MAKING IT EASIER TO BE A BETTER TEACHER

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Here’s our weekly roundup of interesting education stories from around the world. Click each link to learn more:

• AI won’t take our jobs anytime soon - as long as teachers can do THIS.

• Math test coming up? Just replace it with a game - at least that’s what these researchers are suggesting.

• This Classroom Assistants is demanding more respect - why many feel undervalued in the workplace.

TECH TALK

My students, their parents, and subs are asking the same tech questions over and over…

“How do I log into Google Classroom again?”
“Where do I find my grades?”
“Can you help me upload the assignment?”

Teachers spend so much time answering the same tech questions, and while we want to be helpful, answering the same thing every day can eat into precious class time. 

This is especially true when managing multiple platforms, portals, or digital tools.

And what happens when a substitute teacher fills in? Without clear instructions for accessing systems or running tech-based lessons, they can be left scrambling and not want to return.

The Solution: Scribe

Scribe is a powerful app that automatically creates step-by-step guides as you perform tasks on your computer. Think of it as your personal...well…scribe!

Here’s how it works:

• While performing a task (e.g., logging into a gradebook or navigating a learning portal), you launch Scribe.

• The app captures each click and keystroke, takes screenshots, and turns your actions into a polished, shareable guide.

• You can customize these guides with annotations, titles, and additional notes to make them even clearer.

The end result? A professional-looking walkthrough that can be shared as a link, PDF, or embedded directly into your learning management system (LMS) or supply teacher plans.

How About YOUR Classroom?

Scribe is more than just a time-saver—it’s a way to empower students, parents, and even substitute teachers with the tools they need to succeed without relying on you for every step.

Strategies:

• Build a “How-To” Library for Students and Parents:
  Use Scribe to create a collection of guides for the most common tech tasks. Share this library on your LMS, so students and parents have 24/7 access to answers.

• Prepare Substitutes for Success:
  Create guides for subs, covering how to take attendance, access lesson plans, or launch tech-based activities. When you’re out, they’ll feel confident, and you can rest easy knowing your class won’t miss a beat.

• Introduce Independence:
  Empower students by teaching them to follow Scribe guides for tech-related tasks instead of asking for help, saving you time and fostering self-reliance and accountability.

Scribe offers free and paid versions, but the free tier should be enough for most. For those who want advanced features the Pro version starts at $12 USD/month.

Whether you’re overwhelmed by unending tech questions or worried about leaving your class in the hands of a sub, Scribe could be the tool you need to save time, reduce stress, and keep your classroom running smoothly.

BRAINY BITS

How confident were you at the start of your career?

Not every area handles teacher-education the same.

This week’s study, published in 2024, dives into the connection between teacher training programs and self-efficacy - are teacher training programs building confident teachers?

The Study: Enhancing Teacher Self-Efficacy: The Power of Effective Training Programs

Researchers explored how training impacts teachers' confidence in instructional strategies, classroom management, and student engagement - basically the top 3 class skills needed. 

Surveys were given to 144 English subject teachers that assessed their program’s training effectiveness and self-efficacy. These surveys were self-completed to encourage honest responses.

The responses revealed that while training programs moderately improved classroom skills, they often lacked practicality, leaving teachers underprepared for real-world challenges.

The Results:

According to this study, teachers with effective training showed higher self-efficacy in engaging students and applying strategies, but classroom management confidence lagged the most. 

Put simply - new teachers did okay when they had days that required little classroom management (oh, what a magical idea).

Teachers rated their training’s cognitive and practical effectiveness at just over half (53%).

With only half of teachers stating they were adequately prepared for their first classrooms, researchers concluded by stating a need for ministry reform.

In Your Classroom:

So, what can teachers take from this? Self-efficacy isn’t just about talent—it’s about preparation. 

Schools can better support teachers by advocating for practical, hands-on training programs and professional development.

Strategies

• Be Proactive: Seek feedback-driven PD opportunities tailored to real classroom needs.

• Collaborate: Share insights and strategies with colleagues to build a supportive learning network.

• Focus on Strengths: Leverage areas of high self-efficacy to inspire confidence in weaker areas.

This study reminds us: effective training is the foundation of teacher success, and improving it is key to unlocking student potential.

REFERENCES

Tech Talk:

Scribe. (2025). Make software make sense. Retrieved from https://scribehow.com/

Brainy Bits:

Almajnuni, K. M., & Alwerthan, T. A. (2024). Enhancing teacher self-efficacy: The power of effective training programs. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 8(3), 34-47. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPR.202427265