Education is the most essential component needed in order to be successful. Having previous knowledge helps people manage even day to day activities and situations.

Although not everyone experiences life in the same way, each and every one of us has some basic previous knowledge that serves as a “survival kit”. This “survival kit” possesses some ideas that will help someone manage a situation for the first time. These ideas may have been acquired from previous life experiences, storylines in movies and other people’s anecdotes. Education serves as the source of many more ideas that can help complete that “survival kit”. In order to become a true scientist, our “survival kit” full of previous knowledge should incorporate skills and techniques that will allow us to be successful scientists in the near future.

During my post graduate studies students had to attend different seminars. These seminars were given by different researchers. They offered a variety of topic, from neuroscience, enzymology, biotechnology to drug delivery. Each student needs to attend at least four seminars, in order to increase their knowledge as a scientist.

During the seminars each speaker would give their experience as a researcher. Their experience made me identify with them and wanted to pursue even more a research carrier. It made me realize that they were in the same position that we are right now and that they took chances in order to accomplish their dreams. They told us to take chances and give our best because that what gonna paid off later on. It made us believe that our dreams as a scientist can come true if you work hard.

These seminars make us grow as scientist and increase our knowledge in different areas. They showed us different techniques used by them, and that will be used by us in the near future. This way we can pass on our knowledge to future generations and just as the speakers were, be a role model to them. As professionals they guided us, telling us what would be better for us and how much effort it requires.
These seminars also gave us the opportunity to be interviewed by the universities. Each university gave opportunity to students to be interview in order to recruit for a summer research internship. During these interviews we could practice what we learn in class about how to perform an interview. The advice gave by our teachers help me to be chosen by the city of scientific research and applied biotechnology. These seminars made all of us grown as a scientist in so many ways. We acquire a ton of knowledge that would be helpful in our future. The speakers taught me that it not gonna be essay but if work hard it will be possible.
This experience made me value all the opportunities that life offered us.

In the 21st century, the role of a teacher has evolved to focus on facilitation, coaching, and mentoring. Teachers are no longer just conveyors of information, but rather guides who help students develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Here are some key characteristics of a 21st-century teacher:

1. Facilitator: Teachers act as facilitators, creating an environment that encourages collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.
2. Coach: Teachers provide individualized coaching and mentoring to students, helping them develop their skills and abilities.
3. Mentor: Teachers serve as role models, demonstrating a growth mindset, adaptability, and a willingness to learn alongside students.
4. Curator: Teachers curate learning experiences, selecting resources and activities that cater to diverse learning styles and needs.
5. Designer: Teachers design learning environments that are engaging, interactive, and personalized.
6. Collaborator: Teachers work with colleagues, parents, and the community to create a supportive learning ecosystem.
7. Reflective practitioner: Teachers reflect on their own practice, continuously improving their teaching methods and pedagogy.
8. Technology-savvy: Teachers are proficient in using technology to enhance teaching and learning.
9. Flexible: Teachers adapt to changing circumstances, pivoting when necessary to ensure student success.
10. Empathetic: Teachers demonstrate empathy and understanding towards students' diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Some key skills that 21st-century teachers should possess include:

1. Critical thinking
2. Communication
3. Creativity
4. Problem-solving
5. Collaboration
6. Adaptability
7. Emotional intelligence
8. Digital literacy
9. Flexibility
10. Open-mindedness

To cultivate these skills in your students, you can:

1. Encourage creativity through projects and activities that promote self-expression
2. Foster critical thinking through open-ended questions and discussions
3. Emphasize collaboration through group work and peer-to-peer feedback
4. Provide opportunities for students to take ownership of their learning
5. Encourage digital literacy through hands-on experiences with technology
6. Develop problem-solving skills through real-world scenarios and challenges
7. Model empathy and emotional intelligence through authentic relationships with students
8. Provide feedback that is specific, timely, and actionable

By adopting these characteristics and skills, you'll become a 21st-century teacher who is well-equipped to support students' growth and development in this rapidly changing world!

