CHANGING ROLES OF TEACHERS

The greatest change in schools today is not the integration of technology, not the way classrooms are being built, not even the changes in curriculum and assessment, but that the role of the teacher in the classroom is being transformed in ways that we are not fully aware of or ready for. There's an old saying, “children are not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be lit.” Teachers face the challenge of helping to guide students through individualized learning pathways, identifying relevant learning resources, creating collaborative learning opportunities, and providing insight and support both during formal class time and outside of the boundaries of the school. From being the traditional gate-keeper of knowledge to the modern facilitator of knowledge the teacher's role has undergone tremendous change. The teacher today is not confined to the classroom but is the catalyst of change in this ever changing world. To prepare the students for the world of today and tomorrow, the role of the teacher has to meet the needs of current culture. Since the teacher is the single most important factor in student success, it would make sense to focus on this role in today's world and understand how the teacher's role must be redefined to meet the needs and demands of today's world. This paper examines the changing roles and responsibilities of a modern day teacher.