Teacher's Tips – AOneSchools | Learning Center Management System

As a school business owner, you probably must have thought about the need to send your teachers for training. However, most learning center owners keep asking whether it is necessary to offer training to their teachers with company resources.

Well, while it might appear that you are spending your company’s limited resources on your staff, there are benefits associated with having skilled professionals in your institution. Sending your teachers for training will not only retain them but also attract some of the best teachers to your business.

In this article, we shall cover everything you need to know about teacher training in Malaysia and address some common concerns you should note while undertaking this process.

Benefits of Teacher Training

Sending teaching staff for training offers numerous benefits. Below are some of its benefits:

1. Enhancing Teaching Quality and Student Experience

Training programs provide teachers with the opportunity to learn about the latest teaching methodologies and advancements in their subject areas. This will improve teaching quality and offer a more effective learning environment for students. Teachers can gain insights into innovative ways of delivering content, engaging students, and assessing their progress, thus positively affecting your centre’s reputation.

2. Meeting Diverse Student Needs

In today’s educational environment, classrooms are becoming increasingly diverse in terms of student backgrounds, learning styles, and abilities. Training equips teachers with strategies to cater to the diverse needs of their students. This includes techniques for differentiating instruction, accommodating special learning requirements, and promoting inclusivity. A well-trained teaching staff can create an environment where all students feel valued and supported, leading to better learning outcomes and a more positive educational experience for everyone.

3. Boosting Teacher Job Satisfaction & Talent Retention

Providing opportunities for professional development through training demonstrates an investment in the growth and career progression of teaching staff. This, in turn, enhances teacher job satisfaction, as educators feel valued and empowered to improve their skills. When teachers are satisfied with their jobs and feel supported by their employers, they are more likely to remain committed to their roles and the learning centre. This helps in retaining experienced and dedicated staff, reducing turnover rates, and maintaining a stable educational environment.

Apart from these 3 key reasons to train your teaching staff, another good thing about teacher’s training is that it helps prevent burnout by introducing teachers to stress management techniques and strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Addressing Common Concerns

While teacher training is good for the overall growth of a learning centre, there are some concerns you need to address to get the best out of the exercise.

1. Balancing Costs and Returns

One common concern regarding teacher training is the perceived cost and the potential return on investment. Learning centres may worry about the financial implications of sending their teaching staff for training. To address this concern, it’s essential to emphasize the long-term benefits that quality training can bring. Improved teaching quality, enhanced student outcomes, and higher teacher retention rates can outweigh the initial costs.

Exploring cost-effective training options, such as online courses and workshops, partnering with local educational institutions, or utilizing government-funded programs can also help reduce financial concerns while still delivering valuable professional development.

2. Integrating Training Into Busy Schedule

Teachers often have demanding schedules with classroom responsibilities and other duties. Finding time for training can be challenging. To address this, training programs can offer flexible formats, such as online courses or weekend workshops. Providing training during school breaks, after school hours, or even through short, focused workshops can make it more feasible for teachers to participate without significantly disrupting their regular responsibilities.

3. Measuring Training Effectiveness

Concerns may arise about how to measure the effectiveness of teacher training and whether the acquired skills will translate into real improvements in the classroom. To tackle this concern, learning centres can establish clear goals and expectations for training outcomes. Pre- and post-training assessments can help gauge the impact of the training on teacher knowledge and skills. Additionally, soliciting feedback from teachers and students after implementation can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the training and areas for further improvement.

Types Of In-Service Teacher Training Programs In Malaysia

In Malaysia, different in-service teacher training programs are available to enhance the skills and competencies of educators at various stages of their careers. These programs address different aspects of teaching and learning, catering to the diverse needs of teachers and the evolving educational landscape.

1. Postgraduate Teacher Training Programs

Postgraduate programs offer advanced training and specialization for teachers looking to deepen their knowledge and expertise. These programs often lead to master’s or doctoral degrees in education, curriculum development, leadership, or subject-specific fields. They enable teachers to engage in in-depth research, critical analysis, and the development of innovative teaching strategies.

