Professional development for teachers is significant because it enables them to try different and unique ways to teach their students. This ultimately helps students learn better. STEP Schools critically focus on continuing professional education development of teachers to help them deliver in a more advanced and focused way.
This blog explores what professional development for teachers is and the reasons behind it. Further, we will explain in what ways STEP Schools are optimistically working for the professional development of teachers.
Let’s explore together!
What is Professional Development for Teachers?
Teacher Professional Development for teachers is a continuous process of reflection, learning, and action to expand teachers’ knowledge and skills. This will result in enhanced student learning due to improved teaching practices. Professional Development for Teachers takes place in a variety of ways:
- Courses
- Workshops
- Conferences
- Independent study
- In-house training
- Collaboration with peers
The goal behind teachers’ professional development is to help them stay updated with educational trends using a skill development programme. It also involves mastering new strategies and developing subject knowledge.
What is the need for Professional Development for Teachers?
It is imperative to engage teachers in a career-long process of professional learning and development. It requires adequate preparation and capacity-building in a fast-evolving environment.
Over recent years, teachers’ jobs have changed profoundly. Teachers are now expected to offer quality teaching to a diverse student body in terms of performance level, learning needs, language proficiency, and socio-economic backgrounds. This will create classroom climates conducive to students’ learning and well-being.
Why is Professional Development so Important in Education?
Professional development is very important in education to improve educational experience for teachers and students. It is evident that learning management systems (LMS) impose several benefits of professional development in education.
Higher retention rates
Teacher professional development is an important tool for improving retention rates. This is so because teaching is not a stress-free job and they suffer from high stress and burnout. The Education Week survey in 2021 found that 60% of teachers defined their work as stressful.
Moreover, teachers are facing retention issues. One study stated that 32.5% of teachers quit their profession within their first five years in the UK due to retention crises. That is why training, and collaboration can help reduce stress and improve confidence.
Also, professional development provides skills to teachers to handle frustrating parts of their work. Further, it helps them to build durable networks in professions resulting in a strong sense of community. This will increase the teacher’s satisfaction and raise the retention rates.
Encourage lifelong learning
It is also another way to model lifelong learning to their students. This is because the continuous learning habit of teachers motivates students to learn and grow from time to time. It also has a positive impact on their lives.
Attracting better talent
Professional development for teachers is also beneficial for schools. This is so because it offers the best way to attract the best and most talented students. Teachers with the help of professional development opportunities, equipped with high experience and career skills help to attract students to the educational institution.
Better collaboration
Professional development courses help teachers build network with their peers and create their own support networks. This can lead to a collaborative approach to problems, sharing ideas, and increased confidence.
Moreover, good collaboration between teachers contributes to continuity of the approach for students. This allows students to thrive due to a consistent set of rules and expectations.
Promote Better learning
Student results will always be the most imperative success factor in education. For that reason, a teacher has to be professionally trained and equipped with latest educational trends. Here, professional development plays its integral part.
Teachers start thinking beyond outdated assumptions and tools. Instead, they start delivering concepts and mentoring students using evidence-based effective strategies.
Improved cultural competence
Cultural competence is another key skill that allows teachers to understand their students. It also creates an inclusive, welcoming learning environment.
Teaching cultural competence through professional development to teachers helps them understand more about their students’ lives. Also, this allows students to feel safe and respected and decreases the risk of misunderstanding.
What Skills are Gained through Professional Development?
Following are some of the 21st-century professional development skills:
- Adaptability
- Confidence
- Communication
- Team Player
- Continuous Learner
- Imaginative
- Leadership
- Innovative
- Commitment
- Ability to Engage
- Ability to Empower
How do STEP Schools work for Professional Development for Teachers?
STEP Schools, a 21st-century learning school, focus on the professional growth of teachers. Acquiring and using professional development in the 21st century is important for three key reasons:
- Keep learning relevant.
- Create teacher leaders.
- Add knowledge to recent educational research
Teachers at STEP Schools continuously improve their skills through professional advancement. This helps our students to have a better, more interesting, and more modern learning experience.
STEP Schools have Teachers Excellence Pursuit Programme (TEPP) that cater well to teachers’ training and wellbeing. It is a year-long training programme. This programme engages all the teachers across the STEP network. Moreover, this programme is designed to cover the domains essential to 21st-century learning.
Teachers at STEP Schools work hard to provide 21st-century learning to students. They are equipped with Innovative Teaching Methodologies to promote modern education. In addition, they teach Advanced Learning Techniques to students that help them implement their knowledge into practical situations and improve their critical thinking skills.
The Teachers Excellence Pursuit Programme (TEPP) provides:
- Quality teaching practices
- Class management techniques
- Learning Assessment
- IT literacy
- Training on PBL
- STEAM usage
- Skills development
- Subject knowledge
- Personality building
- Performance development
Join the Journey of Better Learning!
STEP Schools have a strong belief that students shine brighter when teachers grow. Our Professional Development for Teachers programme builds confident teachers and curious learners every day.
JOIN STEP Schools Today. And discover how we are shaping the future of education in Pakistan.
Conclusion
Professional development for teachers helps them stay updated, learn new skills, and teach them in better ways. STEP Schools, through its TEPP, makes sure teachers are equipped to deliver 21st-century learning, student-centred approaches, and modern skills. TEPP also helps to stay ahead in providing quality learning and help in continuous learning. This ensures students get the best and most modern education.
FAQs
What is Professional Development for Teachers?
It means teachers continue learning new skills and methods even after they start teaching. It helps them keep up with new ideas in education and teaches them better.
What kind of training does STEP Schools offer?
STEP Schools run a year-long Teachers Excellence Pursuit Programme (TEPP) for the professional advancement of teachers. Its modules focus on core skills, project-based learning, and subject-specific training.
Why do teachers need continuous training?
Education keeps evolving with new technology and teaching styles. Ongoing training for professional development for teachers, like TEPP at STEP Schools, helps them stay updated and provides quality learning to students.
How does teacher development help students?
Classes become more fun, engaging, and easier to understand when teachers improve their teaching. Also, students learn faster and enjoy their studies more.
How often do teachers take part in these programmes?
Professional development is a continuous process at STEP Schools. Teachers attend learning sessions throughout the year to keep improving their teaching skills.