Teaching Tactics for Modern Students

            Our world has evolved. The current generation of students is extremely difficult to deal with. Because of the numerous distractions such as video games and social media, students are becoming less and less focused on their education.

            Think about it…twenty years ago, there were no IPhones, no tablets, and basically no device that would disturb students from being cooperative and active in class. Now? A whole different story.

            When we think about teachers and students in today’s generation, we can notice a huge gap that keeps developing each and every year. The teaching process seems to be outdated for so many reasons, and the education as we know is no longer the same. This has become a huge problem for our modern society, because old-school teachers can no longer deal with their students. Unless…they change something.

            In today’s article we’ll talk about some insightful ideas, and we’ll cover the most important aspects of today’s education dysfunctionalities. Pay close attention, and if that’s the case, try to shift your mindset and apply what you learn during your future classes.

 

Modern Students Require Modern Teachers

 

            If you want to be a role-model for modern students, then you have to be a modern teacher. That means knowing how the new generation thinks, understanding the new values, and figuring out ways to become a “one-step-ahead teacher”. That means being dedicated enough to change your mindset and adapt to the current conditions.

            But first, you need to be aware that there are huge incompatibilities between the traditional education that you were used to and the digital “era” that’s already happening. Most teachers remain ignorant and keep practicing their traditional methods, without thinking a bit further, and realizing that most of the old-school teaching methods are no longer effective or even functional.

  

The Incompatibilities Between Traditional Education and The Digital Era

 

            Let’s explore a fact. Some teachers had their professional preparation ten or even twenty years ago. There was no widespread Internet back then. Children and students didn’t have so much accessible information from the web, and their whole education was revolving around school and college.

            In other words, the world has evolved extremely fast, but the education techniques remained the same. Now, how can this be a good equation? How can the current education provide results? It’s almost impossible. And this is bad, because we live in a world where a college diploma is required if you want to reach the top.

            Many students go to college in order to pass, and not to learn. One important reason for which this is happening is the fact that students no longer see teachers as role-models. Sometimes, the teacher may not even be the “smartest” in the class, as some students choose to educate themselves at home. The amount of available information is now insane, and everyone is one click away from free educational resources.

Developing a Modern Teacher Mindset

 

            Being a teacher nowadays has become extremely difficult. And it is so because most of the concepts and education techniques you were used to are no longer efficient. You have to change. Adapt. It’s not easy, trust me. Even though changing your mindset can be quite challenging, you must understand that it’s extremely important to do so.

            For example, many teachers feel undermined by students that bring up different ideas and concepts. Whenever they feel undermined, they tend to adopt a “defensive mode”, and protect their current ideologies and practices. That’s a huge mistake, because they only increase the gap that’s already existent between them and their students.

            The internet isn’t going to disappear any time soon. Moreover, new technologies will be soon developed, and the world will change again and again. It’s just like in business. An entrepreneur has to adapt to the current market conditions in order to maintain profitability. In our case, the entrepreneur is the teacher, and the market is today’s generation of students.

Some Tips on How to Deal with Your Students

 

            If you want to be a successful teacher, you have to be open minded. Adaptability is the key here, and the more you take it seriously, the more you’ll make your students listen to you and respect you. Here are some good tactics that may help you change your education style:

 

1. Instead of focusing on control, try to adopt an influencer Modern students can no longer be controlled. If you wish to really gain their attention, become the person they respect and listen.

            How do you do that? Well, try to understand them first, get to know their way of thinking, and behave in such a way that they’ll feel good around you. You have to let them know that you are a “modern” teacher, and you’re no longer an adept of traditional teaching methods.

 

1. Change the way you organize your classes and let technology help you. Instead of making your students read three articles around a subject, you can find an efficient video and have them watch it. Instead of having your students turn around their papers by hand, allow them to do it online.

            Build an online presenceand connect with your students. Let them know that you are available every time they need you, and be there for them. It’s okay to be close to your students, as they’ll develop more and more respect and gratitude towards you.

 

1. Provide them with consistent “filtered” content. Let your students know that you’ll be providing them with enough educational material each and every day, without they having to deal with the “filtering” process.

If you have difficulty with finding the right materials or inspirational ideas, you can always turn to writing services, such as Australian Writings. They will help you find the right thoughts for your creative work with modern students.

            Lurking the internet for information can be a tough process, because you never know what information is well documented and which one is wrong. Students can be easily misguided, and your role is not to let that happen. At least in your education field.

 

Conclusion

 

            Teachers will generally have a rough time in today’s education system. Actually, they already do. Traditional teaching seems to be less effective each and every year. Therefore, things must change in order to preserve a good functionality between the modern generation and current teachers. No matter how confusing things may be, a good teacher will always find the right ways to adapt.

            Dealing with modern students, as I’ve mentioned before, can no longer be easy unless “old-school” teachers adapt and become “modern teachers”. To be honest, adapting to the new society isn’t rocket science. It requires some effort and practice, but at the end, it will be totally worth it.