What is the role of assessment in education?
• Defining Assessment
• What exactly do we mean when we talk about assessment of student learning? At the course level, assessment provides important data on the breadth and depth of student learning. Assessment is more than grading. It’s about measuring the progress of student learning. Thus, assessment is defined as a
• “process of gathering data to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of student learning”
• (Harris and Hodges, 1995).
• Assessment and Learning
• Assessment plays an important role in the process of learning and motivation. The types of assessment tasks that we ask our students to do determine how students will approach the learning task and what study behaviors they will use. In the words of higher education scholar John Biggs, “What and how students learn depends to a major extent on how they think they will be assessed.” (1999, p. 141).
• Given the importance of assessment for student learning, it is important to consider how to best measure the learning that you want your students to achieve. Assessment should integrate grading, learning, and motivation for your students. Well-designed assessment methods provide valuable information about student learning. They tell us what students learned, how well they learned it, and where they struggled. Good assessments allow you to answer the question,
• What was it that my students learned in my course?
• Assessment then becomes a lens for understanding student learning, identifying invisible barriers, and helping us to improve our teaching approaches.

Is assessment important for our lives? How?
Assessment is an integral part of any education or intervention programmed. Although it can be tempting to immediately start teaching skills, especially if you feel you know the child/young person well, it is beneficial to take the time to assess prior to intervention.
The benefits of assessment are:

1. Identification of strengths and difficulties
   Assessment will highlight an individual’s strengths, which can then be incorporated into the activities to be taught. Using an individual’s strengths can assist in making tasks more achievable and realistic, which then motivates them to persist with tasks.
   Assessment often reveals an individual’s interests. Many children and young people with autism have specialist interests which can be included in activities, therefore making the tasks more relevant and motivating.
   Assessment of course identifies areas of difficulty, which then informs goal setting and intervention planning.
2. Goal setting
   Assessment, as explained above, highlights target areas for goal setting. When setting goals, it is essential to focus on areas of need and skills requiring improvement. Goals must be realistic and achievable so professionals and parents should not target areas of greatest difficulty.
   For example, if a child or young person has significant fine motor difficulties, tying laces would be an unrealistic target. It would instead be more relevant to teach the individual how to use Velcro fastenings on shoes or to target a less complex fine motor task such as zipping a coat or pegging clothes to a line. This still allows the development of life skills but within achievable limits for the individual.
   As stated above, goals should also incorporate the individual’s existing skills and strengths as this will facilitate the accomplishment of realistic goals.
3. Teaching method
   Assessing children and young people with autism allows professionals and parents to determine their learning preference, which will then inform the teaching method used. Many individuals with autism show strengths in visual processing and this is frequently their preferred learning style. Skills will therefore be taught using visual systems, limiting the amount of instruction given.
   Others will of course have different learning preferences. Some may learn best when actively engaged with materials and therefore learn experientially.
4. Measuring progress
   Assessment carried out before and after intervention allows a clear measurement of progress. It will show any improvements in the skills taught and confirm if goals have been successfully achieved. If progress has been made, this reinforces that the teaching method is appropriate and amendments to the intervention plan are not required.
   Successes should be celebrated with the child or young person as this will foster a sense of achievement and have an impact on confidence and self-esteem. When progress can be clearly shown, the individual will be more likely to be motivated to continue with skill development and move on to new tasks, thus increasing their skill repertoire.
   Assessment results can be shared with other professionals and relevant family members, giving evidence that improvements are being made and that the child or young person is successfully acquiring new skills.
5. Identifying required amendments
   In some cases, assessment may show that the expected progress in a skill or task has not been made in the specified time frame. This does not necessarily mean that teaching that skill should be stopped; it may simply mean that amendments to the goal or to the teaching method are required. The task may need to be broken into smaller steps or the visuals used may need to be made clearer, for example adding photographs to a list of written instructions.
   Sometimes the student does not yet possess the prerequisite skills required for the activity so it may be necessary to refine these skills first and then return to teaching the task. For example, if the individual is not making progress in getting dressed independently, it may be useful to spend time on fine motor tasks to develop these skills which will then assist in tasks such as fastening b**tons and zips.
   Occasionally the individual may not be ready to learn that particular task. It can then be changed for a more achievable task.
   What is the link between critical thinking and assessment?
   Critical thinking skills have been identified as learning outcomes expected of students. Teaching towards developing thinking skills is quite recent, attempts are observed to find ways to infuse critical thinking into the tertiary curriculum. Assessment as learning promotes active thinking via self-assessment and exchange of feedback among peers.
   References:
   https://2u.pw/42MqS
   https://2u.pw/tVVW5
   https://2u.pw/yqlNS

@BRYANb8875625e5 Thank you so much for the wonderful apps.
Actually providing students with a diverse array of apps that allow them to visualize celestial phenomena, run simulations, access real-time data, and explore astronomical concepts in dynamic ways is invaluable. It helps bridge the gap between the abstract and the tangible, transforming the learning process from passive to immersive .

