Teacher education programs for upskilling and career advancement

Teacher education programs focus on developing teachers’ skills and competencies. These programs provide the required technical knowledge, motivational skills, and other attributes for teachers to perform effectively in their teaching profession and to make a difference in students’ lives.

Aditya Birla Education Academy (ABEA) is a pioneering institute that offers a wide range of teacher education programs to provide a platform and an opportunity for teachers to upskill themselves and advance in their careers.

To learn more about teacher education programs for upskilling and career advancement and initiatives from ABEA for the capacity building of teachers, we conversed with Dr. Anuradha Sridhar, Head – Curriculum Development and Training, Aditya Birla Education Academy (ABEA).

Below are a few excerpts from our conversation. You can watch the full video on our YouTube channel.

The need for upskilling and continuous learning for teachers in India

Talking about the need for upskilling and continuous learning for teachers in India, Dr. Anuradha Sridhar said, “The pandemic altered our views on teacher education and our belief in upskilling. Teachers themselves are well aware that they still have a long way to go. There were a lot of people who worked similarly to what Aditya Birla Education Academy (ABEA) does. They started and paved the way for teacher upskilling on different topics. We came to realise that there are so many ways in which teachers can upskill themselves.”

Reflecting upon ABEA’s journey so far, Dr. Anuradha Sridhar said, “We began in 2018, and the entire idea behind working with Dr. Neerja Birla and all of us at ABEA was that even when we have progressive schools and hire recruits from the most progressive colleges, there is still a need for teacher hand-holding and upskilling. We believe that we need to observe teachers for about a year and monitor and improve their communication skills, which will include how they communicate with parents and students.

It has been a great upskilling journey and learning curve for all of us because of how rapidly the scenario changed. With the onset of the pandemic, most of us had a chance to learn more and upskill ourselves. With the NEP 2020 in place, there is a need for all of us to think and look back to ask if we are doing the right things. Are our classrooms projecting for the betterment of the future? Teachers must ask these questions to themselves, analyse critically, and move forward.”

Recognising and analysing the gaps in teacher education and upskilling 

“Most organisations and teachers are aware that there are gaps that need to be filled in some way. It is now that the teachers acknowledge and understand how we can plug in those gaps and move forward knowing that there has been a deliberate effort made, whether in government schools or high-end schools,” stated Dr. Anuradha Sridhar.

Teacher education programs offered by ABEA

While discussing how training programs should be modified as per the location and requirements of the schools to understand the gaps, Dr. Anuradha Sridhar said, “ABEA takes pride in its ability to understand the gaps in this area as we have the experience working with a variety of schools, whether they are progressive schools, government schools, CBSE schools, or international schools. We recognise the requirement to be able to suggest workshop topics and content. We, therefore, work with schools and governments to develop teachers’ skills over the course of an entire year through various programs. We conduct a thorough gap analysis to identify the teacher’s gaps using baseline and ongoing assessments. If the upskilling takes around 20 hours, we help the school principals go and observe classrooms to see what changes have taken place.

We mentor the principals to visit the classrooms, observe the teachers, and provide feedback that is more constructive than critical. We’re striving to foster a classroom culture in which teachers are self-reflective about their practices.”

Also read: Women in Manufacturing: Representation Matters! https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/women-in-manufacturing-representation-matters/

Initiatives and projects from ABEA for capacity building of teachers 

1. Project Samarth: ABEA has collaborated to upskill teachers for capacity building with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, and a large chain of schools.

2. Post Graduate Diploma in Global Education: A one-year-long course where people who are IT professionals or anyone from the banking sector who wants to make a switch in their career can take up this program. This program is in partnership with BK Birla College and the University of Mumbai. This program is done in two batches, and the next program will start in 2023.

3. Certificate course for school leaders: Management institutions that offer leadership programs. ABEA offers the school leadership program in two ways: –

• Strategic school leadership: This is meant for principals, trustees, and management.
• Instructional leadership: This is focused more on the academic perspective and offered to an academic coordinator or the Head of the Department.

4. Training program on gifted learning: ABEA has partnered with the Renzulli Centre on gifted learning to deliver enhanced learning experiences and superior learning standards. This is a short-term, two-month program called a School Enrichment Program. ABEA works with teachers to be able to understand and recognise gifted students in classrooms and create teaching programs to deal with gifted learners.

These are some of the innovative ways in which ABEA is upskilling teachers and building their capacities. If you wish to know more about the courses offered by ABEA, you can visit- https://abea.in/