Instructional professionalism starts with leadership. One who is well trained in leadership understands the importance of professionalism and the traits that define it. It is a matter of presenting yourself in a manner that reflects well upon yourself and your organization. One must remember that you lead from the front and that means that all eyes are upon you! Therefore, your professional conduct is always viewed and evaluated by students.
Hi Claudia,
Keep those high standards as well as your professional attitude. You are the model of what a person in your career area should be like. Your students can study with you, learn from you and then reflect from you what a career professional should be like. This is what teaching is all about. I wish you much success as an instructor.
Gary
I totally agree; it seems students coming out of school haven't had that 'bar' set very high!? My expectations, as a mentor in the workplace, have been too high, even. THIS is why I have accepted this position to teach.
I define it as you suggested in another thread...
- Running a good class room on the admin side
- Showing the human element
But also be a course expert.
I feel that the classes you should teach you should have a passion in the subject.
We owe it to our students as they are paying a great deal to learn from us and we should return that by being up to date and provide realivant material.
Instructional professionalism is organizing the information you wish to share, regardless of the source, in a fashion that is professional, meets the needs of the students, meets the needs of the instructor, and meets the requirements of the course.
Hi Herbert,
Thank you for the kind words. I wish you much success in your teaching efforts.
Gary
This information is very helpful. I like the interactive learning experience and have picked up several good points in this first module.
I see the importance of being a professional roll model and feel that by absorbing the material contained in this course I will expand my both my knowledge and ability to be a better instructor.
The foundation of Instructional Professionalism is being knowlegeable in the subject matter, providing a professional role model, as well as effective use of various instructional formats and tools. In addition, I view Instructional Professionalism as the ability of the instructor to transition and transform according to the needs of each new group of students - the same skills that define good leadership.
Be aware of what is expected of you by your industry and portray it in all aspects of your teaching.
I really appreciate your answer. This is a constant struggle for me as well, and I feel better knowing someone else is having the same assessment and experience.
Marilyn
I've found that leading students by example has been a great conduit for impressing professionalism in the classroom. Walk, talk, and look like the professional that you are and students will take note. An instructor must first believe that he/she posseses these qualities...students can sniff out a phony.
I would define this term with the following:
1. Proper dress and properly carrying oneself.
2. Speaking clearly and distinctly.
3. A command of and a passion for the subject matter.
4. Multiple presentation methods to overcome boredom.
These are the qualities I found I most admired in teachers I audited prior to beginning teaching in January of this year.
To me, the definition of instructional professionalism is to carry yourself and operate your classroom in a manner that supports the highest standards. For me it isn't about dressing a certain way (as long as you are dressed appropriate) but rather it is knowing your material and putting your students first. I believe that you can't think you are smarter than the students and that often times the students have excellent experiences that they can share that add to the element of the classroom. It is about motivating students, being up to speed on present day information in your area of expertise, and carrying yourself in a way that allows students to respect you but still find you approachable.
Kristine, I'm glad that you mentioned the logistics of instruction. I had not mentioned that in my description as I took for granted scheduling and creating a relaxed environment. Setting the example for conducting meetings/classes is a lesson in itself. Proper attire and interaction are other important lessons.
Instruction would entail 1) subject matter expertise; 2) explain and communicate concepts to students in various ways; 3) guide students to answers. Doing this in a professional manner indicates to me that all interaction with the student would be unambiguous, accurate, comprehensive and helpful. The whole goal is to teach and to support students in their goals to expand their knowledge base.
Mia, I certainly agree with your definition and you could not have said it more succinctly. When I first began to teach, my focus had been on the technology. Communication and the ability to share this knowledge with students was important as well. Knowing something is great but if you cannot explain it to a student, then what good is it? After over seven years of teaching, the importance of technical knowledge has been "overshadowed" by the importance of good instruction.
how you present yourself to others whereas dealing with students of other instructors
Instructor performance will set the tone of the class. Appropriate dress, language and attitude will motivate and educate the students. Most students can glean enough information from the text to pass exams; however, seeing someone act in an appropriate manner will provide the students with an excellent example of how to conduct themselves in the industry
I feel that the information that I recieved will aid me greatly in my ability to instruct classes.
it is presenting yourself and your topic in a professional manner. Students should percieve an instructor to be professional when teaching. First impression in a class should always be positive and communicates a message to others about yourself. If you have a well dressed appearnce it conveys a higher level of knowledge and a sincere interest and students can percieve it as professional. It also conveys to them that you are committed to their learning. Of course, just the appearance alone is not enough, subject matter should gear toward student learning and success in the field. If the topic is not interesting enough they will not continue to want to be in the class. Language and behavior affects the professional image as well.