2. In-Service Teacher Training Programs

a) Teacher Induction Program: Designed for novice teachers, induction programs provide a structured introduction to the teaching profession. These programs focus on classroom management techniques, curriculum understanding, school policies, and teaching methodologies. The aim is to equip new teachers with the essential skills to navigate their early teaching experiences successfully.

b) Professional Development Workshops: These workshops cater to experienced teachers seeking continuous improvement. They cover a wide range of topics such as technology integration, assessment strategies, classroom innovation, and student engagement. Professional development workshops encourage a collaborative learning environment where teachers can share best practices and adapt them to their classrooms.

c) Pedagogical Courses: These courses concentrate on refining teaching methodologies and strategies. They include areas like differentiated instruction, active learning, problem-based learning, and student-centered approaches. Pedagogical courses empower teachers to create dynamic and effective learning experiences for their students.

3. Specialized Training Programs

a) Special Education Training: Aimed at teachers working with students with special needs, this training equips educators with the knowledge and skills to provide inclusive education. Teachers learn about individualized education plans (IEPs), assistive technologies, behaviour management, and adapting curriculum content to diverse learning styles.

b) Montessori Training: Montessori training programs focus on the principles and practices of the Montessori education approach. Teachers learn about creating child-centered environments, hands-on learning materials, and fostering independence and self-directed learning in students.

c) Cambridge International Diploma in Teaching and Learning: This program is designed to enhance the expertise of educators in delivering Cambridge International curriculum. It covers curriculum planning, assessment strategies, and effective teaching methods aligned with international educational standards

4. Others

a) Leadership and Management Training: Leadership and management training for teachers focuses on developing the skills necessary to effectively lead and manage classrooms. This training equips teachers with strategies for effective communication, conflict resolution, decision-making, and team collaboration.

b) Online Teacher Training: Online teacher training is designed to help educators adapt their teaching methods to the digital realm. It covers topics such as online pedagogy, technology integration, virtual classroom management, and designing engaging digital content. Teachers learn to effectively use various online tools and platforms to deliver lessons, interact with students, assess learning, and provide timely feedback. This training is particularly relevant in the era of remote and hybrid learning, enabling teachers to excel in virtual teaching environments.

c) Blended Learning Courses: Blended learning courses combine traditional face-to-face instruction with online learning components. Teachers undergoing blended learning courses learn how to design and implement lessons that seamlessly integrate in-person interactions with online resources. This approach promotes personalized learning, as students can access materials and resources at their own pace while still benefiting from valuable in-person interactions with teachers and peers during physical class sessions. This training equips teachers to create dynamic and flexible learning experiences that cater to a diverse range of learning styles.

The diverse range of in-service teacher training programs in Malaysia caters to teachers at various career stages and with different professional goals. These programs contribute to the continuous improvement of teaching practices, promote innovative pedagogies, and ultimately enhance the quality of education in the country.

Conclusion

Investing in your teaching staff has tons of benefits. Apart from improving your teacher’s quality of life and career development, it also helps to improve the overall quality of education your learning centre provides.

In addition to investing in your teaching staff, employing a school management system in your education business can make your business run smoothly and stress-free.

The future of any country rests on the quality of education students receive from various learning centers. The teaching profession is crucial to Malaysian society as it helps groom young people to become whatever they desire.

Unfortunately, most learning centers in Malaysia are struggling to retain their teachers. So far, the rate of teacher turnover in Malaysia has been on the increase as each year passes by. As an education center owner, below are some crucial reasons why you should maintain a good teacher retention rate in your learning center:

There are teacher shortages in Malaysia. Finding replacements would be daunting if you lacked the strategies to retain your teachers.
The cost of recruiting and training new teachers is high. You can redirect such funds to improve class management and other areas.
Studies show that high teacher turnover rates in learning centers negatively affect the performance of students in general.

