Training and employability Carlos stops in a face-to-face class
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2024 7:10 am
he has explored new teaching methodologies, applying innovative techniques to capture the student's attention and maintain it throughout the course . He teaches all of this to new teachers, focusing on ICT (Information Technology) and TAC (Knowledge and Learning Technologies).
Carlos believes in continuous learning and training as a way to improve the employability of workers, as well as a formula to deal with the structural changes that we constantly face in all sectors. For this reason, he also helps to implement e-learning solutions effectively in many companies.
The importance of digitalization in teaching
Carlos Parada, digital teacher
Do you think the outbreak of the pandemic has boosted online training? How?
Without a doubt, companies have made technological leaps. What they previously planned (or not) in the long or medium term, they have had to do in an accelerated manner and in a very short space of time. Companies and professionals who had specialized in this field have had a great competitive advantage and their business model has grown exponentially since the pandemic.
It is curious that the distance learning model was already included in the regulations related to continuous and occupational training before the pandemic, but it was difficult to implement for several reasons: technological ignorance, methodological ignorance and complex administrative requirements. The pandemic modified and opened the regulations to different online training models : distance learning, virtual and hybrid classrooms, which facilitated its implementation since - in most cases - it was the only way for some training centres and training actions to survive.
What will future training look like? Do you think the latest technologies or advances such as the development of the metaverse will have an impact?
I think the key is in the methodologies and teaching strategies. Technologies are still the means, but not the end . We can have a complete and attractive virtual classroom, highly developed content and attractive complementary resources, but if the teacher does not have a strategy that involves the students and in which they are involved, the training will be flat, uninteresting and without impact on the professional fields of the participants.
Regarding the Metaverse, the concept is not new. In 2011 I took a course on the possibilities of games and virtual worlds, supported at that time by Second Life. The medium did not generate the interest that the metaverse is now generating. The metaverse is nothing more than a concept that brings together technologies that are already developed and others in development but that did not have an easy path, for example, virtual reality and augmented reality. There is great interest in the metaverse moving forward. We will see if it is easily applied in everyday life or if everything remains in specific experiences.
How can ICTs change the educational system as we know it?
Firstly, by eliminating physical boundaries, the different training modalities allow us to combine face-to-face training with distance learning or virtual classroom training, adapting to the different training needs according to the needs of the person and the sector.
Secondly, it will be the people who adopt ICTs who will bring about change, in some cases by their own initiative and conviction and in others forced by circumstances. Later we will talk about the metaverse; on its own it will not change anything, it will be the people who see a real and effective application of the technologies that revolve around the concept who will bring about change.
New teachers and digital skills
Carlos Parada explains concepts on an interactive whiteboard
In your experience as a consultant and teacher, what skills or abilities does a person who wants to dedicate himself to teaching need to have?
I have given many hours of training to teachers and future teachers and what I miss most is the vocation or interest in the profession they are going to develop . It is important to understand what teaching is like, what it implies (as a self-employed or labor person), the obligations, responsibilities and implications that it entails. In addition to this, they must be competent in ICT and have the desire to learn new tools that we can incorporate into our teaching strategies. Lifelong learning is a maxim that must be present in our daily work.
There are many people who approach the teaching field as an alternative or professional outlet to see what happens - all very laudable reasons - but anyone can tell when a teacher explains in a committed way and makes their students enjoy the session. Understanding what flow is and putting it into practice is essential to being a teacher.
How can teachers take advantage of the tools offered by ICT?
ICTs have a place in all areas and phases of the teaching-learning process; they can help us with planning (e.g. through Trello), with curating resources to send to our students (e.g. Padlet, diigo) and with creating stories or presenting content (e.g. Genially). If the modality is distance learning or virtual classroom, the platform reports offer us usage patterns of our students and we can decide when to focus our attention or if it is necessary to provide new resources or establish new strategies.
Is there any kind of network for exchanging resources or digital tools between teachers and professors? If not, would it be beneficial to have one?
There are initiatives in different social spaces, but not a specific network ; everything depends on the people you are connected to in the spaces you participate in. For example, it is very good to create lists with profiles of interest on Twitter that free us from the noise of the space; on Telegram there are channels set up by companies or people who are ambassadors of ICT tools with whom you can exchange resources and ask about the tools. LinkedIn is also a space that I personally find satisfying because, in addition to resources, news from the training sector and also some interesting jobs are published.
In any case, let's not forget that the important thing is the kuwait phone number connections with people, regardless of the space in which we participate. Lately I have been focusing my attention on TikTok, which seems to me to be an interesting space with interesting communication possibilities within the teaching field.
How do you rate ongoing training for employees? Do you think it is something that can be offered in all sectors?
It seems incredible that there are still companies and workers who do not employ or make use of training for employed people, in some cases losing the subsidized fees. It is not that it should be offered, it is available in all professional sectors, what happens is that many people do not know about it and others are not motivated by the training offered. In any case, each one of us is responsible for our professional development .
Do you think companies take advantage of all the training resources at their disposal?
No, it is true that there are sectors that, due to their schedules or activity, find it difficult to accommodate ongoing training after their working day and it is necessary to articulate formulas that enable the training of all workers, and that role corresponds to the Administration, employers and social agents.
We can talk about many cases, but I think we can group them all under the premise that, in general, we do not have an established learning culture , except when there is a problem that endangers our job stability. I no longer think that not knowing about training initiatives is an excuse for not training.
How has job searching evolved in recent years? How much influence have ICTs had?
ICT has revolutionised many sectors and professional fields, job searching has been one of them, and the LOPD and the RGPD have also pushed recruitment companies, in particular, to move or focus the entire process towards ICT, since these help to comply with the rules. On the other hand, ICT has led to the appearance of new jobs and to the fact that job offers reach more people thanks to rapid dissemination, through different channels and crossing borders.
