Can a Teacher be a Career Counselor?

The answer to the above question is ‘yes’ they can be a very good career counsellor for the students.

Choosing a profession is not a one day decision. It is simply not an either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The students take a lot of time to arrive at a decision. Though what we read in newspapers or media is an opposite story.

In the recently held NEET EXAMINATIONS, 111 students scored 700 out of 720 marks. It is an all time high number of students. Hence the clashes for the seats has increased. Two new colleges have been added ie AIIMS and JIPMER(Puducherry)

I read about the story of a boy from Uttar Pradesh. He wanted to become a doctor but failed to clear NEET for 5 years. It was his childhood dream. During that time he completed his graduation.  then took another chance by joining a particular institution for coaching. In his sixth attempt he cleared and secured a seat in MBBS.

But the above-mentioned cases are rare.

Students are absolutely confused about their careers. I believe they need continuous counseling sessions to arrive at a proper decision. Choosing a career is a journey it is not a destination.

It is important that we adults understand this process of helping students choose a career. A school counselor would be of great help here.

We are well aware of the existing fad which has been going on for years and years. The fad and excitement surrounding the JEE and NEET examinations.

Every student who scores above 90% wants to appear for these examinations and try their hand at becoming an engineer or a doctor.

Suicides due to the pressure of parents or society is another stigma which is sucking up our systems. So definitely help should pool in from all sections. Everyone must lend a helping hand to assist the students in making a career choice.

Schools have been performing many functions and so a teacher can very well act as a career counselor.

If I talk about it vaguely, then I will mention things like focus on a student strength, identify his skills and highlight them, listen to the students confusions and doubts, etc.

No there are concrete structures which can be used by a teacher to play the role of a career counsellor for his or her students.

A professional career counselor has the expertise and the professional know how related to different streams. They are aware about the trends existing in the labour market. They are also directly connected to Universities and employers.

So how can a teacher level up to a professional career counselor?

Here is how:

Have Career Conversations:

Every teacher has her own professional journey which consists of pitfalls and appreciations. Sharing your journey about how you reached the current point in your professional life will be a beacon for the students.

A teacher can share the confusion and confidence that she experienced at each step of her career.

Having these career conversations will help the students understand that there are many mountains and valleys to be crossed before being employable.

Brainstorming about professions:

There are different careers so brainstorming session would be really beneficial.

 Teacher’s frequently discuss ‘What is your aim in life?:

This is a good question to help the students. 

A better approach would be to discuss what they would have to do to reach their goal. That means the steps required like competitive exams, colleges which offer that course or financial aspects, etc.

So instead of a vague idea the students will have a concrete structure as to what steps they should take to reach a particular destination of a profession that they have chosen to become.

Fit the academic content in the real world:

Link the curriculum to the real world.

While teaching in the classroom the teachers can speak about where that concept fits in the real world.

For example while teaching  writing in the English class the role of publishers and the vastness of the publishing industry can be discussed. Careers in content writing or blogging can be taken up for discussion.

Certain scientific procedures and their implementation in the industry can be discussed.

So while  teaching just an extra plugin can help a lot.

Relieve the stress:

Students are confused and so get stressed easily. The teacher can relieve the stress by talking to them personally and showing them a clear pathway. 

Teachers know the students personally.  It is better for a teacher to understand the problems of students and provide an explanation.  Talking to the parents will also help the student.

Soft Skills:

Apart from the technical knowledge, the students need soft Skills like team building, collaborating, leadership skills, Communication Skills, anger management, etc.

A teacher should discuss the importance of these skills to succeed in the profession. Only a degree doesn’t guarantee success but an overall development does!

So I truly believe that teachers should talk to the students and subtly lead them towards a full filling career choice!

Have you gamified your Lesson plan?

Picture Credit: Reading Rewards

Screens are an important part of our life. they play a significant role in a child's life also.

The children are used to screens and they use it to their advantage.

Whenever you speak about a screen, they are curious, interested and hence they are good learners with the screens.

Before the pandemic the lesson plans were designed to deliver in a classroom.

During the pandemic they have to be redesigned to achieve objectives of a virtual classroom.

Time and again I have pointed out that there is a major difference between digital content and a digital classroom.

Digital content is extremely attractive both in audio and visual manner.

Digital classroom can be managed by stimulating the students in different ways. The software companies are entering Edtech because they have seen the potential of learning by gamifying the concepts.

True gamified content lures the student into learning a concept by sugar coating the educational content in the form of a game.

