When I decided to become a teacher, virtual instruction is not what I had in mind. So much of what I love about the craft of pedagogy is rooted in the face to face content between teachers and students within the classroom community. Online instruction is a hurdle for both students and teachers, as both look to continue their academic careers. As an MAT candidate, an extended online period is obviously scary and concerning. While I am confident in my abilities to build student relationships and wield content, lack of time in the classroom may decrease my confidence as a standard educator.
Although our current MAT courses prepare us quite well for the modern COVID-19 world. I wonder what we’re missing in terms of classroom management that is not related to virtual instruction. If things were to snap back into the pre-pandemic world, will our unique training help us secure jobs in the “normal” world? Obviously, this is just one of the concerns MAT students might be dealing with as educators of the uncertain future.
However, there is hope – and quite a large amount of it. Obviously, regardless of our education medium, we can be confident in the course work which we are completing. As MAT candidates of the UP program, we can take pride in the rigor of our academic requirements, and at the quality of our performance. We must be sure that the education which we are receiving will arm us for the challenges ahead and prepare us the change the minds of the future. Although we are currently online, our process of becoming greater educators is not stowed. The work we do for the next 9 months will help us secure future jobs, and create a future generation that fosters change within their societies.
The education methods which we add to our arsenal are amazing techniques which will help us as future teachers and mentors. Our road ahead may be tricky and untraversed, but it does get easier.. hopefully. As I look to the future, I am delighted for what’s in store. Despite adversity, I know that my experience here will prepare me for the challenges ahead, whether online, or in-person. Fear not – for the future is bright!
I appreciate your optimism with the shift to online learning! Sitting in the professional development days at the school I am student teaching at has been full of overwhelming concern, stress, anxiety, and little interest to compromise, so I really like your hopeful tone. I am honestly excited for the work ahead of us and I would like to know what are some of your ideas for fostering student relationships with the shift online?
The classroom management question is a significant one. While I don’t think things will be face to face anytime soon, it is a toolkit you will one day need. On the positive side, the best tool in classroom management is having tasks for students that are meaningful and engaging. That’s what keeps them on task. So maybe you concentrate on lesson design and let the live management tools wait a bit?
And to add to that – it’s not uncommon for student teachers to struggle with the classroom management side of the placement. That won’t really be an issue for any of you. So that give you time to focus on design and delivery of quality instruction. And if there are challenges to that in your placement, they are probably the same issues your CT is wrestling with.
Classroom management is also my one of my biggest concerns going into virtual instruction. Especially if I do end up with a full time teaching position next year, I am worried that I’ll have very little classroom management experience. However I also agree that there is hope, this year is going to be especially challenging for lesson planning and I am hoping that this added challenged helps us become extra prepared for lesson planning for our own classrooms next year and that we will then be able to give extra attention to developing our classroom management skills.
Hope is something that we all need. We need to look on the bright side of things and not the dark side. Just because we are going online doesn’t mean school does not stop. Teaching online seems hard but hopefully students and teachers can manage it. New teachers need to train both for in-person and online evenly. Some say “50-50” to equal 100. Why not both strive 100 especially when in a new learning environment. With the right mindset, we will guide our students toward success
Fear not! The future is bright! – Love that Alex. I think you’re right that whether or not the experiences we have this year will be similar to anything we experience the rest of our careers, going through the challenges that we’re all facing will definitely make us better teachers overall. But I definitely resonate with feeling a loss of confidence due to missing the in-person aspect of relationship building. That’s one of the biggest strengths I have is the ability to connect with people and it’s much harder to do that online. But, while we may not be able to connect with students as well as we want this year, I think the increased effort that this year will require will teach us a lot about how to become even better at the relationship building aspect of the classroom going forward.