Life at PlanetSpark

Fri, 01 Sep, 2023

PlanetSpark’s Certified Teacher Excellence Program

Linked table of contents

PlanetSpark Launches Certified Teacher Excellence Program: Redefining Online Teaching

PlanetSpark, a global ed-tech leader, is on a mission to impart communication skills and boost students' confidence.  Founded in 2016 by two  XLRI batchmates, Maneesh Dhooper and Kunal Malik, PlanetSpark is the largest platform in India to offer its online courses in public speaking and creative writing, thereby shaping students’ lives.  

With an established network of over 4500 teachers, PlanetSpark recognizes teachers’ role in students' lives and considers them as the backbone of the organisation. However, it also acknowledges that in today's technology-driven world, the role of teachers has expanded beyond the boundaries of traditional classrooms. Online teaching has taken centre stage and hence, teachers are now expected to possess a diverse skill set that enables them to thrive in the world of online learning.

In response, PlanetSpark has introduced the Certified Teacher Excellence Program (CTEP), an initiative aimed at enabling teachers to become successful online educators. A recent survey by Education Week highlighted that 76% of teachers struggled to engage students effectively in virtual classrooms, a concern that CTEP aims to address. The program, launched in June 2023, is a comprehensive training program designed to empower 20,000 educators by 2025, equipping them with the right skills, knowledge and mindsets.

Maneesh Dhooper, the co-founder, shares “CTEP is a cornerstone in our journey to create a world-class cohort of passionate and skilled English teachers who impact students' lives profoundly.” He emphasizes, "The program is steered by experienced educators from esteemed institutions like Teach For India and IIT Delhi, and aims to bridge the gap between research and practice.”

The program’s key feature is its comprehensive curriculum which has been designed to provide a holistic understanding of various behavioral and functional knowledge and skills needed for teachers to be successful in the online teaching world as well as at PlanetSpark. Some of the core areas covered are:

  • Pillars of public speaking to master key communication skills such as body language, voice modulation, confidence, thought structure and fluency.

  • Pedagogy and instructional strategies such as differentiation, inquiry-based learning, etc

  • Child psychology and development to explore different learning theories and cater to students’ needs

  • Classroom management techniques to create a positive learning environment

  • Assessment and feedback to evaluate student learning and progress

The curriculum is split across 8 levels, each level enabling the teacher to master specific knowledge and skills. Teachers engage with the content in various ways such as interactive live sessions, self-paced online courses (recorded lessons), practice assignments, real-time feedback, and personalized support. On successful completion of each level, teachers are awarded a certificate that is recognised on the PlanetSpark platform as well as globally. 

Kunal Malik, another co-founder, compares the program to an “accelerated online B.Ed program” as it will prepare the teachers to excel in a short time span.

The program's success is highlighted by the positive feedback from the teachers. Over 500 teachers have successfully completed CTEP, giving it an average review score of 4.87 out of 5. These teachers achieved impressive results shortly after completing the program, securing student enrollments within the first month of their journey with PlanetSpark.

Khushboo Chatterjee, a 30-year-old practising teacher from Mumbai, shares in her review: “I got to learn the best of the teaching strategies and formulas from the training program [CTEP] that helped me bag 3 student enrollments in a short span of 20 days. I am so grateful for the sessions during the training as I am able to interact with the parents efficiently and effectively and confidently navigate through the challenges coming my way. Moreover, the assignments shared during the training helped me to practice the skills learnt continuously and prepared me for real-life situations.”            

Another teacher, Sheetal from Bangalore, shared in her review, "With a small baby at home, I needed flexibility and the chance to work from home without sacrificing my career. PlanetSpark was the perfect (and genuine) solution. Their online teaching platform allowed me to create a work-life balance while still pursuing my passion for education. Moreover, the training program allowed me to enhance my skills as an online teacher that I lacked due to the career break I had taken earlier."

