The rapid development of technology allows teachers to teach not only in the traditional classroom but also in the virtual world. Since the concepts of digitalisation appeared, it seems to be involved in every aspect of life, especially in education. As quoted in UNESCO, digital technologies allow to connect people and things around the world, along with addressing help for personal and global challenges. UNESCO also described that digital innovation has the potential to enrich education and accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). It also transforms the concept of provision into one of universal access to education. In addition, it improves the quality, strengthens the inclusiveness of learning, and improves the management and governance of education. In the time of crisis, such as the past Covid-19 pandemic, it saves the academic loss due to school closures through the use of distance learning.
In terms of integrating information and communication technologies (ICT) into the teaching and learning process, the role of teachers in planning and using ICT to improve and transform learning is required. The educational system needs to be regularly updated and teachers need to be prepared to develop their digital skills so that they can use technology for education.
UNESCO provides a set of competencies called the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers (ICT-CFT) to help countries develop comprehensive national policies and standards for teacher ICT competencies and integrate them into education plans. There are six focus areas that include the role of technology, such as
- Understanding ICT in education
- Curriculum and assessment
- Pedagogy
- Application of digital skills
- Organization and management
- Teachers and professional learning
Currently there are so many available platform that can be a means for teachers to be a digital teacher. Some platform offer salary for teacher who teach online in their application. Some of the platform below is the application that offers salary for online teaching including:
- Udemy
- Chegg
- Skooli
- Ruangguru
- Hilokal
Of course, being a digital teacher also requires a qualification so that we can teach properly and earn money. So what qualifications do you need to be a digital teacher?
According to Teachmint.com, there are 8 essential qualities of a good online teacher.
- State certification and curriculum expertise
This is actually a requirement not only for online teachers, but also for offline teachers. Certification shows that the teacher is qualified to teach. It can reassure people that they can trust you to teach them. You need to have the certification, at least the bachelor’s degree in the field of education.
- Technical skills
The teacher must have digital skills, such as using computers and even the latest online tools. They must also be able to use some application in designing the learning media and materials. In short, the teacher should be tech-savvy.
- Creativity
Teachers need to think out of the box and be creative to design attractive media. The learning media should be interesting so that students do not get bored while learning virtually.
- Good communication skills
Communication skills are a key point to build trust. Teacher should be friendly and have good communication skills to make students feel comfortable during the class.
- Supportive
The teacher should create a positive experience even from a distance. If students can feel the support from the teacher, they can feel encouraged to try the new things.
- Passionate
A passionate teacher is a must so that the students can be motivated in every session and interaction of learning. The passion of the teacher can be shown by being updated on the teaching media or showing interest in every learning.
- Time Management
The teacher should set a regular plan and follow it throughout the week. When evaluation time comes, the teacher should give detailed feedback on each assignment so that students can reflect on themselves.