Course with employment: "The profession of a methodologist from scratch to PRO"
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On August 17, as part of the III All-Russian online conference "Augustovka "Uchi.ru" - 2022", a session "New Roles of the Teacher" was held, where Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Technology and Professional Training of the Institute of Physical Culture and Information Technologies of Moscow State Pedagogical University Marina Vaindorf-Sysoeva discussed the importance of teachers' participation in professional communities. She noted that such communities can be especially beneficial for educators if they form organically, rather than through directives from above. In her presentation, Professor Vaindorf-Sysoeva shared experiences and examples of how professional communities contribute to teacher development and improved educational quality. Participation in such groups facilitates the exchange of knowledge, sharing practices, and receiving support from colleagues, which ultimately impacts the effectiveness of the educational process.
Why Teachers Should Unite
Marina Vaindorf-Sysoeva began her speech with an important topic related to the educational process. While many focus on creating a comfortable learning environment for children, few pay attention to the working conditions of teachers. Comfort for teachers is just as important as for students, and its absence can negatively impact the quality of education. It's important to provide support and create conditions that foster not only children's development but also the professional growth of teachers themselves.
We constantly discuss how to provide the best conditions for children so they feel comfortable, understand, and enjoy their work. However, we rarely consider what needs to be done for teachers so they too feel comfortable in their workplace. This issue always concerns me. It's important to create conditions that will help teachers work effectively in the modern educational environment. We are living in a new reality, and this is a fact that cannot be ignored. We need to deeply analyze how to adapt to these changes and improve working conditions for teachers.
Professional online communities can be an important response to modern challenges, the expert believes, citing the situation that arose during the pandemic. Before 2020, numerous professional communities existed in Russia, mostly focused on highly specialized topics. However, the crisis created an urgent need to unite in online communities, as many people needed help and support transitioning to a new, unfamiliar work format. These communities not only provided an exchange of experience and knowledge, but also became a platform for jointly solving problems faced by professionals in various fields.
Self-organization and teachers' need for peer support play a key role in creating effective communities. According to the expert, these aspects contribute to the formation of sustainable and productive professional associations. Support and interaction between teachers help develop educational practices and improve the quality of teaching.
According to Marina Weindorf-Sysoeva, spontaneously organized communities are the most effective and relevant. Such associations are formed around people and ideas, which creates an opportunity for the exchange of practical experience and knowledge. These communities promote mutual assistance and cooperation, making them important for the personal and professional growth of participants.
The emphasis on voluntary participation is not accidental, as mandatory requirements and directives from leaders can negatively impact the functioning of the community. This occurs because the principles that underpin its existence will not be observed. Only voluntary participation can maintain the activity and interest of community members, which in turn contributes to its successful development and the achievement of common goals.
What Participation in Online Communities Gives Teachers
The speaker outlines the key principles of open professional communities. These principles include accessibility of information, transparency of processes, active involvement of participants, and support for mutual assistance. Open communities facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience, which contributes to the professional growth of their members. Also important is the creation of a safe and inclusive environment that fosters the development of ideas and innovation. Participation in such communities allows you to gain relevant knowledge, establish useful contacts, and develop skills, making them a valuable resource for professionals in various fields.
- Independent development. If a community doesn't develop, then "no one from outside can initiate development," says Marina Vaindorf-Sysoeva. Even if the association is internal to a school, attracting new participants from outside will yield better results—after all, participating teachers will learn about new practices and new experiences. Simply put, they won't be hermetically sealed within the environment of just one school.
- Open expertise (and lack of competition). A community is an open forum; anyone can speak on it, which is why "mandatory" participation is so harmful. Openness and independence offer an important advantage—the absence of competition, says Marina Vaindorf-Sysoeva. When there's no competition, you don't have to worry about appearing stupid or incompetent when asking a question. But teachers have this problem, she believes—that's why they're afraid to ask questions. At school, it can be scary to ask colleagues, thereby showing them that you don’t know something. But in an open community, participants are not so dependent on each other’s opinions.
When you ask for opinions from people who are not connected to your work and on whom you do not depend, it is worth remembering that their approach may differ. In the modern world, not knowing something is no longer scary. We can’t know absolutely everything. Refusing to ask questions can become a serious obstacle to your development and professional growth. Asking questions is an important step to gaining new knowledge and skills that will help you move forward.
- Working proactively. “In an open community, we can work proactively. We can see best practices. We can spy on what others are doing. Today, it is impossible to study everything. "It's very important to see how this correlates with what others are doing, how relevant and useful it is," the speaker believes.
Participation in a community helps update knowledge, select the necessary tools, and overcome uncertainty. An example of this is the situation with the beginning of distance learning in 2020, when internet trolls interfered with online classes, deliberately disrupting the educational process. In such conditions, community support becomes especially important for ensuring effective learning and the exchange of experience.
Russian teachers approached me with the question: "What should we do?" We quickly found a solution and involved a student security officer, who began to assist these teachers. This is a clear example of the power of a community, where everyone can ask a question and feel the support of a trusted comrade ready to help in a difficult situation.
- Networking. Of course, teachers communicate with each other without online communities; they interact, but at a local level. Simply put, they are stewing in their own juice. But in an open community, they are immersed in a different environment—and then changes are noticeable, as new competencies are acquired, the expert believes. This, in turn, influences professional success.
Marina Weindorf-Sysoeva notes that many specialists and teachers participating in open professional online communities have begun to actively advance their careers and receive new offers. Their network of contacts has significantly expanded, and they have realized that opportunities in the world of education can be much broader. This underscores the importance of networking and sharing experiences for professional growth.
Networking opens new horizons, providing access to relevant information and expanding professional prospects. The larger the community and the more frequently new specialists join, the greater the opportunities for all participants. Effective networking promotes the exchange of experiences and ideas, which in turn improves career prospects and fosters the growth of professional competencies. Participation in such communities allows you to find like-minded people and establish valuable connections, which is essential for successful development in any field.
Constant interaction with colleagues from different regions of the country and institutions contributes to an important aspect: socialization in the professional environment. An online community acts as a support system, allowing teachers to feel part of a unified whole. This "air cloud" provides an opportunity not only to find like-minded people but also to receive help in difficult situations. Communication with colleagues promotes the exchange of experience and knowledge, which improves the quality of the educational process and creates the conditions for professional growth.
Reading is an integral part of our lives. It develops thinking, enriches vocabulary, and allows for a deeper understanding of various topics. By immersing ourselves in books, articles, and other materials, we gain new knowledge and expand our horizons. Reading also improves concentration and fosters critical thinking. Don't forget that regular reading helps maintain mental alertness and promotes personal growth. In a world of information, where staying up-to-date is crucial, reading is becoming an essential skill for success. Friendship, Networking, and Manipulation—How We Benefit from Communication The Council of Teacher-Bloggers has been established. The deputy minister called it a "community of obsessed teachers"
