Changing Teachers’ Lives

Changing Teachers’ Lives Presentation by ABBAS HUSAIN It's Never Too Late To Learn

Excel-a-rated and Teachers’ Development Centre Collaborate To bring you International Education Week It's Never Too Late To Learn

ITS NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN It's Never Too Late To Learn

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m too old to learn”? • Did you believe them? • I hope not. It's Never Too Late To Learn

Computers are now such a part of our lives. Do you know anyone who is very uncomfortable around computers? • Chances are it is an older person. It's Never Too Late To Learn

Younger people have grown up with computers and are very knowledgeable of them. • Share your knowledge with them. Even if you only have basic knowledge, share it. • They will think you are a genius. It's Never Too Late To Learn

To change the teaching environment to learning environment, there is a need to change the culture; to change the culture, there is a need to change the teacher, his/her thinking and then, his/her practice It's Never Too Late To Learn

I do not care what age you are: EXPAND YOUR MIND. FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, GO AFTER THE IMPOSSIBLE! You won’t be sorry. It's Never Too Late To Learn

You will grow, even if you don’t succeed in a particular endeavor. You will try again and you will make it. It's Never Too Late To Learn

Hay kahan tamanna ka doosra qadam Ya Rabb? Hum nay dashte-imkan ko aik naqsh-e-pa paya It's Never Too Late To Learn

One translation of this is: Where is the other step of desire, O Lord? For we have found this contingent world to be a mere footprint. It's Never Too Late To Learn

We need schools that prepare our learners to lead productive lives in this complex, high-tech and fast-changing world - schools that are responsive, fluid and adaptive to emerging needs and opportunities It's Never Too Late To Learn

An educational system is required that responds to the innovation of the students • Therefore, the agenda for reform must be redirected towards the essential purpose of education: learning – learning to create, solve problems, think critically, unlearn and relearn, and to care about others and the environment.” It's Never Too Late To Learn

We need to bring change, change in managing people more than managing things. It is a process, not a product. and ITS NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN IT It's Never Too Late To Learn

“ It is most successful when the teachers and students own and control the change process since it is individuals themselves who are the agents for their own change and of the necessary modification of beliefs, perceptions and actions that are central to the change process. It's Never Too Late To Learn

Why have our Great Plans as teachers failed? It was the wrong time to try it You didn’t have the right students They didn’t like the idea They didn’t like you! You didn’t like them! It's Never Too Late To Learn

Great plans and ideas for bringing about sustainable school improvement are not enough! It's Never Too Late To Learn

Naming goals, setting targets, clarifying expectations and aspirations are not enough! They do not in themselves bring about positive change and improvement in the learning and achievement of our students. It's Never Too Late To Learn

We need to think about: Who are we? Why do we exist? Why do we do things the way we do them? It's Never Too Late To Learn

People first … People second … People • “Changes in the culture of a schools start with people: the way we think and act, alone and together.” ---Dalin & Rolff 1993 It's Never Too Late To Learn

We need to change: • Our attitudes towards the students and give them a feeling of ownership for the class. • Share your experiences and listen to theirs • Build relationships and interactions • Be unique It's Never Too Late To Learn

We need to Change: • What we see and what we do • Our Norms and ‘Rules’ • Core values - what is cherished • Philosophy and vision- that guides and directs • Assumptions and beliefs - that are shared and deeply held It's Never Too Late To Learn

The Individual Teacher It is vital that each teacher individual member has the dispositions, attitudes and skills that will enable him/her to engage fruitfully in collaborative reflection, dialogue and planning with his/her students and colleagues. It's Never Too Late To Learn

Shared philosophy, vision and values Little will happen unless attention is paid to the necessity for building an ethos, a climate for collective effort on the part of teachers and principals. It's Never Too Late To Learn

Building trusting relationships • Expertise must be recognized and respected • Students need to know that they are respected • High levels of trust within the class and school culture needs to be built and maintained It's Never Too Late To Learn

Open dialogue is vital • Teachers, need to listen and address concerns and issues of the students • Students need to be encouraged not coerced • A spirit of goodwill and honesty needs to be nurtured and maintained It's Never Too Late To Learn

Focus on Learning • Our young people need to be prepared for the positive roles that they will take in our society, now and into the future. As the world changes, they (and us) will face challenges that are new. It's Never Too Late To Learn

Teachers need to ensure that our students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, dispositions and values that will enable them to live fully as young men and women, committed to the world in which they will live as moral and mature adults. It's Never Too Late To Learn

Teachers and others must commit themselves to ‘re-culturing’ - creating professional learning communities that focus on the continuous improvement of instruction in the light of constant examining how well students are doing It's Never Too Late To Learn

A culture that has a commitment to: Making good things better! And making ‘bad’ things right! It's Never Too Late To Learn

Teachers need to work in teams, engaging in an ongoing cycle of questions that promote deep team learning. This process, in turn, leads to higher levels of student achievement. It's Never Too Late To Learn

As you will deepen your knowledge and understanding of current educational wisdom and apply this learning in a holistic way to the context of their own, you will be better prepared to achieve the school’s long-term and short-term educational goals. It's Never Too Late To Learn

In Short… • Know the people you lead - their needs, talents and dreams • Respect and value the uniqueness of each student, their giftedness and their insights • Engage in honest dialogue • Establish positive norms and expectations and communicate them clearly • Actively support and encourage initiatives • Builds honest partnerships It's Never Too Late To Learn

Encourage each student with opportunities to exercise his/her unique talents for the good of others and in so doing, to find personal and professional fulfillment • Inspire the community to achieve more than they could ever have dreamt possible It's Never Too Late To Learn

To nurture a community’s taking charge of its own destiny and finding fulfillment and satisfaction in creating something wonderful - a place where youngsters find learning an exciting and awe-filled experience” It's Never Too Late To Learn

Where is the Other Step of Desire O Lord? For we have found this desert of possibility a mere footprint! ---Ghalib It's Never Too Late To Learn

THANK YOU FOR A COPY OF THIS PRESENTATION: E-mail: info@tdc.edu.pk It's Never Too Late To Learn

ABBAS HUSAIN Director Teachers’ Development Centre 129-G Block 2 PECHS Karachi 75400 http://www.tdc.edu.pk E-mail: info@tdc.edu.pk abbas@tdc.edu.pk Tel: 021-4310217/4392949 It's Never Too Late To Learn

Changing Teachers’ Lives