Teacher Education

What Is Teacher Education All About? 

Whether we like it or not education is continuing at a fast pace throughout the world, and teacher education needs to keep up with this. New things are being invented, scientists continue to discover more and more, and the public do, to some extent, become more educated as a result. If we consider the advances made in technology of late, you have to agree that many seniors have now learnt about cell phones and how to use them, but twenty or thirty years ago we didn't even have mobile phones! Yes technology has made great strides, and as a result we all, but especially teachers have to become educated in these advances.

When you consider that some of our teachers had their training thirty years ago, and have been in classrooms ever since, you can see how it might be necessary for teacher education to happen on a regular basis.

Now not everywhere has programs for teacher education, but there are many online programs online that teachers can access to update their skills and their knowledge base. This is very convenient, because these courses can be completed at the teacher's convenience. However there is an advantage in going to conferences to discuss ideas in person, and to be at the receiving end of education for a change.

Teacher education is a way to make certain that all a school's educators are up to date with the advances made, not just in technology, but with thinking and education policies. Schools are continually striving to find the best means of education children and teens, and ideas do change. Long gone are the days of elementary children sitting at desks all day long. Education encourages hands on experiences whenever possible. Gone are the days of a child having his knuckles rapped with a ruler for not paying attention. Gone are the days of having no text books at home. Gone are the days of no phones to check on a child's absence. Yes, the role of educators has changed over the years and it will continue to adjust as years go by, and it is essential that all teachers keep up with this. Teacher education will continue to be foremost and centre, and will become a requirement if it isn't already. This is for the good of all, but especially for the next generation. It is far too easy to become complacent, and to teach the same programs every year, but this content should be re- evaluated to see whether it is actually relevant to life today. With technology advancing so quickly, ideas are changing, and current topics must be taught, unless of course it is a history class!

Teacher education takes place too when a teacher decides to relocate.

The school teacher training requirements for each state are different, so a teacher gets the education to adjust to the new state. This is understandable, although for someone who has taught successfully for many years, the need to re-train may seem a waste of time, effort and money. Education is never a waste of time, it is a valuable learning process, and should be encouraged by all, teacher education included, for without a quality education, how can we possibly have quality teachers?