Introduction
The landscape of teaching has undergone significant transformation, especially in recent years, due to shifts in social, technological, pedagogical, and cultural aspects that influence how we learn.
Expert Insight from Paulina Campos, Vice President of Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Campus Ciudad de México
In an interview with El Economista, Paulina Campos highlighted the necessity for educators to develop new skills and update their knowledge to effectively impact students in today’s diverse learning environments.
Key Skill Areas for Modern Educators
Campos emphasized that teachers must continuously develop and update their skills in three crucial areas:
- Disciplinary Competencies
- Emotional Well-being
- Technology Proficiency
Disciplinary Competencies
Disciplinary competencies encompass the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for effective functioning within each academic field. These competencies can be basic or advanced and help students thrive in various contexts throughout their lives.
Campos stressed the importance of teachers staying current in their disciplines and developing transversal competencies to enhance teaching effectiveness across all academic areas and make learning relevant to daily life.
- Critical thinking: Essential for analyzing and solving complex problems.
- Oral and written communication: Vital for conveying ideas clearly and persuasively.
- Values, ethics, integrity: Crucial for fostering a strong moral compass in students.
Moreover, she emphasized that educators should encourage students to develop not only discipline-specific competencies but also the ability to tackle complex problems and adapt to new situations.
Emotional Well-being
Establishing stronger connections with students and fostering a positive, supportive learning environment presents another challenge for educators.
Campos explained that emotional well-being is a priority for Tecnológico de Monterrey, and teachers must cultivate this competency to understand students within their personal contexts for quality education.
Teachers should focus on nurturing students’ emotional well-being rather than solely concentrating on academic outcomes.
Technology Proficiency
Advancements in technology have introduced new knowledge and challenges for educators, including the use of artificial intelligence, chatbots like Chat GPT, automation, and digital platforms.
Tecnológico de Monterrey has already trained over 4,100 teachers in basic to advanced AI usage and is collaborating with Microsoft to create programs that further equip educators with these new technologies.
Teachers must use technology ethically and responsibly while complementing their teaching with innovative tools, ensuring that digital technology enhances—rather than replaces—face-to-face interactions.
Prioritize learning outcomes over technological tools, and let technology simplify administrative tasks so educators can concentrate on what truly matters: teaching.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are disciplinary competencies? Disciplinary competencies encompass the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for effective functioning within each academic field. They can be basic or advanced and help students thrive in various contexts throughout their lives.
- Why is emotional well-being important for educators? Emotional well-being enables teachers to understand students within their personal contexts, fostering a positive and supportive learning environment.
- How can teachers effectively incorporate technology in their teaching? Teachers should use technology ethically and responsibly, complementing traditional teaching methods while ensuring that digital tools simplify administrative tasks and enhance—rather than replace—face-to-face interactions.
