This Teacher’s Day Dr. L Savitha shares with us the qualities recruiters look for while hiring students and also inform us about the skills teachers need to build for a seamless journey.
Stephen Covey, who wrote ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People once said, “Keep the end in mind,” so in the world of education, what are the employers looking for in the 21st century? Two reports have come out called ‘Job Outlook 2012’ by the Association of
Colleges and Employers and ‘Are They Really Ready to Work?’ by the Conference
Board of Partnership for the 21st Century Skills.’
What are these employers (whether it is small businesses, medium, or large) looking
for in their employees? They are looking for ethical workers, people who can be
trusted with their clients, and so on. They are looking for people with good
communication abilities. They want people who can actually learn on the job, and
continue learning. They want people who are motivated, and who can actually take initiative.
They are looking for people who can work with others, have the ability to solve
problems, have good interpersonal skills, have a positive attitude, and are
dependable.
As teachers, we need to develop non-cognitive skills, build character and nurture
creativity along with providing support for scholastic mastery. This initiative
empowers students to be successful, not just in school, but in the world of work,
even in their own lives, and in their community. It focuses on building character
strengths that are even more important than IQ. Developing creativity and
leadership is possible in a high-performing and caring culture.
The teacher is no longer an agent only transferring knowledge, she is more of a
counselor, a friend, guide, and mentor. Apart from that, a modern-day teacher is also
bestowed with the additional responsibility of passing down our culture, tradition, and values to the future generation.
A teacher though on high-pressure work needs to be prepared to combat the newer
challenges of the dynamic world and guide the students who seek her help and
trust her. The parents, management, students, and the whole society repose trust in
us and hand over their children to us for good. A motivated teacher sees the
uniqueness in her students and connects with the child in order to cater to the needs
of each individual.
I recall my B.Ed professor once cautioning us by saying “Students should die to be in our
class does and not die being in our class”. A good teacher is loves her subject,
and is passionate about teaching, loves her students as her
own children, is proactive to upgrade herself, compassionate towards learners,
and creative in her teaching.
Developing a progressive mindset in students is the key to enabling them to thrive in the
VUCA world. When others see the end of the road we must see the bend at the end
and tread the extra mile. When others find excuses not to do something, a
progressive teacher finds a reason to make the impossible possible. As stagnant water starts stinking in some time, teachers who don’t upgrade themselves, start failing in a short while.
Being in a professional learning community helps a teacher gain new knowledge,
learn from peers/ experts and keep upgrading. Listening to experts’ talks, reading
books, and being a part of social activities help.
Enhancing our spiritual quotient is as important as gaining new knowledge.
Practices like meditation and Pranayama have a proven impact on developing
patience and tranquility. As a result, a person becomes more reflective in
one’s practice.
Teachers are the architects of our society and only a motivated teacher can change
the fabric of the society when she realizes that her job is not just to transfer subject related
knowledge but also to inspires a child to become a lifelong learner.