@Antonia yes my friend. It's not every day that someone takes the time to acknowledge and celebrate another person's achievement with such enthusiasm and warmth. Your words are a perfect blend of sincerity, gratitude, and encouragement. and I'm grateful to be part of a community that values collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

@AFSHA28f0a2936e Congratulations dear friend
Best regards

Canva is a popular graphic design platform that offers a wide range of tools and features for creating professional-looking designs, graphics, and documents. Integrating Canva into the classroom can be a great way to enhance student learning and engagement in various subjects. Here are some ways Canva can be integrated into the classroom:

1. Visual aids for presentations: Students can use Canva to create engaging presentations, infographics, and posters to present their projects or assignments. This helps to make their presentations more visually appealing and interactive.
2. Graphic design projects: Assign students to create graphic design projects, such as logo design, brochure design, or social media graphics, using Canva's drag-and-drop interface.
3. Multimedia presentations: Students can use Canva to create multimedia presentations that combine text, images, videos, and audio files to tell a story or convey information.
4. Infographics: Canva's infographic templates and tools make it easy for students to create visually appealing infographics to illustrate complex information or data.
5. Digital storytelling: Students can use Canva to create interactive digital stories, such as interactive timelines, virtual field trips, or digital sc**pbooks.
6. Collaborative projects: Canva's collaboration features allow students to work together on projects in real-time, promoting teamwork and communication.
7. Assessment and feedback: Teachers can use Canva to create interactive quizzes, surveys, and assessments that provide instant feedback to students.
8. Lesson plans and resources: Teachers can use Canva to create engaging lesson plans, handouts, and resources for students, making it easier to communicate complex information.
9. Student portfolios: Students can use Canva to create digital portfolios showcasing their work and progress over time.
10. Citizenship and digital literacy: Canva can help students develop essential digital literacy skills, such as graphic design principles, typography, and visual communication.

To integrate Canva into the classroom:

1. Sign up for a free teacher account on Canva.com
2. Create a class account or individual accounts for students
3. Explore the various templates and features offered by Canva
4. Assign projects or activities that align with your curriculum goals
5. Provide tutorials or workshops on how to use Canva effectively
6. Encourage students to share their creations with the class or online platforms

Some popular educational templates on Canva include:

• Graphic organizer templates
• Infographic templates
• Presentation templates
• Brochure templates
• Social media graphics templates

By integrating Canva into your classroom, you can:

• Enhance student engagement and motivation
• Improve visual communication and collaboration
• Develop essential digital literacy skills
• Provide opportunities for creative expression and self-directed learning
• Make lesson planning and delivery more efficient

@Ani-Bareghamyan Actually dear friend. By incorporating these ICT-based approaches into the curriculum, educators can empower students to become critical consumers, responsible creators, and effective communicators in the digital age. The key is to provide a balanced and intentional integration of technology that aligns with the learning objectives and the development of well-rounded, future-ready individuals.

@Raj-Kumar
Dear friend,
Actually cross-cutting during emergency is very important topic.How can we leverage cross-cutting themes to develop more holistic pandemic preparedness strategies?

Best regards,
Samar Mohamed

@MehranKhan Great dear friend, I am on the same wavelength with you. Also I'm a huge proponent of using visual study techniques like mind maps! I find them to be incredibly effective for organizing information, identifying connections, and boosting recall.

The process of creating a mind map really helps cement the material in my brain. As I arrange the key concepts, sub-topics, and supporting details in a visual layout, I'm actively engaging with the information in a meaningful way. It's much more than just passively reading or highlighting notes.

The visual nature of mind maps also makes complex topics feel more digestible and coherent. Seeing the big picture and the relationships between different ideas is so much easier when you have it all laid out in a diagram or concept map.

