Dr. Kimberly Creamer, Associate Professor in the Catawba College Department of Education, was recently interviewed for the article, “Job Market Trends for Recent Grads,” published by “Zippia, The Career Expert,” an online career placement site.
Dr. Creamer was among 20 college and university professors and experts in their fields who contributed to the article. She was asked to comment on the current skills needed in the job market for special educators and to comment on the impact of COVID.
Below is copy of her interview:
Q. What experience really stands out on resumes?
Vast internship experience - for example, our juniors have a year-long internship before they then student teach during their senior year.
Q. How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?
Augmentative technology has long impacted the field; however, now, all eyes are on technology's education role. Future teachers will need to balance using technology in purposeful, meaningful ways by developing students' social skills, collaboration skills, and critical thinking skills. While technology can be used to enhance these areas, it can also be detrimental to these areas when not used appropriately and purposefully in instruction.
Q. Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
With any significant event comes change and impact. It remains to be seen which "pieces" will impact future teachers in the field. For example, will this period result in more virtual learning, or will people react with a cry for "getting back to the classroom" and a need for socialization in the classroom (which can significantly impact our unique education population)? Another example will be health/safety measures and protocols. Special educators have long been held to a higher standard in this area in some ways -COVID now requires everyone to adhere to such standards.
I hope that, overall, the enduring impact of COVID on graduates, future teachers, and the field of education, in general, will be a renewed appreciation for educators, as many have had to take on the role of educator in their home for their children. The pandemic presents an opportunity to highlight the impact teachers and schooling has on our children's lives - missing it (or having to do it solely virtually) has brought that to light, I believe.
