The Joy of Growing Together: A Teacher’s Journey in the Digital Era
By Ms. Shazia Salman
“A heartwarming reflection on almost two decades of teaching, learning, and growing with students in the digital age.”
As I look back on almost two decades at Beaconhouse, my heart fills with gratitude and joy. These years have been a beautiful blend of laughter, learning, and countless memories both inside and outside the classroom. While the world around us has changed, so has the way we teach, but the excitement of watching students learn something new still feels just as special.
When I started to teach, our technology consisted of a chalkboard and maybe an overhead projector, with a few colourful flashcards thrown in. Well, today, my students confidently create digital posters, design Google Slides, and even sometimes teach me new tricks. I still smile when I think of those online classes, where we were figuring things out together-from muted microphones to missing links-learning never stopped.
My own digital journey has been full of surprises. When I joined Beaconhouse, I could hardly type, let alone use digital tools. But a keen desire to learn saw me, over time, patiently and persistently complete my CAIE Diploma i.e. DTDT, Diploma in Teaching with Digital Technologies, which opened a whole new world for me. I started experimenting with new teaching platforms, online projects, and digital storytelling. What once felt challenging soon became exciting.
The biggest cheerleaders at home, my children, have been a source of constant motivation for me. They encouraged me to try new apps, helped me when I got stuck, and celebrated every little success with me along the way. Their faith in me reminded me that it’s never too late to learn something new or to grow alongside the younger generation.
Every day at school brings along moments reminding me why I love this profession so deeply: a student who was once hesitant to read aloud now volunteers; another student who struggled with writing proudly shares a neatly typed digital story. That quiet “Thank you, Ma’am, for believing in me” is enough to make every effort worthwhile.
The real rewards of teaching lie not in the grades or reports but in the growth we notice both in our students and ourselves. Teach with joy: learn together, celebrate progress, and move forward into change with open hearts. The digital era brought challenges, yet it opened doors to creativity, collaboration, and endless learning. And as I continue on this journey, I know this much for sure: the classroom, whether real or virtual, will always be my happy place. Because here, we don’t just teach; we grow, laugh, and learn together day in, day out.