Therefore, to reduce the rate of teacher turnover in Malaysia, we need to address the root causes of the problem. The key factor in teacher turnover in schools is STRESS. When teachers face a heavy workload, it gradually leads to increased stress, prompting them to seek alternative options for a better replacement. Thankfully, EdTech companies such as AOneSchools have created management software to take some burden off teachers.

5 Key Strategies for Improving Teacher Retention

As the owner of a learning center, if you must maintain or improve teacher retention rates, there are strategies you need to employ. These strategies have been proven to be effective. Implement the five strategies below in your education center, and your teachers will feel fulfilled and satisfied with their jobs.

1. Creating a Positive Work Environment

Studies show that a poor work environment can reduce employees’ morale and commitment. If a teacher is not happy with his or her work environment, the resultant effect would be to look for another workplace with a better work environment.

having excellent facilities in your learning center is a positive aspect, it has been discovered that most teachers prioritize the school culture over facilities. Teachers desire a work environment that respects and trusts them while providing a high level of job security.

Also, giving teachers more freedom in class management activities makes them feel more appreciated and valued. Doing these little things can improve job satisfaction rates and, subsequently, reduce teacher turnover.

2. Providing Professional Development Opportunities

Everyone wants to learn, including teachers! One of the mistakes most education business owners make is believing that teachers are only meant to teach students. To make teachers feel like you have a long-term plan for them, enroll them in some sort of professional development training that will make them better at their jobs. Fortunately, most of these professional development opportunities are not expensive and can be done online.

Apart from development training, another key factor that boosts teacher retention is collaboration. Teachers should collaborate so that no one feels isolated; isolation is a strong reason for a teacher to leave his or her job.

3. Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits

No matter how passionate a teacher feels about his job, he needs to be well compensated. If a teacher feels he is not getting the benefits of his hard work, he may decide to look for better alternatives. Therefore, according to your capacity as an education business owner, you should offer competitive compensation and salaries to your teachers.

Nevertheless, while it is true that competitive compensation can help teacher retention, education business owners shouldn’t go overboard. Owning an education center is a business, and you must strike a balance to remain afloat in your business.

4. Recognizing and Appreciating Teachers’ Efforts

Everyone wants to be appreciated for doing something outstanding. Showing appreciation to your staff means you value their contribution to the growth of your business. At the end of each academic calendar, organize events to recognize and appreciate your teachers.

It shouldn’t cost that much to wrap some gifts for your staff after each session. Teachers are less likely to leave a learning center where their efforts and achievements are appreciated.

Note: If you must do individual recognition, ensure that you do it so that it won’t cause tension among the teachers.

5. Streamlining Administrative Tasks

Technology has made it easy for learning centers to use school management and class management software to simplify their tasks. As an education business owner, you want to employ the right software to improve efficiency and save your staff time.

Tasks such as class schedule and attendance, parent-teacher communication, fee payment, and other messy manual paperwork can all be automated to save your valuable time. Teachers are proud to work in a place where the latest technologies are used to simplify work-related tasks.

Fortunately, education software companies in Malaysia, such as AOneSchools, are ready to implement the right technologies to streamline your administrative tasks.

With the increasing shortage of teachers in Malaysia, schools need to take action to mitigate teacher turnover. Creating a better work environment, providing development training for your teachers, offering competitive compensation, and recognizing teachers’ efforts are the simplest but key ways to improve teacher retention in Malaysia.

Boost Your Teacher Retention Rate with AOneSchool

Finally, implementing effective school management systems can go a long way toward improving teacher retention. Sometimes an excellent teacher becomes demotivated because of the time-consuming tasks that every teacher has to do. However, we can prevent that from happening!
AOneSchool eases teachers’ workload on taking attendance, sending student reports, creating teaching summaries, and sending class reminders to parents. On top of that, the communication between teacher and parents are all transparent and traceable.

Make the job for your teachers a bit easier and let them do what they are best at—teaching. AOneSchools has helped hundreds of learning centers in Malaysia streamline administrative tasks. Implement these strategies in your school business and see the teacher retention rate increase.