Real-Time Teaching Experience for College Students Majoring in Education We’ve all heard the following quote by Benjamin Franklin, where he wisely stated, “”Tell me and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn.” This has been a cornerstone philosophy for educators, leading to l learning strategies we now call hands-on learning, interactive play, and multi-sensory learning. Students of all ages need experience in the topic they are learning, including college students studying to be teachers.
Experience is the Key
A traditional education program at a four-year university includes two years of general education courses, followed by three semesters of education courses and a semester of student teaching. Speak with any teacher, and they will tell you that student teaching and their first year of teaching are where they learned the most about what it’s like to be a classroom teacher. Curriculum is important, but more real-time teaching experience is needed for future teachers as they prepare to enter the classroom.
Alternative Opportunities
More than ever, there are additional opportunities for future educators to enroll in non-traditional teacher education programs. Alternate routes include adults with a bachelor’s degree who can secure a teaching position teaching their degree emphasis while taking teacher education courses. Some universities offer students the opportunity to earn their teaching degree while working at a public school as a teacher assistant. This allows them two years of teaching experience as they earn income and real-time experience. Many high school vocational programs offer a “Teachers Academy” where high school juniors and seniors can begin their path to becoming teachers and gain knowledge and insight into what a day in the life of a K-12 teacher is really like. This is wise, as many young teachers leave the profession early. By offering insight and experience to aspiring teachers early on, they can gain experience and wisdom and make informed decisions about their future as educators.
Virtual Teaching
Virtual teaching is a growing market that requires different strategies and skillsets than the traditional classroom. As of 2024, there are 3.7 million homeschooled students in the U.S. Many of those programs are virtual or online-based. Online teachers are needed, and this trend is projected to grow. Perhaps education majors should be trained in physical and virtual classrooms as well.
Engage, Learn, Grow
Teaching is a rewarding career that demands specific skills for success, coupled with the individual’s niche or art of teaching. Whether an education major plans to teach in a physical or a virtual classroom, one thing remains constant: the need for more experience. Nothing can fully prepare you for your first day of school as a teacher except for the opportunity to spend more time in the classroom and gain versatile experience. Allowing future teachers to engage with students in the classroom is not just about learning how to teach, but also about discovering ‘their why.’ Why do they want to become teachers? It’s an excellent question for any education major to consider. After all, growth always comes with experience.
Written By: Meredith Biesinger
Professional Writer/ Education Specialist
Meredith Biesinger is a licensed dyslexia therapist in Mississippi, in addition to being an experienced classroom teacher and K-12 administrator. Meredith also works as a consultant, where she bridges the bridge the gap between K-12 school districts and ed-tech organizations. With a passion for literacy, she is also a professional writer and syndicated author. With a M.Ed in Educational Leadership and a B.S. in English Education and Creative Writing, she has had rich and diverse opportunities to teach students and education professionals in different parts of the country as well as overseas.
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