Immanuel N. Nakambale
The 21st century is the current century in the Anno Domini (AD) or common era. Henceforward, the modern world is developing so fast that we cannot always keep track of all its changes.
However, new technologies and trends are being fashioned to simplify our lives. Consequently, today, the 21st century is called the age of information technology, where the main product is modern information.
Importantly, 21st-century teachers should know that the learner is the most important stakeholder and centre of focus – and as long as education revolves around learners and their holistic growth, it will never fade out or weaken its value.
I am positively reminding teachers that teaching in the 21st century is a different phenomenon altogether, especially with the kind of exposure and technological advancement.
Thus, when thinking about education in the last 20 years, a lot has changed – from textbooks to tablets, from chalk and duster to Padlet – from green boards to smart boards – from taboos and stigmas to open discussions – from being intimidated and apprehensive to being confident and inquisitive – from teacher talk and monologues to active learning and flipped classroom – a lot has evolved.
I am, therefore, encouraging teachers to develop new teaching strategies that are radically different – that are eventually facilitating effective learning and developing learners’ higher-order thinking skills, effective communication, collaboration and other skills.
Above all, teachers should become tech-savvy to embrace technology. This will help improve their lesson planning and give a personalised touch to learning. To profitably put theory into practice, teachers should follow global educational approaches. This will enable learners to participate in a global competitive advantage.
Furthermore, teachers need to be creative by employing teaching approaches that can awaken learners’ critical thinking. This will allow learners to think outside the box – to perceive the world from multiple perspectives.
Moreover, teachers’ creativity and innovation allow learners to embrace their inner strengths from picture planning to meticulous organisation.
Continuous professional development
If we teach today as we were taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow. Taking that into consideration, educational leaders, such as regional education directors, circuit inspectors, school principals, heads of departments, subject heads, teachers as well as school board members need to ensure they make necessary acquaintances and endure continuous professional development (CPD) to amplify teachers toward effective teaching.
CPD in the 21st Century offers teachers the tools and skills to stay modern with the needs of learners and professionalise them towards planning for changing trends in education.
Besides, CPD boosts teachers’ confidence, commitment and dedication, which add to their credibility by learning new skills and attaining professional designations.
Thus, learners taught by globalised citizen teachers will always be globalised citizens, who will positively participate in the global competitive advantage to contribute to societal needs in a modernised way.
*Immanuel N. Nakambale is a researcher, consultant and author.