The Teachers of Tomorrow

Almost 2 years to the day, the way in which we teach was thrown into uncertainty, the virtual classroom became the new norm and the challenges seemed insurmountable as lecturers had to embrace how to teach their students remotely. My first Zoom class was interesting…over 30 students, 30 screens, countless children and even a parrot all struggling to have their voices heard. Well, it was fight or flight and I knew then I had to find new ways to improve my own technological skills to facilitate effective pedagogy in this ubiquitous virtual teaching space. Fast-forward 24 months and now I am teaching others not only how to create and implement effective online lessons, but also the importance of embedding collaborative technologies to respond to an ever-digitalised world. Goal four of the United Nations 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development aims to ensure equitable and inclusive access to education with a focus on lifelong development to increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success.  There has never been a more urgent need to embed information technology in this world of global economic and social change where we are seeing ever-increasing connectedness. Education needs to respond in innovative and creative ways to facilitate critical collaboration and autonomous constructivism. Therefore, through critical reflection, I have explored and utilised a variety of applications to enhance the pedagogic experiences of my learners and whilst this has not been without challenges, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Assessing learners through videos and collaborative platforms has not only promoted critical thought and peer review but has enhanced digital competency with learners showing more confidence in evaluating digital content. Having a wider variety of assessment tools whether formative or summative has proven to motivate and inspire learners in ways I have not seen before, engagement is improved, and I am in constant awe over how well students adapt to new ways of learning. I am privileged to be teaching the teachers of tomorrow at the University of Bolton where we proudly provide a positive and supportive learning environment; they are the true innovators and often they are the ones exploring and testing creative digital teaching and assessment tools. There is still more to explore, applications are constantly being updated and this just serves to make teaching a more exciting place to be.

Zoe Williamson – ITE Tutor - The Growth Company, Manchester