The student is focused towards the game which is very interesting an in return learns a concept which might seem boring otherwise. 

Hence if teachers gamify the Lesson plan it would really interest the students.

So teachers how do you gamify your Lesson plan?

Attractive conten:  Just like a video game the content of your class should be attractive. It should have an interesting activity, lively examples or small portions of humor.

Award points:  The students should be given points to score as they move through the lesson. Remember in a video game the player keeps scoring points at every step.

Make a point scoring system in your class based on attentiveness, promptness in answering the question, Raising hands to acknowledge what the teacher is saying, etc.

GI FS and Emojis:  For every high point during your lesson give out  a GIF or an emoj. It livens the mood and draws the attention of the students. It’s the content being given out.

Feedback through points:  If you openly give feedback through points based on their performance, the learners compare their performance and try to fill up the gap in the points.

Hence they try to improve their learning skills. At the end of the lesson every student can display the reward points collected during the lesson.

Gamifying a lesson plan will help a teacher in getting an interested lot if students for the class

The Best Tips to Deal with Digital Fatigue!

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What is Digital Fatigue?

When people use many apps at one time, they experience Digital Fatigue.

It also occurs when you work for long time opposite screens.

Eyes are strained and mind is stressed.

Since remote learning has started and will continue for a long time, one cannot avoid digital fatigue.

Fatigue sets in our daily life also when when we do many things at the same time.

If your pace of doing work is very fast, you get tired easily.

The same applies for Virtual or online work.

The speed of the electronic gadgets is fast. Our brain tries to catch up with it and the result is fatigue.

We should not try to adjust the speed of our mind to that of a machine.

Here are a few ways to deal with digital fatigue-

➡️ Slow Down: Do not try to complete work in a short period of time.

As people are working from home, they try to finish their work fast so that they can attend to other chores. Work at a slower pace.

➡️ Plan: Before you hit the internet button and start work, plan your to do list.

Make a list of tasks on a notepad. Writing it down assures that you will remain focussed on your work. There won't be any confusions and so fatigue will be avoided.

➡️ Handy Note Pad: When you are working online, keep a notepad handy. If something pops up in your mind, write it down. 

Don't act upon it immediately. Read it later on and decide it's priority based upon importance.

I keep a notepad handy when I am on Social Media. While scrolling, if I find something useful, I note it down.

Later I reflect whether it is of value and should I react to it or not.

This Technique saves time. There is no unnecessary wastage of time.

➡️ Shut Down: While working, all notifications should be off. Notifications causes distractions and distraction causes fatigue.

Digital Fatigue kills creativity and sets in procrastination.

To avoid Digital Fatigue, complete your work and move away from screens.

3 Ways to help you in Virtual Teaching!

There is a vast difference between teaching in a classroom and teaching online.

When you teach in a classroom, the expression on the faces of the students give you an idea of the level of understanding.

This Wonderful emotional touch is missing in the virtual classes.

It is encouraging to get a good response while teaching.

But in vurtuvi classes, it is difficult to get a reply.

The response of the students is very low.

These factors and a few others build up frustration and dissatisfaction in a virtual classroom.

"When you can't control what is happening, challenge yourself to conteco the way you respond to what is happening!

That's where your power is!"

Below mentioned are three ways to help you stay motivated-

1: Be Enthusiastic:

Don't let anger or disappointment lower your level of energy on the screen.

Keep the smile up.

Happy and cheerful screen presence kills the boredom of the students.

2: Don't wait for the response:

Teachers often ask questions like

'Have you understood?'

'Am I clear?'

'Shall I repeat?'

Speak for long stretches before putting up questions like these.

They have become your habit.

But they are ineffective online because they break connectivity. The students aren't able to respond quickly.

3. Voice Quality:

Ensure that you speak slowly and clearly.

Modulate your voice.

Don't scream. But talk boldly and a bit loudly.

Your voice should not sound crass and at the same time it should convey your ideas clearly.

The above mentioned tips have helped the Teachers while delivering their online lessons!

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How Growth Mindset Will Help During Lock Down!

Picture Credit: 7 Mindsets

“Love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort and keep on learning.”-Carol Dweck

When you are thinking positively the results will automatically be positive. The people who have positive thoughts seem to have a good control over their thinking processes. Hence if they are faced with a problem they try to look for a solution. They do not react with negative emotions like anger, frustration or violence. They are happy, keep putting in efforts and keep thinking about a way to ease out of the given scenario.

