MANAGEMENT OF INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES IN TEACHING AND LEARNING FOR TEACHER EDUCATION IN 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

The progress of a nation to a great extent depends upon the quality of its teachers and for this reason teaching is being considered as the noblest of all professions. The productivity of the teachers (teaching) and the skills acquired by the learners (learning) also determine the quality of a country's education (Gidado, Abudullahi & Adamu, 2015). Management of innovative strategies in teaching and learning for teacher education in the 21st century plays a crucial role in preparing educators to navigate the ever-evolving educational landscape. As we face rapid technological advancements and diverse learner needs, it becomes evident that traditional teaching methods are insufficient for equipping future teachers with the necessary skills and competencies.  Now days, advanced technology has effectively revolutionized human society. An unexpected by product of this revolution has been the emergence of a generation of children weaned on multidimensional, interactive media sources, a generation whose understanding and expectations of the world differ profoundly from that of the generations preceding them. The 21st century and its attending prospects and challenges, inevitably becomes a justifiable yardstick for measuring the relevance and efficiency of teachers‟ roles in the contemporary society. It should not be forgotten that teacher education is a professional education of teachers who are tailored towards attainment of attitudes, skills and knowledge considered desirable so as to make them efficient and effective in their work in accordance with the needs of a society at any point in time (Osuji 2009). This paper discussed the concept of innovation, types of innovation in education, need for innovation in education, innovations in education and strategic teaching and learning, the 21st century teaching and learning, imperatives for 21st century teacher education in Nigeria, challenges of teacher education in Nigeria and expectancy of teacher education in the 21st century in Nigeria.