And the great thing is, there are so many different ways to approach mind mapping. You can use color-coding, icons, images, and personal shorthand to make the maps truly customized to your learning style. Some people even find it helpful to animate or digitize their mind maps for added interactivity.

Personally, I find that mind maps complement the Cornell note-taking method really well. I'll start by taking traditional linear notes, and then translate those into a visual map to solidify my understanding.

Do you have experience with mind mapping or other visual study techniques? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the pros and cons, and any tips you've picked up along the way!

@FarhanMehboob
I agree that language is a fundamental part of human interaction, and the technological advances in this domain have radically transformed communication and collaboration across borders. However, linguistic diversity should still be celebrated, and the development of true multilingual fluency remains a worthy goal. The interplay of language and technology is reshaping how we engage with each other worldwide.

@FarhanMehboob Great dear friend, Thank you for sharing your insightful perspective on the differences between qualified and experienced teachers. I agree that the ideal educator is one who has both strong theoretical knowledge from formal training as well as substantial practical experience in the classroom.

In my search, some of the most outstanding educators of the 21st century have been those who have been able to masterfully blend these two crucial elements. A few examples I found from searching:

1. Sir Ken Robinson (1950-2020) - An internationally renowned education reformer, speaker, and author. He advocated for a radical rethinking of the education system to foster creativity and personalized learning. Robinson had a PhD in education, but also drew extensively on his experience as a teacher and school advisor.

2. Jaime Escalante (1930-2010) - A Bolivian-American math teacher who famously turned his underprivileged students at Garfield High School into Advanced Placement Calculus stars. Escalante had a strong mathematics background, but also developed unparalleled expertise in student motivation and hands-on, real-world teaching techniques.

3. Esther Wojcicki - A veteran high school journalism and English teacher, author, and digital learning pioneer. Wojcicki blends her decades of classroom experience with a deep knowledge of educational psychology and technology-enabled pedagogies.

4. Salman Khan - The founder of the Khan Academy online learning platform. Khan has a background in finance and technology, but has also spent extensive time developing simple, intuitive teaching methods based on his understanding of how students learn best.

Best regards

@Uzma-qamar Thank you my dearest friend

@Iqra-khan said in Professional Development Training:

To much extent do you think professional development is important for teachers? Share some of the way for teachers to upgrade their teaching skills?

Professional development for teachers is absolutely crucial in ensuring they can effectively educate and support their students. There are numerous ways teachers can upgrade their teaching skills and stay up-to-date with best practices. Here are some key points on the importance of professional development for teachers:

Staying Current with Curriculum and Pedagogy:
Education is a rapidly evolving field, with new teaching methodologies, technologies, and curriculum standards being introduced regularly.
Professional development helps teachers stay informed about these changes and equips them with the knowledge and skills to implement them effectively in their classrooms.
Enhancing Instructional Strategies:
Professional development workshops and training sessions provide teachers with opportunities to learn and practice diverse instructional strategies, such as project-based learning, differentiated instruction, or inquiry-based learning.
This exposure to a wider repertoire of teaching techniques allows teachers to cater to the diverse learning needs and styles of their students.
Integrating Technology:
In the digital age, the integration of technology in the classroom is becoming increasingly important.
Professional development programs can help teachers learn how to effectively utilize educational technology, digital tools, and online resources to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
Fostering Collaboration and Networking:
Professional development often involves collaborative learning, where teachers can share best practices, discuss challenges, and learn from each other.
This collaborative environment encourages the exchange of ideas, problem-solving, and the development of professional networks that can support teachers' ongoing growth and development.
Promoting Reflective Practice:
High-quality professional development programs incorporate opportunities for teachers to engage in reflective practices, such as analyzing their own teaching methods, seeking feedback, and identifying areas for improvement.
This reflective process helps teachers continuously enhance their teaching skills and better understand the needs of their students.
Supporting Emotional and Mental Well-being:
Professional development can also address the emotional and mental well-being of teachers, providing strategies for stress management, work-life balance, and self-care.
This supports teachers' overall health and resilience, enabling them to better support their students' social-emotional needs.

