Abstract:

As children and teachers prepare to go back to the face-to-face classroom, it is important to acknowledge that much work needs to be done to determine what should be taught in each subject and grade level to compensate what was lost this past year.

Children are asking, ‘When can I go to school?” With the global pandemic, this has become a world-wide concern as learning is online. It is in truth difficult for many young children and older children, without familial support to learn online.

The classroom affords the opportunity to laugh, to smile, to listen, to think, to play – to be with our friends and to be guided by our teachers. The reciprocal effect of interaction with one another leads to joy, character development, life-long friendships. For some it is a solace from a troubled home environment, for others it is a safe place to have warm meals and care given by those who are of importance – the teachers and the staff.

For teachers who are teaching online, remote learning has not been an easy mode of instruction. as frequently they cannot see the students and their reaction to the introduction of new concepts and skills. Determining if the students really understand the lesson is almost impossible with on-line testing. Students like movement, sound, noise and discussion. Just as the teacher needs the feedback given by facial expression, so do the young protégés.

For many kids, the isolation has caused greater issues than just the loss of time learning as there have been students investigating and threatening suicide. Schooling/education is more than just learning. The central role that education plays in the economies of the world is undisputed.

It is important as we return to vibrant learning community for teachers to have the opportunity to collaborate. To meet, talk, plan their teaching objectives and assessments. Assessments should be targeted for learning the determining the lack there of for re-teaching.

Focusing upon concept-based lessons that include attention, relevance, application and transfer of learning to other concepts will permit the students to engage with the knowledge.

While this targeted minds-on, hands-on teaching for learning is being transferred to the student, the teacher will need support and assistance. Professional development with curriculum alignment is a key to the framework for re-inventing education as we are all teachers and learners. Reflection will guide practice and disciplined dialogue with collaboration will promote higher levels of growth and knowledge for those who are teaching and those who are learning.

Today, Internationally, the world is thinking about how to catch up with teaching and learning? While this provides a tremendous challenge, it also provides an opportunity to look closely at what is an effective teacher, what is the role of quality professional development, what is the function of schooling?

This presentation will focus on a new model of teaching for learning. The question "what is effective teaching and learning?” will be defined and discussed. Survey of responses of undergraduate and graduate teacher education students at the University of Houston-Victoria who were quarried on ‘what is learning’ will be shared.

Keywords:

Teaching and learning, on-line.