Essential Qualities Of A 21st Century Teacher

There has not been a better time to be a teacher. The 21^st century teachers are fortunate enough to have the assistance of technology, innovative teaching methods and to have undergone thorough teacher training programs. Teachers today, are tasked to keep themselves updated with the up-and-coming advancements in pedagogy. Moreover, they should advocate and employ novel teaching techniques such as personalized attention, active learning environment, and likewise, in their classes.

In the 21^st century, the field of education has evolved for the better. Especially since the coronavirus pandemic, when schools and college campuses were shut down, locking millions of students and teachers across the entire nation, out of the classroom, the advancements in the field of education have grown apace. For one, educational institutions across the nation directed the educators to teach online. In such rapidly evolving circumstances, it is all the more important for teachers to be aware of the qualities which are deemed to be important in a 21^st century educator. Below are the most important maxims of teaching which every 21^st century teacher must follow, in order to become more successful. Inculcating only a couple of these qualities is certain to have a big impact on your performance as a teacher. So, choose the tips which work for you and try to inculcate your tips in your behavior….

Adaptive to change-

As a teacher in the 21^st century, you are required to be flexible in how you go about your teaching. Moreover, you should always be aware of and be willing to adopt emerging trends in the teaching industry, if need be. Nowadays, most of the teaching has moved towards a more student-centric environment as it helps in more personalized attention towards the learner. It helps that the students utilize their abilities more in the learning process. Moreover, the educators work closely with the students, get to know their strengths, weaknesses, and learning needs. Therefore, a 21st-century teacher should always be ready to move on to newer and more effective modes of teaching.

Lifelong learner-

A 21st-century teacher needs to be a lifelong learner. We live in a world where the learning needs of students may change just as rapidly as the other aspects of their lives. In order to cater to a wide variety of learning needs of the students, teachers should keep on updating themselves and enhancing their knowledge. You should focus on increasing your knowledge across disciplines and try to stay on top of the information curve. Therefore, in order to be an effective teacher, you must become a persistent learner who keeps himself updated without growing complacent.

Knows how to handle technology-

Even though it might help, you don’t need to be extremely tech savvy in order to become a teacher. Just be a person who is abreast of new technological innovations in the world and doesn’t shy away from using technology for making their lives simpler and more productive. A good start will be to include technological tools in your life for carrying out routine activities. In this way, you will never lose touch with emerging technologies without having to dedicate any extra time.

A strong leader who encourages collaboration-

A 21^st century teacher needs to be a strong leader in order to gain the respect of the students of Generation Z. Moreover, educators need to promote collaboration, both among learners and themselves, in order to develop a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. Most jobs today, require employees to work in close coordination and large teams. Therefore, educators must actively work towards inculcating collaboration and teamwork skills in their students early on in their lives. Furthermore, with the advancement in technology and increase in the number of communication channels, encouraging collaboration is not that difficult in the modern classroom. Unlike traditional teaching, student collaboration actively engages the students with the teaching process. An active learning environment is helpful for achieving a high level of student engagement in the classroom and enhancing their learning outcomes. Therefore, modern-day teachers need to be strong leaders themselves and encourage student collaboration.

The modern-day educator must be willing to harness the technological innovations and adapt their teaching methods to meet the learning needs of the students. In order to be a successful educator in the 21^st century, you need to inculcate within yourself, the qualities mentioned in this article.