@NAJMAc79e2494d9 said in The behaviour of teachers can have a significant impact on Students .:

The behavior of teachers can have a significant impact on students :

Positive impacts:

Learning outcomes: Teachers' enthusiasm, patience, and support can enhance students' engagement, motivation, and academic performance.
Emotional well-being: Teachers' empathy, kindness, and understanding can create a safe and inclusive learning environment, promoting students' emotional well-being and self-esteem.
Role modeling: Teachers' behavior can serve as a positive example for students, teaching them important life skills like respect, responsibility, and conflict resolution.
Inspiration: Teachers' passion and creativity can inspire students to explore new interests and develop a love for learning.
Negative impacts:

Stress and anxiety: Teachers' high expectations, criticism, or favoritism can lead to student stress, anxiety, and decreased motivation.
Low self-esteem: Teachers' negative feedback, sarcasm, or dismissiveness can damage students' self-esteem and confidence.
Disengagement: Teachers' lack of enthusiasm, poor communication, or ineffective teaching methods can lead to student disengagement and disinterest.
Unhealthy relationships: Teachers' behavior can sometimes create unhealthy relationships with students, such as dependency or fear, which can hinder students' emotional growth.

You've provided an excellent overview of the significant impact that teachers' behavior can have on students, both in positive and negative ways. Let me expand on the key points you've highlighted:

Positive Impacts:

Learning Outcomes:
Teachers who exhibit enthusiasm, patience, and genuine support for their students can foster a learning environment that promotes engagement, motivation, and academic achievement.
When students feel valued, encouraged, and believed in by their teachers, they are more likely to take risks, persist through challenges, and reach their full potential.
Emotional Well-being:
Teachers who demonstrate empathy, kindness, and understanding create a safe, inclusive, and nurturing learning space where students feel comfortable to express themselves and take emotional risks.
This can have a profound impact on students' self-esteem, resilience, and overall emotional well-being.
Role Modeling:
Teachers serve as powerful role models, and their behaviors and actions can teach students invaluable life skills, such as respect, responsibility, conflict resolution, and ethical decision-making.
When teachers model these positive behaviors, students are more likely to internalize and emulate them.
Inspiration:
Teachers' passion, creativity, and dedication can inspire students to explore new interests, develop a love for learning, and seek out challenging experiences that push them to grow.
Inspiring teachers can help students discover their talents, nurture their curiosity, and unlock their full potential.
Negative Impacts:

Stress and Anxiety:
High expectations, excessive criticism, or perceived favoritism from teachers can lead to significant student stress and anxiety, which can undermine their academic performance and well-being.
When students feel constant pressure or fear of failure, it can erode their intrinsic motivation and joy in learning.
Low Self-esteem:
Negative feedback, sarcasm, or dismissiveness from teachers can damage students' self-esteem and confidence, hindering their academic and personal growth.
Students who receive such treatment from their teachers may struggle to develop a positive self-image and a belief in their own abilities.
Disengagement:
Teachers who lack enthusiasm, struggle with effective communication, or employ ineffective teaching methods can contribute to student disengagement and disinterest in the subject matter.
When students feel disconnected from their teachers or the learning process, it can lead to decreased participation, effort, and academic achievement.
Unhealthy Relationships:
In rare cases, teachers' behavior can create unhealthy relationships with students, such as dependency or fear, which can hinder students' emotional development and healthy social-emotional learning.
Maintaining appropriate boundaries and professional relationships is crucial for supporting students' growth and well-being.

@Hanifa I fully agree with your assessment that written tests remain an important tool for evaluating student knowledge and skills, but they are most effective when used as part of a holistic, balanced approach to assessment. You've outlined some key reasons why this is the case:

Comprehensive Understanding: By incorporating a variety of assessment methods, educators can gain a more well-rounded understanding of a student's strengths, weaknesses, and overall learning progress. This helps paint a fuller picture beyond just testing performance.
Supporting Diverse Learners: Students have diverse learning styles, strengths, and challenges. A multi-faceted approach to assessment allows educators to better accommodate these differences and ensure equitable evaluation of all students.
Preparing for Future Challenges: In the real world, students will be faced with a variety of tasks and challenges that require the application of knowledge and skills in different contexts. A balanced assessment strategy helps prepare students for these future demands beyond just testing recall.

@Shazia-Baloch said in Do your teachers follow a specific dress code at your school?:

It's important to balance dress code professionalism with comfort and practicality, ensuring that teachers can perform their duties effectively while maintaining a professional appearance that aligns with cultural and institutional expectations.