Among the many possibilities that ICT offers us - in relation to job searching - there is one that is key
Carlos believes in continuous learning and training as a way to improve the employability of workers, as well as a formula to deal with the structural changes that we constantly face in all sectors. For this reason, he also helps to implement e-learning solutions effectively in many companies.
The importance of digitalization in teaching
Carlos Parada, digital teacher
Do you think the outbreak of the pandemic has boosted online training? How?
Without a doubt, companies have made technological leaps. What they previously planned (or not) in the long or medium term, they have had to do in an accelerated manner and in a very short space of time. Companies and professionals who had specialized in this field have had a great competitive advantage and their business model has grown exponentially since the pandemic.
It is curious that the distance learning model was already included in the regulations related to continuous and occupational training before the pandemic, but it was difficult to implement for several reasons: technological ignorance, methodological ignorance and complex administrative requirements. The pandemic modified and opened the regulations to different online training models : distance learning, virtual and hybrid classrooms, which facilitated its implementation since - in most cases - it was the only way for some training centres and training actions to survive.
What will future training look like? Do you think the latest technologies or advances such as the development of the metaverse will have an impact?
I think the key is in the methodologies and teaching strategies. Technologies are still the means, but not the end . We can have a complete and attractive virtual classroom, highly developed content and attractive complementary resources, but if the teacher does not have a strategy that involves the students and in which they are involved, the training will be flat, uninteresting and without impact on the professional fields of the participants.
Regarding the Metaverse, the concept is not new. In 2011 I took a course on the possibilities of games and virtual worlds, supported at that time by Second Life. The medium did not generate the interest that the metaverse is now generating. The metaverse is nothing more than a concept that brings together technologies that are already developed and others in development but that did not have an easy path, for example, virtual reality and augmented reality. There is great interest in the metaverse moving forward. We will see if it is easily applied in everyday life or if everything remains in specific experiences.
How can ICTs change the educational system as we know it?
Firstly, by eliminating physical boundaries, the different training modalities allow us to combine face-to-face training with distance learning or virtual classroom training, adapting to the different training needs according to the needs of the person and the sector.
Secondly, it will be the people who adopt ICTs who will bring about change, in some cases by their own initiative and conviction and in others forced by circumstances. Later we will talk about the metaverse; on its own it will not change anything, it will be the people who see a real and effective application of the technologies that revolve around the concept who will bring about change.
New teachers and digital skills
Carlos Parada explains concepts on an interactive whiteboard
In your experience as a consultant and teacher, what skills or abilities does a person who wants to dedicate himself to teaching need to have?
I have given many hours of training to teachers and future teachers and what I miss most is the vocation or interest in the profession they are going to develop . It is important to understand what teaching is like, what it implies (as a self-employed or labor person), the obligations, responsibilities and implications that it entails. In addition to this, they must be competent in ICT and have the desire to learn new tools that we can incorporate into our teaching strategies. Lifelong learning is a maxim that must be present in our daily work.
There are many people who approach the teaching field as an alternative or professional outlet to see what happens - all very laudable reasons - but anyone can tell when a teacher explains in a committed way and makes their students enjoy the session. Understanding what flow is and putting it into practice is essential to being a teacher.
How can teachers take advantage of the tools offered by ICT?
ICTs have a place in all areas and phases of the teaching-learning process; they can help us with planning (e.g. through Trello), with curating resources to send to our students (e.g. Padlet, diigo) and with creating stories or presenting content (e.g. Genially). If the modality is distance learning or virtual classroom, the platform reports offer us usage patterns of our students and we can decide when to focus our attention or if it is necessary to provide new resources or establish new strategies.
Is there any kind of network for exchanging resources or digital tools between teachers and professors? If not, would it be beneficial to have one?
There are initiatives in different social spaces, but not a specific network ; everything depends on the people you are connected to in the spaces you participate in. For example, it is very good to create lists with profiles of interest on Twitter that free us from the noise of the space; on Telegram there are channels set up by companies or people who are ambassadors of ICT tools with whom you can exchange resources and ask about the tools. LinkedIn is also a space that I personally find satisfying because, in addition to resources, news from the training sector and also some interesting jobs are published.
In any case, let's not forget that the important thing is the kuwait phone number connections with people, regardless of the space in which we participate. Lately I have been focusing my attention on TikTok, which seems to me to be an interesting space with interesting communication possibilities within the teaching field.
How do you rate ongoing training for employees? Do you think it is something that can be offered in all sectors?
It seems incredible that there are still companies and workers who do not employ or make use of training for employed people, in some cases losing the subsidized fees. It is not that it should be offered, it is available in all professional sectors, what happens is that many people do not know about it and others are not motivated by the training offered. In any case, each one of us is responsible for our professional development .
Do you think companies take advantage of all the training resources at their disposal?
No, it is true that there are sectors that, due to their schedules or activity, find it difficult to accommodate ongoing training after their working day and it is necessary to articulate formulas that enable the training of all workers, and that role corresponds to the Administration, employers and social agents.
We can talk about many cases, but I think we can group them all under the premise that, in general, we do not have an established learning culture , except when there is a problem that endangers our job stability. I no longer think that not knowing about training initiatives is an excuse for not training.
How has job searching evolved in recent years? How much influence have ICTs had?
ICT has revolutionised many sectors and professional fields, job searching has been one of them, and the LOPD and the RGPD have also pushed recruitment companies, in particular, to move or focus the entire process towards ICT, since these help to comply with the rules. On the other hand, ICT has led to the appearance of new jobs and to the fact that job offers reach more people thanks to rapid dissemination, through different channels and crossing borders.
Among the many possibilities that ICT offers us - in relation to job searching - there is one that is key