As society has adapted to increasingly advanced technology, so has the perception of learning. New resources introduce challenges on the structure of education and what the true practice of teaching is.
Teaching methods have changed drastically since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as educators have branched out on resources to improve communication and create a better learning environment for their students.
U.S. History I teacher Bill Clark explains that COVID-19 compelled him to change his teaching methods, becoming more technology-based in assignments.
“If you don’t keep up with the technology of teaching, you’ll lack behind,” Clark said. “So when COVID began, for example, it was freaking awesome! Why would I ever go back?”
Sophomore Sabrina Lunanuova of Middletown commented on how Clark’s specific teaching style through U.S. History I helps her retain more information.
“My opinions on him and his teaching have definitely changed a lot [since Freshman Seminar],” Lunanuova said. “This year, his teaching style in history is more like storytelling which definitely helps me remember more. In a way, his teaching became more personalized.”
Another piece of education that’s constantly changing is the fluidity of learning. With time, teachers have learned about the structure of learning and if strictness truly makes for an effective gain of knowledge.
Freshman Sofie Grodman of Sea Bright believes the teachers she has met this year have been less strict than those at her old school.
“I really like the teachers at CHS,” Grodman said. “They are very understanding if you need help, and most of them teach with passion.”
Furthermore, many teachers take student’s opinions into consideration to improve the structure of their teaching. As a newer addition to the CHS staff, history teacher Courtney Conroy mentions how her students influence the way that she teaches and the assignments she gives.
“I think I am much more fluid as a teacher because I feel as though I am constantly getting new information from my students, like what’s working for them, what’s not working for them, and what their needs are,” Conroy said.
Though their job is teaching, educators are still constantly learning how and what they can do to ensure the best teaching of their students. Conroy is always striving to learn and be the best teacher she can be while changing her methods.
She continued to say, “The chief among them are some really good mentors that have taught me a lot about how we learn, apply knowledge, and how we build our skills.”
As people, humanity will never stop evolving, and hopefully with that, human beings will never stop learning.