Looking forward, PlanetSpark is committed to making a profound impact. Co-founder Kunal Malik shares a bold plan to onboard approximately 2000+ aspiring and practicing English teachers for the CTEP in August and September 2023. The teacher training team at PlanetSpark eagerly awaits these dedicated individuals, committed to transforming their teaching journeys. 

For more information about PlanetSpark's hiring for the Certified Teacher Excellence Program and to explore this incredible opportunity, visit PlanetSpark's official website.

Archives

Longer version

PlanetSpark Unveils Certified Teacher Excellence Program: Empowering Online Educators

PlanetSpark, a distinguished global edtech enterprise, continues to champion confident communicators and catalyze educational excellence. At the forefront of this mission, the organization proudly unveils its specialized teacher training initiative designed to usher in a new era of exceptional online educators. This revolutionary program, titled the Certified Teacher Excellence Program (CTEP), propels educators to master the art of online teaching and communication prowess.

Founded in 2016 by two  XLRI batchmates, Maneesh Dhooper, and Kunal Malik, PlanetSpark has steadfastly pioneered online public speaking and creative writing courses, cultivating a platform where students embark on personal growth and triumph. Today, with an established presence and over 4500 dedicated teachers, PlanetSpark acknowledges the transformative role that educators play in shaping students' lives, embodying the very essence of the organization.

In the modern landscape, traditional classrooms have given way to dynamic online learning environments. PlanetSpark, recognizing this paradigm shift, underscores the need for teachers to acquire versatile skill sets that empower them to thrive in the digital realm. While existing teacher training programs often fall short of addressing the demands of the digital age, PlanetSpark's CTEP program sets a new standard. A recent survey by Education Week highlighted that 76% of teachers struggled to engage students effectively in virtual classrooms, a concern that CTEP aims to rectify.

With an unwavering commitment to nurturing exceptional educators, PlanetSpark's CTEP was unveiled in July 2023. This meticulously crafted program envisions the transformation of 20,000 educators into confident communicators by 2025. The program boasts accreditation and a certification upon successful completion, enabling teachers to impart knowledge and skills on the PlanetSpark platform.

"CTEP is a cornerstone in our journey to create a world-class cohort of passionate and skilled English teachers who impact students' lives profoundly," asserts Maneesh Dhooper, co-founder of PlanetSpark. Spearheaded by a team of seasoned educators, curriculum developers, and instructional designers from esteemed institutions like Teach For India and IIT Delhi, the program bridges the gap between research and practice.

CTEP empowers educators with cutting-edge teaching methodologies, effective communication techniques, innovative pedagogy, and impactful influencing skills. Kunal Malik, co-founder of PlanetSpark, likens CTEP to an "accelerated online B.Ed program," ensuring multifaceted skill development through interactive live sessions, self-paced online courses, practice-based assignments, real-time feedback, and personalized support.

The program's impact is underscored by the success stories of its participants. Over 500 educators have triumphantly completed CTEP, garnering an average review score of 4.7 out of 5. Swift success has followed the program's completion, with educators achieving student enrollments within the first month of their journey.

Kanika, a dedicated aspiring teacher, shared in her review, "PlanetSpark bridged the gap in my journey to become a teacher. Their training program nurtured my confidence, enabling me to secure three student enrollments within weeks." Sheetal from Bangalore echoes a similar sentiment, expressing how PlanetSpark's online teaching platform fostered work-life balance and skill enhancement.

Driven by its mission, PlanetSpark intends to continue this transformative journey. Co-founder Kunal Malik unveils a bold plan to onboard approximately 2000+ aspiring and practicing teachers for CTEP in August and September 2023. The teacher training team at PlanetSpark eagerly awaits these dedicated individuals, poised to transform their teaching journeys and create a lasting impact.

For more information about PlanetSpark's hiring for the Certified Teacher Excellence Program and to explore the incredible opportunity, visit PlanetSpark's official website.

