The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda Education Correspondent
This writer attended the History Teachers Association of Zimbabwe’s launch in Nyanga recently and came out wiser but what is exciting is what one presenter said about the Twenty First Century teacher and how teachers shape the world in a big way.
It makes one stop and think how many times teachers take themselves for granted yet their profound presence in the world makes it go round.
Advocate Arthur Marara delivered a powerful motivational talk that made every delegate smile and nod the head positively. What all other presenters said after him seem to gel with the lawyer’s observations.
We are in the ICT world where the so-called BBC (Born Before Computers) seem to be left behind while the world continues on its journey. However, quite a number of teachers ignore Information and Communication Technology in their methodologies.
‘’Inspire your pupils. Never give up on your student.
“Stagnancy is costly; teachers must be alert to development and global changes. I am perturbed when I see teachers watching channels which are unedifying and shun news channels,’’ thundered Advocate Arthur Marara.
Modern teachers make their learners learn.
They act as the facilitators of learning. They use electronic gadgets to guide the research made by their students.
‘’Having a WIFI at your school is not a passport to download pornographic material; it must be used as a teaching tool. Google earth helps innovative teachers to teach almost any subject under the sun.
“Therefore, we expect History teachers to plan their work and make thorough researches for the student to immensely benefit,’’ said Mr Nyikadzino Makichi, the Head in Charge for History in Manicaland.
Gone are the days when a teacher would love to be the be-all-and-end-all person in matters related to teaching and learning.
Collaboration is the buzz word. You may be two History teachers at a school and both of you have strengths and weaknesses.
‘’Some teachers are very comfortable with African History but fall short in International Affairs. Thus, in the History department, you may help each other to make the subject a living one,’’ said veteran History teacher, Mr Needmore Maposa.
All other subject teachers can take a leaf out of that. Ultimately, it is the student who benefits the most.
Note writing by students used to be a bore for many students; the modern teacher uses white boards and a projector and the learners cotton on to what the pedagogue wants.
‘’Documentaries enliven the subject.
“Do you know that some History students don’t know what a guillotine in the French Revolution looks like?
“That demands the modern teacher to be creative in his methodologies,’’ Mrs Musengezi Mashango, a presenter from the Curriculum Development Unit said.
It is incumbent upon teachers to be inspirational. Take a minute or two in every lesson, to inspire the learner for him to soar in his/her wild imagination. That’s the role of the 21st century teacher.