Growth Mindset is a term coined for people who love challenges. You can see progress taking place in their lives. They keep climbing up the stairs of life and success.

They do not measure success with financial wealth and prosperity. They measure success with their ability to deal with the given circumstances.

There are two main mindsets we can navigate life with: growth and fixed. Having a growth mindset is essential for success.-Dr Carol Dweck

I know that during the lock down period no one is thinking of success. Everyone is just managing to survive these tough and never seen before conditions that they are faced with. But moving through the daily routine with a growth mindset would really be beneficial for the entire people of the household.

What is a growth mindset?

As Dr Carol Dweck says-

Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset. They tend to achieve more than those with a more fixed mindset (those who believe their talents are innate gifts).

What she wants to emphasise is that one should aim to make himself smarter by learning the necessary skills required rather than putting in mere wasteful efforts in just looking smarter than the rest of the lot.

The initial cover definitely weans off and the real turf will be exposed. Let the real turf be full of strong mettle which can be acquired with a growth mindset.

Leave the –I have-it-all attitude-

Life will move on different terms after the lock down. Certain rules and conditions will certainly change. Hence we all need to be ready to face the life after the lock down period is over. So just by assuming that things will be absolutely normal and life will get back on track is not a very productive gesture.

Introspect and see whether you require to gain certain skills. This is the right time to utilise it. Get enrolled in some certification courses and upgrade your current technical or soft skills if required. There are many webinars happening and people are willing to share their knowledge. Almost every website has a note about what they are offering for free or at discounted rates.

Face Criticism, Challenges and Low performance-

This is happening with most people these days. Just to avoid wasting time, they try to delve into some productive activity. At times they get a good response at other times they are faced with criticism about their work.

Because they have worked but the result is awaited. There is no guarantee of success right now. Everything is on hold. The results are not visible. The future seems bleak. The challenges seem big and unattainable.

Halt! It is alright. Do not worry.

If you have taken up something to do and are working towards it, do not expect the results right now. Have patience. Work can never go unnoticed.

I strongly believe in actions. Right actions will bring in the results. There may be a delay but the fruits will be enjoyed by the person who puts in efforts.

“It is hard to beat a person that never gives up.”-Babe Ruth

Efforts require thinking and planning an implementation. And all these actions act in a sequence. They are a proved scientific approach which is know to give you the results that you have sought of so far.

Keeping a growth mindset will make you face these challenges and much more. Do not give up. Keep putting in the efforts that you wish to.

“I like criticism. It makes me strong.”-Lebron James

If you are feeling the insecurity you have lost the growth mindset-

Overcome the feeling of insecurity that is gripping you. It will not let you work. It will be a hindrance in your growth. Overcome these feelings as soon as you can.

Meditate, pray, write down positive affirmations, read blogs written by motivational speakers, etc.

Use the indicators which your mind is giving you. Follow the instinct. If you are trying to do something, those pangs of insecurity will threaten to choke you until you decide to lower your guard down and finally end up on the couch without the potato chips.

Some indicators which will tell you that you have adopted a growth mindset-

1.  You are happy and cheerful every day.

2.  Anger and resentment has not crept up your sleeve.

3.  You are watching the daily news only once a day to update yourself.

4.  You are reading articles or blogs related to your industry to keep yourself updated.

5.  You are discussing things with people if faced with a problem.

6.  You have revived one of your hobbies and are giving time to it.

7.  You are lending a helping hand to the people who need it.

8.  You are connected to friends and relatives and providing them the mental support required.

9.  Your day is scheduled properly.

10.              You are sleeping only for the limited period of time.

“You are capable of so much more than you can even imagine.”

Mind has limitless thoughts. Growth mindset can help you achieve the unlimited potential that you possess. This positive mindset challenges to keep growing in your life. You will never stagnate or decay with this wonderful mindset that you decide to adopt.

People will survive the challenges thrown by COVID-19 with the help of the powers of their mind, with collaboration and coordination wherever and however possible.

Let us beat this pandemic with super positivity and unlimited growth to give a different dimension to the world when it is ready to reopen.

Kesar Patel is a National Award winner. She is a blogger who details the life of an educator through the colours of her own experience in the field of education. Follow her at kesarpatel1234@gmail.com.

 

How to avoid Complacency during COVID-19

Picture Credit: Order of Man

With COVID-19, everyone is on the go on what to do and how to spend the time. Earlier on time was a constraint. Whenever extra work landed in our laps the first excuse that came out was that there was no time.