 

Shorter version - 

PlanetSpark Unveils Certified Teacher Excellence Program: Empowering Online Educators

PlanetSpark, a global ed-tech leader, is on a mission to impart communication skills and boost students' confidence.  Co-founded by two XLRI batchmates, Maneesh Dhooper and Kunal Malik, PlanetSpark is steering towards becoming the ultimate global leader in communication skills training by 2025. With an established network of over 4500 teachers, PlanetSpark recognizes their pivotal role in students' lives and acknowledges the need to equip them for the dynamic world of online teaching.

As traditional classrooms give way to virtual learning spaces, PlanetSpark identifies the evolving demands on educators. In response, they are introducing the Certified Teacher Excellence Program (CTEP), a pioneering initiative aimed at transforming educators into proficient online mentors and communicators.

The CTEP, launched in July 2023, is a comprehensive training program designed to empower 20,000 educators by 2025, arming them with the skills to inspire student success. This distinguished program provides a certification upon completion, qualifying teachers to teach on the PlanetSpark platform.

Maneesh Dhooper, the co-founder, envisions CTEP as a stepping stone toward building a community of passionate and skilled English educators. He emphasizes, "This program is designed to create exceptional teachers who can deeply impact their students' lives." The program is steered by experienced educators and instructional designers from prestigious institutions like IIM Trichy, IIT Delhi, and Teach For India.

CTEP addresses key teaching methodologies, effective communication techniques, innovative pedagogy, and impactful influencing skills. Kunal Malik, co-founder, likens the program to an "accelerated online B.Ed program," delivering multifaceted learning experiences through interactive live sessions, self-paced online courses, practice-based assignments, real-time feedback, and personalized support.

Incredible success stories underline CTEP's impact. Over 500 educators have completed the program, awarding it an average review score of 4.7 out of 5. Impressively, these educators achieved student enrollments within the program's first month.

Kanika, a 23-year-old aspiring teacher, shares her transformative journey in her review: "As a Masters in English Literature student, I had a deep passion for teaching but lacked a B.Ed degree. PlanetSpark provided me with an incredible opportunity to grow as a teacher. I remember the first day when I entered my classroom, I was nervous. However, the support provided by the training team helped me to become confident and within a few weeks, I was able to bag 3 student enrollments. I am grateful to the team for their continuous support and dedicated feedback given to me time and again."

Sheetal from Bangalore echoes a similar sentiment, "With a small baby at home, I needed flexibility and the chance to work from home without sacrificing my career. PlanetSpark was the perfectand genuine solution. Their online teaching platform allowed me to create a work-life balance while still pursuing my passion for education. Moreover, the training program allowed me to enhance my skills as an online teacher that I lacked due to the career break I had taken earlier."

Looking forward, PlanetSpark is committed to making a profound impact and is set to onboard approximately 1000+ aspiring and practicing teachers for the Certified Teacher Excellence Program in August and September 2023. The teacher training team at PlanetSpark eagerly anticipates the opportunity to empower these educators and redefine the landscape of online education.

For further insights into PlanetSpark's Certified Teacher Excellence Program and to delve into the inspiring stories of educators who have experienced this transformative journey, visit [PlanetSpark's official website](https://www.planetspark.in/).

 

Original Writeup

PlanetSpark, a global edtech company, is committed to creating confident communicators and driving educational excellence. Through its comprehensive online public speaking and creative writing courses, it provides a platform for students to embark on a journey of personal growth and success. Founded in 2016, by 2 XLRI batchmates, Maneesh Dhooper and Kunal Malik, PlanetSpark is already on its journey to becoming the global leader in the large and untapped communication skills segment by 2025. PlanetSpark now presents a carefully curated program for enabling our teachers to become excellent online educators and communication experts. 

PlanetSpark currently employs 4500+ teachers and recognises that every teacher plays an extremely important role in shaping each student’s life and hence, forms the backbone of the organisation. However, it also realises that in today's technology-driven world, the role of teachers has expanded beyond the boundaries of traditional classrooms. As the education landscape continues to evolve, a notable shift towards online teaching has taken centre stage. Owing to the changing scenario, teachers are now expected to possess a diverse skill set that enables them to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of online learning.

