding of the dynamics of learning. Changing and improving the role of teachers inside and outside the classroom can result in having better schools and better-educated students. All members of the education system must also be willing to rethink their roles in education to give teachers the support, freedom, and trust they need to do the essential job of educating our children the best possible way possible.
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