5 ways in which e-learning startups are helping teachers secure better jobs

What's the journey of a typical teacher like?

• Complete a Bachelor degree in a subject.
• Complete a conventional teacher training programme.
• Get a government or private teaching job.
• Start teaching.
• Stay in the same position for a decade or more.
• Depend on your school for training and upskilling led growth.

That's the journey of a typical teacher today. The conventional teacher training programmes, which worked maybe 20 years ago, are now proving to be ineffective when it comes to preparing teachers for 21st-century students. The situation is even more worrisome at places where even the conventional teaching education is missed. This gap in teachers between the skills needed and the skills commonly available has resulted in them getting unsatisfactory remuneration and facing stagnant growth, which ultimately forces them to quit the profession.

This problem, which directly impacts over 70 million teachers of the world and indirectly the billions of students who are taught by these teachers, is bigger than we thought. A few revolutionaries have realised its depth, which has now given rise to e-learning startups for teachers focussed on getting them closer to their desired skill set.

The positive impact of e-learning startups

We no longer live in an era when a teacher taught the same subject to all students in their class. Rather, now is the time for them to embrace diversity and understand the individual needs and demands of every student.

That goes a long way towards maximising the learning outcomes of the lessons taught - what every school wants. Thus, upskilling themselves is key for teachers who want to land high-paying jobs and grow in their careers.

As traditional teacher training courses are now becoming ineffective in fulfilling this need, e-learning startups have designed innovative programmes and modes of delivery to help teachers upskill modern-age students. Let's dive deep into how they are doing this:

1. Convenient learning models:

E-learning startups have made it extremely convenient for teachers to enroll and learn with them. With all of it happening online at the clicks of a few buttons, teachers don't have to worry about the logistics and can focus on the core of learning.

2. Imparting digital literacy:

Teachers need to adapt to the needs of a digital teaching and learning environment. E-learning companies understand the technology and are training teachers to be hands-on with the use of latest technologies such as virtual reality, mixed reality, video, audio, and images. It prepares teachers to be adept at content design, delivery, and assessments rather than just being content consumers.

3. Access to international trainers:

One of the most exciting things about e-learning is that it can enable you to learn from the finest trainers around the world while you are sitting within the comfort of your home. Teachers are getting mentored and guided by top trainers from across the world to prepare themselves for school requirements.

4. Offering curated courses:

By offering courses that instil core fundamentals in teachers to help them evolve with the changing times, some of these startups are imparting AI and virtual reality-based training so that the teachers know how to create engaging classroom learning experiences for their students.

5. Partnerships with schools:

Schools need skilled teachers and skilled teachers need high-paying jobs. E-learning startups train teachers and then connect them with partner top schools across the world, making it a win-win situation for both.

Summing up

Changing times require you to move with them and do whatever it takes to adapt. With the constantly evolving student needs and the teaching-learning process moving to digital classrooms, the methods of teaching have also been changing so that learning outcomes are met despite all odds.

Upskilling teachers is a multi-dimensional issue as improving their skills requires a deep-rooted understanding of the changes that modern-day learning is bringing in. With just a few e-learning startups for them, teachers have already started seeing the impact of mentorship and upskilling in their careers.

It's exciting to see how a profession, which was seeing huge exit rates despite being so important, is now getting stronger than ever. Just the beginning, long way to go!

- Article by Rishabh Khanna, Cognitive Scientist and Founder of Suraasa.

Read: How assessment techniques make online learning effective and engaging

Read: 5 preschools in India focusing on unique learning methods