While there are many teacher training programs existing worldwide, most of these are archaic in their approach and do not equip teachers with the essential skills required in this digital age. According to a survey conducted by Education Week, 76% of teachers struggled to create engaging virtual live classrooms thereby leading to reduced student participation. There is a growing need to adapt classroom management strategies to effectively address digital distractions, encourage respectful online interactions, and maintain a positive learning atmosphere.

At PlanetSpark, we believe that with the right training, guidance, and support, teachers can overcome these hurdles and unlock their true potential as exceptional educators. With an unwavering commitment to nurturing exceptional educators, PlanetSpark launched  Certified Teacher Excellence Program (CTEP) in July 2023. The program envisions training and empowering 20,000 teachers by 2025 to become confident communicators, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to inspire student success.

As the name suggests, this is a certified program and all the teachers undergoing through the program receive a certification upon its successful completion. The certificate will make the teachers eligible to teach on the PlanetSpark platform and will have accreditations.

“This program is a stepping stone towards building a world class university to mobilize an army of deeply passionate, and highly skilled English teachers who are committed towards impacting students’ lives” says the co-founder, Maneesh Dhooper. He also added that ‘The training program is one of the biggest priority for the organisation and hence, is being led by a team of seasoned educators, experienced curriculum developers, and skilled instructional designers from esteemed institutes and organisations such as IIM Trichy, IIT Delhi, and Teach For India”.

The program is committed to bridging the gap between research and practice, equipping them with:

  • Latest teaching methodologies to create a dynamic learning environment.

  • Effective communication techniques to build connections with students.

  • Innovative pedagogy to facilitate engaging classrooms

  • Powerful influencing skills to impact stakeholder decision making

  • Impactful teaching strategies for English to develop confident communicators

Kunal Malik, the co-founder, has termed the program as an ‘accelearted online B.Ed program’ that will provide teachers with multifaceted learning experience combining various methods to ensure comprehensive skill development. Throughout the program, teachers engage and learn through:

  • Interactive live sessions to foster collaborative learning with fellow participants and experienced faculty members. 

  • Self-paced online courses covering a wide range of topics and designed to be flexible, allowing teachers to learn at your own pace. 

  • Practice based learning through assignments that are carefully crafted to reinforce understanding of key concepts. 

  • Real time feedback to help teachers’ identify strengths, areas for improvement, and suggestions for further development. 

  • 1-1 personalised support to empower teachers to navigate through different situations when they go live on PlanetSpark platform.

500 teachers have successfully completed the program and received their certification. These teachers have collectively reviewed the program at 4.7 on a scale of 5. Not only this, but they also witnessed success within the first month of completion of the program i.e. they were able to get student enrolments within the first month of the program. 

Here’s what Kanika, a 23 year old aspiring teacher, shared in her review -  "As a Masters in English Literature student, I had a deep passion for teaching but lacked a B.Ed degree. PlanetSpark provided me with an incredible opportunity to grow as a teacher. I remember the first day when I entered my classroom, I was nervous. However, the support provided by the training team helped me to become confident and within a few weeks, I was able to bag 3 student enrolments. I am grateful to the team for their continuous support and dedicated feedback given to me time and again.”

Sheetal from Bangalore, shared in her review "With a small baby at home, I needed flexibility and the chance to work from home without sacrificing my career. PlanetSpark was the perfect solution. Their online teaching platform allowed me to create a work-life balance while still pursuing my passion for education. Moreover, the training program allowed me to enhance my skills as an online teacher that I lacked due to the career break I had taken earlier."

PlanetSpark is committed to creating more such impact and empower teachers out there. To achieve this, Kunal Malik, co-founder of PlanetSpark, has shared a plan towards hiring ~1000+ aspiring and practicing teachers for the Certified Teacher Excellence Program in August and September 2023. The teacher training team at PlanetSpark is looking forward to welcoming these teachers and transforming their teaching journey

Explore
Resources
Contact Us
Footer graphic
Follow the Spark
BOOK YOUR FREE TRIAL