It takes a whole lot of creativity when it comes to education and the days ahead will prove just how creative both our teachers and learners can be.
There are so many inquiries on how to proceed with our children’s schooling and along with it comes the anxiety and fear of being able to get by. While we are not in a war, the battle is simply mind-boggling and the need for resources is catching up with us.
It will be the first time for most students to undergo online learning and parents seem to be dreading this, as internet connections and other materials are either lacking or missing. While this is the basic concern, the personal touch of an educator will be heightened as it is their job to not only capture interest but also ensure that the learning process is continuous.
This is why, as an educator, I have learned that teaching is also an art. While we are equipped with authority, we must also be equipped with the facility that “breaks through” to our students. It’s almost like a dance. We too are performers and the classroom is our stage. The difference now is, our platform has changed and some teachers may have to also learn how to “perform,” according to the platforms they have been suddenly put in to.
I do remember the time when some friends and I took performing arts professionals to our schools. Back then, our teachers realized that they needed to become singers, or dancers, or poets, just to be able to get their students to learn. While this experience was fun, it was also very new. Our public school teachers were not really accustomed to that kind of teaching style and it was something they too had to learn. Today we see that this style will need to be transferred through the use of technology and I can only imagine the plight of our teachers, in addition to the mission at hand.
This again is why culture is so important. The art within this realm becomes a useful tool in traditional education and it is something we must further enhance within the education sector. In my opinion, we are still very fragmented when it comes to the way we teach and learn. We have been used to compartmentalizing our subjects when they in fact can be blended. To date, and I certainly hope, the objective for blended learning will include teaching styles. In as much as we focus on our learners, we must also focus on our teachers and help them evolve. Maybe, the world of entertainment could be of help here too. Just my thinking. Learning must be applicable and sometimes, solutions are simply “out-of-the-box.”