Instructional Professionalism, concerns the responsibilities that an individual accepts to see to it that the people, the process, and the technology of schooling---curriculum, teaching, and learning---deliver on their promise to form capable, adult citizens. Possessing a "super-vision" about how the individual parts can integrate and create a synergy of effects that enable people, process, and technology to work together in a way that achieves this vision.
Hi Marie,
Good way to sell your career area. Your passion really comes through in the forum so I am sure it comes through in your teaching. This really helps your students to say engaged and focused on what they are learning.
Gary
Gilbert:
I never thought of the examples and stories I tell in class as "war stories" that might actually detract from what is being taught. You have heightened my awareness of the need to carefully select examples to illustrate the points of communication and illness in my psychiatric nursing course.
Mike Burton
I especially liked this more complete answer defining professionalism. One thing that I feel is also important in professional approach is to frankly acknowledge limitations, but also to plan for taking away that limitation. Updating in the field taught is also critical to professional competence especially in nursing--my field. Continued clinical practice definitely enriches teaching competence and delivery
I am really impressed by the responses I have read. I want to thank the participants.
I am a program director for the PCT program. I define instructional Professionalism as my personal ownership of my profession. Nursing was my first profession, and nursing education is my passion. I am committed to instructional excellence in all areas of my field. I believe that I am first responsible to develop my expertise in nursing and education to the betterment of my students. I continued my education to earn my Masters in Science in Nursing Education. I learned how to role model my career in nursing but also develop strategies that will benefit my classes as well as my instructors that teach them. I also love to continue to learn, the more I learn in teaching strategies, professional behavior, technical and critical thinking skills in patient care, the more I bring to the classroom, or instructors that will reflect instructional professionalism. This passion motivates my students because they see that I am first personally committed to excellence and I will hold them to high standards.
I agree with that! When I started my fist class i was thrown in. I got the book three days before the class begin, and I had no idea of what I was doing.
Hi Aila,
The key is to establish yourself as the instructor leader in the class and a model of your profession. So you should dress, speak and conduct yourself as professionals in your field do. You may be the first person that your students have encountered in the field so you are setting the bar for the students.
Also, you need to work on earning the respect of your students while establishing rapport with them. Both respect and rapport will help create a connection between you and them that will help them stay engaged in the course.
Gary
Instructional professionalism to me as an instructor is to provide a clear path for students to learn fundamentals of a particular subject, folloewed by practical demonstration using various presentation methods to stimulate classroom partisipation.
To me it means being able to present your material in class prepared and with enthusiasm. I agree with most of the comments stating that we are role models for our students. If we are excited about our subject matter then it will get our students motivated in class.
Hi,
Professionalism means being on time, and dressing according to the school dress code, and setting a sandard. However, as I think back my professors sat on top of their desks, dressed in worn jeans and sometimes said SH*T! I actually felt more comfortable with them. Doesn't it depend on the students and the subject? I have adult learners, most of them are from pretty messed-up homes and I find that when I am more relaxed and kind of current in speech they respond better. I don't know which is the right way!
Aila
Instructional professionalism has relevant significance in education in that it affects the role of the instructor and his or her teaching style, which in return affects the student’s ability to learn effectively.
In my field of music technology, it's critical to be someone that is viewed as experienced and competent in the field.
On the first day of class, we make a point to cover the syllabus, and to establish a firm set of classroom policies and procedures that all students are expected to follow.
In addition, I take 3-5 minutes to give an honest summary of my history and background - not to puff myself up, but to tell them where I come from and let them know my specific areas of expertise. I also make a point to explain that I will teach both theory and application - textbook learning in addition to practical hands-on exercises. This helps reinforce that the learning in class does not stop with the textbook, but will be a continuous, life-long process.
Show students that you are a Leader and be a cheerleader in ther development.
Gloria
I really like the video clip that emphasized that our role as instructors is NOT to prove how competent we are, but rather to convince the students that we love the topic that we are teaching. For me, I am passionate about my topic and exhibit this in the classroom.
Hi Wendy,
All of these elements are critical for creating an environment that says that learning is going to occur here. This helps to increase the engagement level of students to the point that they want to be a part of the learning process.
Gary
I think instructional professionalism involves having a mature rapport and dialogue with students, being fair, on time, prepared, and answering any questions concerns students may have, and if you do not have the answer right away, find it and get back to them.
I agree. The term professional was stigmatized as only doing a task efficiently, speedily and accurately. It was task related. It was repetitive to the point of ease, and soon, the finished product was an expertise.
Little focused on the interpersonal, except of course in work that was "customer service" based. My point exactly is that all fields have a customer base.
Now, professionalism is now more and more accepted as not only expertise in the field, but also a great interpersonal system.
Hi Victor,
Right you are and each instructor needs to work at finding that balance. When the balance is found then comfort on the part of the instructor can set in enabling him/her to develop rapport with the students as well as excitement for teaching.
Gary
Combining knowledge or competence and delivering content in a captivating manner.
It is a balance between being stringent and being kind.
Instructional professionalism is when educators are able to give feedback to students and colleagues in a collaborative and a professional matter. When instruction professionalism is exhibited instructor dresses and acts professional at all times. Instructors also know their content area and know how to present this information to students.