You make an excellent point about the need to balance professionalism, comfort, and practicality in a teacher's dress code. This is a nuanced issue that requires careful consideration of various factors:

Professionalism:
Teachers serve as role models for students, so maintaining a professional appearance helps establish authority and command respect.
The dress code should reflect the cultural and institutional norms and expectations of the school or community.
Professional attire can help teachers be perceived as knowledgeable and competent.
Comfort and Practicality:
Teachers often need to move around the classroom, interact with students, and potentially engage in physical activities, so their clothing needs to be comfortable and allow for ease of movement.
Practical considerations like weather, classroom temperatures, and the physical demands of the job should be taken into account.
Overly restrictive or uncomfortable dress code policies can negatively impact a teacher's ability to perform their duties effectively.
Balance and Flexibility:
The dress code should strike a balance between professional appearance and practical, comfortable clothing.
Allowing for some flexibility and personal expression within the dress code can foster a sense of autonomy and job satisfaction among teachers.
Collaborative discussions with teachers to understand their needs and preferences can help develop a dress code that is both professional and practical.

@Ana_moderator said in Traditional VS flipped classroom for adaptive and individualized learning:

n a traditional classroom a teacher usually delivers a presentation that introduces students to new concepts and learning materials. Students mostly listen to the presentation, at home students review the notes to learn the material presented in class and complete some homework. Thus, there is a teaching phase in the class (when the material is delivered) and a learning phase out of class (when students engage more actively with the material).

In a flipped classroom this framework is reversed: students first discover new material at home, out of class (through assigned reading, videos etc.) and the lesson can be dedicated to practical activities which allow the students to actively engage with the material in the presence of the teacher and often in collaboration with other students.

So the role of teachers shifts from the transferring knowledge to guiding the students in mastering new skills and understanding when and how to use the information they learn.

If you are practicing flipped classroom approach in education what major differences do you see?

Thank you for this detailed explanation of the differences between a traditional classroom approach and the flipped classroom model. You've provided an excellent overview of how the roles and responsibilities shift between the teacher and students in a flipped classroom setting.

Some of the major differences I see in practicing the flipped classroom approach include:

Active Learning: As you mentioned, the flipped classroom dedicates valuable in-class time to active, hands-on learning activities where students can apply the concepts they've already been introduced to at home. This allows for deeper engagement and mastery of the material, rather than passive lecture-based learning.
Personalized Support: With the initial exposure to new content happening outside of class, the teacher can use in-class time to provide more personalized guidance, feedback, and support to students as they work through challenging concepts and practice new skills.
Collaborative Learning: The flipped classroom model often encourages more group work and collaborative activities during class time, fostering peer-to-peer learning and the development of important teamwork and communication skills.
Student Autonomy: By shifting the initial learning to the out-of-class phase, students take on more responsibility for their own learning. This can help develop important self-directed learning skills and study habits.
Data-Driven Instruction: The teacher can use data and feedback from the out-of-class learning activities to identify areas where students are struggling, and then tailor the in-class lessons and discussions to address those specific needs.
Flexible Pacing: The flipped model allows for more flexibility in pacing, as students can revisit the pre-class materials at their own pace, and the teacher can adapt the in-class activities based on the class's progress and needs.

@Engr-Zeeshan said in The 21st-century teacher!:

our response has encouraged me to continue on the path I've been striving for. I invite you to visit and see firsthand how our senior members are dedicated to creating an environment for better education. I have learned a lot from them, and now it's my turn to contribute. I am here to learn new things, new techniques, and how to use AI tools in educating our future generations. There's much to discuss, but we'll address it topic by topic. I hope you'll continue

@Engr-Zeeshan said in The 21st-century teacher!:

Your response has encouraged me to continue on the path I've been striving for. I invite you to visit and see firsthand how our senior members are dedicated to creating an environment for better education. I have learned a lot from them, and now it's my turn to contribute. I am here to learn new things, new techniques, and how to use AI tools in educating our future generations. There's much to discuss, but we'll address it topic by topic. I hope you'll continue to respond to my posts in the coming days.

Thank you for the invitation to visit and see firsthand the dedication and efforts of your senior members in creating a better educational environment. I'm honored that you've learned a lot from them and are now eager to contribute your own insights and experiences.