Some years ago I had my new year’s goal as adjusting the 25^th hour in my daily routine. Sounds funny, doesn’t it?

But this philosophy somehow gave me the idea that I had that extra hour where I would do something like write or embroider or paint or anything else. I just had that satisfactory feeling that somehow I had that extra hour in a 24 hours schedule and so I have achieved something more.

Now after all these years I have 24 hours where I can do what I like. They are laid out like a nice and tempting buffet with a delicacy that could be eaten every hour and relished. We have an overload of the time. We can choose to work on our hobbies or anything else that we wish to. I had thought I would write continuously and unstoppingly which is one of my goals.

But what happened? COMPLACENCY!

This is a killer when you have time on your hands. It creeps in so slowly you will not realise until days have passed and you did not do anything about it. It will create a cloud over your eyes and not let you see your true worth. It will rain excuses over you and make you sit in a corner with the umbrella of guilt and I-just-cannot-do-anything attitude. It will cripple your mind into thinking that the entire world is relaxing. It will make you eat the idea that this is the long lost vacation that you wanted so you should enjoy it.

Well the choice s entirely yours my friend. I also chose it for the first one week of the Lock down period. My mind came up with excuses that it is alright to sleep for an extra hour, or perfectly fine if you do not exercise or writing needs peace and patience, etc. etc.

But then when I calculated the time of the day and tried to divide it into working hours and other things reality slapped me in my face. I had been less productive than I have ever been in almost a decade.

“You kill Procrastination by taking the first step. There is no Rocket Science in it.”

So I framed a schedule, re-defined my goals, set priorities again and then I finally relaxed.

So here are a few things which educators should follow –

Define a Time Table-

“The price of discipline is always less than the pain of regret.”

One should understand this at the earliest.

It is very important to plan out a day’s schedule on paper. The rules of time management will come in handy here. Plan a schedule hour wise and abide by your plan.

Right from your wake up time to the time you sleep write down the tasks that you wish to perform.

Writing is reinforcement for the brain hence I strongly advise to go in for the written format. If you write it down in your journal or diary, you can make changes, fair it out, stick it somewhere and ensure that you implement.

Many problems get erased with this one solution. You will have a sense of satisfaction and achievement. Everything cannot be gauged on monetary lines. Self satisfaction is highly required. Make it CONTAGIOUS!

Plan out goals for lockdown-

“No great life was ever built on the foundation of excuses. So stop making them”

The normal schedule has the normal goals. Think and rethink until you have some new goals for the lock down period. It will give you the motivation required to pass days and nights.

Your thoughts are your motivation. So utilise them. Plan out new goals like watching a new movie everyday for five days, or you will cook three or four course meals everyday, or reach out to help an elderly person by reading or managing some household work for them, exercising and a healthy diet are all time favourites.

You can choose any goals which are simplistic and achievable without too much of a hussle involved.

Beginning the day with meditation and prayer keeps you a gentle and kind person throughout the day.

Leave your comfort zone-

The comfort zone resides in your mind. Something should be done everyday which you have not done in many years. Moving out of the comfort zone is adventurous. It also boosts adrenalin in your veins hence leaving you mentally happy and satisfied.

Do something Good

Everyone needs goodness right now. You can lend a smile or a helping hand. Everyone needs it. So please think of spreading goodness in every way that you can.

Call and inform people that you are ready to help in any manner possible. Apart from monetary help, people are feeling depressed and are unable to sustain the pandemic only because they are alone.

Call up or video call and provide company, share a joke, read out some good text, cook something delicious for someone who is very happy, etc.

Just make someone or the other see the light at the other end of the tunnel

Stop watching the hourly news-

This ritual has to be stopped. There is a lot of fear and uncertainty spread by the virus and the next thing responsible is the media. So do not watch all the new updates 24 x 7.

Switch it on once a day and gather all the information required. Then spend the day with a feeling of happiness and gratitude that you and everyone is safe.

Catch up on lots of entertainment-

This is one of the times to catch up on the entertainment that you have lost. Watch all the serials or the web series, movies or play online games. One can relax very well with these ways of entertainment.

Final Word-

Just start doing something and everything else will fall into place.  The day is scheduled into hours, a month into days and a year into months so obviously, there is a lot of value attached to a schedule to deliver the necessary output.

Kesar Patel is a National Award winner. She is a blogger who details the life of an educator through the colours of her own experience in the field of education. Follow her at kesarpatel1234@gmail.com.