Education was slowly moving online with the aid of technology until the world was hit by a pandemic after which the pace doubled because the education industry was left with no other option. Traditional methods became ineffective in fulfilling the education needs. Now, this abrupt shift challenged the teaching skills and knowledge of teachers. To teach online, teachers had to master different sets of skills that were earlier categorised as “good to have”.
This shift to online education demanded good professional training of teachers.
Everything in this world has a positive and a negative aspect and so does eLearning. However, experts emphasize that online learning is the future of education and therefore, it is essential for teachers to learn and hone new skills to cater to the needs of students.
What is Upskilling?
Upskilling is the learning of new skills or additional skills. It focuses on bridging the skill gap through continuous training and development programs. Expanding the employees’ abilities and skillsets so that they can perform better has been the focus of upskilling.
What is Reskilling?
Reskilling is the process of learning new skills so that a different job can be done by the same person. It focuses on teaching adjacent skills that are similar to those they possess or in line with the requirement of the organization so that it can make the most out of its employees’ potential.
Why is upskilling and reskilling of teachers important?
The education sector has been continuously evolving. With time, there has been a demand of changing in the curriculum, pedagogy etc for the betterment of education. If you compare the syllabus, the exam pattern, the teaching style of the time when your parents were at school with your school, you will surely see a vast difference. And, now as education is moving online, the demand for changes is inevitable.
Change is the only constant and we all are aware of it. As there have been changes in the world of education, it is expected of teachers to adjust to these changes and make changes within themselves to give their best to their learners.
When it comes to online learning, everything is about technology now. Being able to handle different software and classroom app, online evaluation and assessment processes, online meetings, etc. requires different skills and that is why upskilling and reskilling of teachers is important.
It is important for teachers to be able to design online live classes, record them and make them available to students along with emphasizing the fact that students should by no means feel secluded. For this, it is equally important for them to also focus on students learning challenges and mental health. They should make their online classroom a safer space to learn, express and engage without having the fear of being judged.
Teachers can transform education but only when they realise that the techniques that worked a decade ago do not do the same magic now. They should innovate for the sake of students. Learn new teaching skills, unlearn those that do not work anymore and most importantly, be open to learning and accepting mistakes. With new tools and technology coming up, it is essential to learn and adapt to these changes. This is where upskilling and reskilling enter into the scenario.
Online learning is here to stay with us and as said is the future of education, it is important for teachers to learn and embrace and stay updated to changes in the industry not just for the sake of tools and technologies but students and teaching as a whole.
