KARACHI: As the second part of its 36th anniversary celebrations, the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT) organised a panel discussion on the ‘Role of experience in teachers’ professional development’, which was moderated by SPELT’s honorary executive director Prof Zakia Sarwar and streamed live on Zoom and Facebook here on Friday.

Sharing a bit about his experience, director of Teachers Development Centre Abbas Husain said that he brings the experience of whatever he is doing to his classroom. “My experiences outside the classroom and my classroom experience morph. And that’s how our own teaching shapes us from year to year,” he said.

Teacher trainer and author from the UK Alan Maley said that teachers first need to be independent teachers. “Our attitudes, feelings, relationships all matter when teaching, and teachers’ training is based on inculcating our knowledge and skills. It’s like an algorithm. We do something, observe what we have done and act on our thinking,” he said.

Dean of Ziauddin University Dr Fauzia Shamim said it is always liberating to be part of a teacher’s association. “As I got opportunities to learn, I learned. Actually, an association does not do anything for you. You should have the capacity to look around and see how you can improve yourself. Groom yourself, go as far as your motivation takes you. And that is how from the teachers’ agency, you move to the professional agency. Synergies, learning partnerships grow us,” she said.

Professor emeritus USA/Japan John Fanselow said the classroom, teacher, student and the environment all contribute to a good learning experience. He also said that small changes can lead to big results and for the teacher to know exactly what he or she wants the students to learn is important.

Chairperson of the Humanities Department, NED University, Dr Sajida Zaki said that routines in teaching need to be broken because routines can never guarantee credentials. “Creativity can break routine behaviours. You also need to update disciplinary knowledge, technological knowledge and experiential knowledge and elevate oneself by reflecting on what you have learned,” she said.

English as a Foreign Language teacher trainer from Brazil Malu Sciamarelli said that reflecting on their experiences helps teachers grow. “Our beliefs, our values also matter and add value to the learning of each of our students,” she said.

Answering a question about what teachers can do to help parents who want to assist their children’s learning during the Covid-19 pandemic school closure, Mr Maley suggested that they read to them. “They can also encourage them to pen their feelings of loneliness and missing their friends during the lockdown,” he said.

Abbas Husain then said that there are schools here whose teachers keep providing ideas to the parents about how to keep their children occupied. “The teachers also provide them ideas about keeping them fit through yoga, what to feed them, etc. When parents realise that the teachers take them seriously, that is a good thing,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2020