Teaching today is a more complex and demanding role than it has ever been. State-mandated testing requirements, increased paperwork to document student progress, integrating technology into the classroom, and meeting the federal No Child Left Behind requirements all require more time and effort from teachers than ever before.
Changing Roles
New dimensions are being added to traditionally recognized teachers' functions. Efforts that build on various education reform initiatives to increase standards and accountability for learning outcomes have led to significant changes in teacher roles.
With the advent of site-based decision making and governance, teacher roles have expanded to include active participation along with principals, other staff, and parents in determining: 1) which programs will most effectively meet the needs of learners in their schools and 2) how best to allocate human, fiscal, and technological resources to meet the program objectives.
Furthermore, to carryout these varied tasks, teachers may be assisted by paraprofessional staff. As a result, the leadership and supervisory functions of teachers have increased significantly in some cases to include planning paraprofessional assignments, directing and monitoring paraprofessional performance, and providing on-the-job training for paraprofessionals.
Today, teaching responsibilities may include tasks such as:
- Diagnosing learner needs,
- Consulting with colleagues to plan individualized/personalized programs for all learners,
- Creating and maintaining learner-centered environments,
- Aligning curriculum with instructional strategies,
- Planning lessons,
- Modifying content and instructional activities to meet the needs of individual learners,
- Facilitating learning,
- Assessing learning outcomes, and
- Involving parents or other caregivers in all aspects of their child's education.
New In-field Teaching Requirements
While the majority of teachers today are assigned to teach classes within their field of expertise, many middle grades and secondary teachers are teaching courses in additional subject areas beyond the academic fields in which they were trained. Federal legislation, states, and school districts are increasingly enacting policies to ensure that teachers are assigned to teach classes only in their academic field of specialization. Teachers who know the academic content they are teaching as well as and how to best teach the subject(s) are more likely to increase student achievement than those who are teaching out of their field of expertise. The trend towards requiring middle and secondary teachers to teach in-field may mean that some educators will have to return to postsecondary education for further study.
The SREB-State Teacher Center can help you adjust to the changing demands of the teaching profession. You can search for courses and degree programs, the majority are offered in an online format, that will satisfy in-field requirements.
You can also find links to professional development tools that will help you grow your teaching skills.
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Teaching Online
If you are or want to become an online teacher, you have come to the right place. You have or will join a growing number of educators working to make learning more available, interactive, portable and exciting for millions of young people. The technology-rich classrooms of today provide opportunities for creating exciting new learning environments. But effective teaching will demand that you build on your basic teaching skills and develop new strategies and techniques for instruction. We have assembled information about teaching online, best practices and resources that you will find helpful in developing and delivering your online courses, whether it's your first course or you are an experienced online teacher. If you can't find what you need, let us know. Our network of professionals across the SREB states can help find an answer for you.
This SREB Educational Technology Cooperative Online Learning web site provides up-to-date information and resources about online learning and related topics and issues. The State Virtual Schools report includes information on state virtual school activity in the SREB region.
The Educational Technology Cooperative of the Southern Regional Education Board has partnered with the George Lucas Educational Foundation to present an interactive multimedia presentation on virtual learning. Explore why students are attracted to online learning, learn what courses they are taking and experience their reactions as you view high school students in Florida and Nevada and middle school students in West Virginia talk about learning in virtual schools.
SREB reports and helpful resources about online teaching and learning
Links to SREB State and Related Resources
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