Like other professions, teaching has changed in recent times, thanks to the pandemic. One moment, students were learning in classrooms; the next, they had to use online programs to write tests.
Teachers have also had to face this new reality, revising their methods to keep up with technological and socio-cultural changes. From having to edit PDF files on their phones to hosting online exams, the learning curve has been steep for teachers. As the teaching profession continues to change, let’s explore the new challenges that educators face post-pandemic.
9 common challenges that teachers face in 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the gaps in our education system. But to adequately deal with these challenges in management, we must first understand them.
Technology
Today, most students use digital platforms better than teachers can, putting the latter at a disadvantage in a tech-driven society.
While you are tinkering with a PDF editor or note-taking app, your students are creating whole programs. Besides, some schools don’t even have advanced technological platforms for education.
And since the pandemic cut educational funding, most schools have downsized to keep the lights on, leaving teachers ill-equipped to handle their tasks.
So until we find solutions to these issues, technology remains an enigma for many teachers in 2021.
Social and emotional learning
Wholesome learning goes beyond writing tests and making good grades. Students should learn to be self-aware and develop skills relevant to life after school.
Traits like self-control, business management, and communication in difficult situations should be part of their curriculum. Yet, many teachers lack these skills themselves.
Students often face communication challenges when interacting with other teachers. And since these teachers deal with issues from home and school, they don’t have the time to build impulse control, emotion management, and other skills they address students’ needs.
Pedagogical advances
Remote teaching is one of many advances that the teaching profession has undergone recently. For the outside world, this growth is welcome. Yet, many teachers are struggling to cope with the rapid changes in the education system.
For instance, digital devices for remote education can distract students from schoolwork. So, teachers should find tech-based teaching methods to capitalize on students’ love for these devices.
National education policy
Since President George W. Bush implemented the No Child Left Behind Act, lawmakers have protested against it, claiming that the law forced schools to lower their standards to accommodate struggling students.
In response, President Obama enacted the Every Student Succeeds Act to ensure all students have equal opportunities.
Although this new policy improved the academic standards for the disenfranchised, there hasn’t been any creative change in educational solutions in government recently.
Many states still judge teachers by their students’ test performances. And sadly, this unrealistic evaluation standard forces teachers to prepare students to pass tests instead of helping them develop core skills.
Re-invented classroom routines
The changes in the education system come with new classroom routines. Today, some schools practice the flipped learning space method. In this system, teachers create lessons for students to study at home and debate when they return to class.
This strategy is an inverse of traditional learning, where pupils learn in class and take assignments home. And as you can expect, the routine needs other tools and schemes to work.
Therefore, teachers have to create video lessons, recommend podcasts, and use other digital tools to get the best out of the new routines.
Parent involvement
As more digital tools enter academia, parents become less involved in their kids’ schooling: some hardly show up when needed.
These situations put pressure on teachers to be more than academic mentors for young students. And many pupils would fare better if their parents had the right level of involvement in their education.
COVID-19 safety regulations
To avoid the spread of COVID-19, teachers must ensure their students practice social distancing. But this reduced physical contact can impact the social structure in classrooms.
A lack of physical and social communications leads to teamwork challenges. And the new development is frustrating for teachers new to social-emotional learning.
Like the issues faced by managers in business, these new routines create challenges of team building for teachers who want their students to enjoy well-rounded learning.
Hybrid learning
Despite the benefits of distance learning, teachers still walk through thorny bushes to achieve a smooth hybrid learning program.
For instance, some teachers face connectivity issues on video learning platforms. Others have to deal with lagging, fuzzy audio, and other communication challenges examples.
And though students are generally comfortable with tech tools, many of them have trouble learning and using new software.
So teachers have to add the challenge of monitoring students and fixing technical issues to their already hefty workload.
Bullying
Although online learning has been helpful in teaching, it has also allowed students and teachers to suffer cyberbullying.
In the past, most bullies had to confront their victims in person. But with the anonymity of online interactions, bullies can inflict emotional terror undetected.
Therefore, teachers have had to fight online bullying in group chats. But since there are no strict laws and penalties for cyberbullies, their efforts are mostly ineffective.
Besides, educators can only regulate the misdemeanours they see, which is impossible when students use social media to communicate predominantly.
How to overcome these challenges
As new products and policies appear in academia, so do challenges. Here are ways to combat these new teaching challenges.
Be patient
Adopting virtual and hybrid learning has been a frustrating challenge for teachers, especially those with limited technical know-how. As a result, most teachers put themselves under unnecessary pressure to ensure they complete the curriculum.
Don’t be so hard on yourself; take some time to adopt these new tools. You can always apply for training and seminars.
Track students’ engagement
Modern teaching tools allow you to gather and curate information about student performance. You can consult the reports to see if the students are engaging with the learning process. And from this data, you will know when to adopt new tools or change your teaching approach. For example, you could improve engagement with a teaching assistant. To become a teacher’s assistant, they need to have taken teacher aide courses that teach them how to work with students one-on-one and in small groups.
Motivate your students
The switch from sitting in classrooms to lying on the sofa for online classes can cause students to become distracted. So, teachers should seek ways to keep students focused.
Setting measurable goals and deadlines and using gamified apps to show the benefits and challenges of teamwork can help keep the students motivated. Above all, try to get the parents on your side, as they are vital for keeping students focused at home.
Conclusion
Many teachers are buckling under the stress of adapting to the new teaching systems. And to be fair, many educators didn’t plan for the changes in education today.
As a result, keeping up with the breakneck speed of innovation in teaching has been challenging. But by knowing the challenges and following the tips in this article, you will be better skilled in handling the pressures of teaching in 2021.