Hi Jamie,
Yes, you do need to set the example and you are doing just that. You are helping them to see what the expectations are for the field and how they can prepare themselves to have a successful career.
Gary
Professionalism occuurs when you treat everyone you come in contact with as a person. You work as a team and offer suport and encouragement toall.
Mariann U.
Instructional professionalism means different things for different professions in a career college setting. I am a business instructor, therefore I portray a business professional in the classroom. I dress as a business professional and act as a field professional in the classroom. I also give valuable "real-world" examples of course content from my profession. All of the above give me credibility and respect among my students.
This is important because a majority of the students in my class are in school to graduate and start a business career. I need to set an example of how to dress and act in the business field.
Dressing in the proper attireand letting your studentns see you are human as discussed in the articles are ways one can show professionalism
Mariann
Being knowledgeable of the subject matter.
Being professional in the delivery of information and one's conduct.
Being respectful and engaged with the student learner.
I believe in leading by example. Show the students that you are able to be professional by, being on time, dressing as a professional, lecturing, answering questions and giving examples in a way they understand without using slang.
Giving the students a role model for the working world.
Material should be prepared in advance.
Professional attire by the instructor.
Instructor should be a Model, Motivator and a Manager.
Hi Anna,
Well stated in terms of addressing the total instructional picture. By being professional in all of these areas you are going to set the tone for the class and give your students the soft skills they need to be successful in the work place.
Gary
To me instructions professionalism is defined in two areas. The first is obvious, and that is knowing your topic and making sure you are well prepared in materials, outlines, etc. to teach the topic. The second, and to me the more important aspect of instructional professionalism comes from how you connect with your students. Are they front and center? Do you really listen to them? Do teach in ways that can give them a sense of ownership and authorship in the class?
I am a younger teacher, and as such have a little harder time just because some of my students are older than I am, and close to my age as well. As far as defining instructional professionalism goes, I feel that you be the role model for the class. This means within attire, so either dress buisness like, or whatever is appropriate for your profession. Language should be professional, so no rude or distasteful comments and language should be PG. Also the way that you present yourself should be in a buisness-like atomosphere. Keep your classroom open for discussion, because I feel when teachers are too commanding they lose their students respect, but maintain control of your classroom.
Hi Natalie,
Right you are. Instructors have to remember this because just dressing the part does not mean you are living the part. This is essential if we are going to keep our students engaged in learning.
Gary
Making sure that you are organized and full of energy for the topic. You can dress as professionally as you want, you can wonderful in the "professional world", but if you can not motivate, inspire, or mentor the students there is a breakdown in teaching skills.
Hi Natalie,
Good definition as well as a good goal. By being able to communicate the knowledge that is needed by students and help them develop the skills required of the field you will have fulfilled your role as an educator.
Gary
Instructional professionalism, in my opinion, Is The ability to relay materials to your students from many different angles.
This includes not only factual evidence of the subject matter but also it allows for personal tales of experience relating to the subject at hand as well as some opinionated discussions. Instruction at the professional level Is last but not least addressing all learning styles by offering activites such as research projects, skits, and open forums for discussion directly relating to subject.
Projecting yourself as a professional - in language, dress, and conduct. Being prepared for class - including checking equipment, making copies, preparing the classroom. Being able to relate to the students and adjust teaching style as needed. Setting high standards for the students in terms of grade requierments, behavoir, homework, and attendance.
I have a hard time committing to 'my definition' or 'how do you feel about' type questions; however, tying in some of the ideas from the first Module of the lesson, instructional professionalism may include:
a) The manner in which the instructor presents himself. This may include their attire (appropriate to the field of instruction) and their follow-through of their own expectations of the students (timeliness for beginning class as an example).
b) Current knowledge of the technical aspect of their program's field, as well as continual training in instruction. This echoes an article I read during my Masters work from a 2002 issue of the Journal of Vocational Education Research, in which J.E. Bartlett pointed out this combo as a common pattern in certification and licensing of postsecondary CTE instructors. The reading itself may not have emphasized instructor familiarity with the 'most current' as much as 'continual learning of' (?) - I think the term 'current' as I use it here can be too conclusive as to defining a professional - being up-to-the-minute on all aspects of industry and instruction isn't where people always are in their training, but even relatively recent knowledge from the field (if not the most current innovations), or use of instructional practices which may be dated, but still affective, might define a professional as well.
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your input on professionalism. It is a term we all need to understand and apply in our own setting. Professionalism sets the tone for our students and helps them to see what a person in their field can be like.
Thank you also for the typo information.
Gary
Instructional professionalism to me has everything to do with the way to respond to the students need for instruction. In some instances students may seem as though they are not understanding something, which can be frustrating to the instructor/teacher, but maintaining the sense that you did not always understand everything the first or even second time it was taught to you is a way to avoid this feeling. Or perhaps the student has a hard time with the application of instructions, everyone else may understand this but this one student does not. Try changing your delivery, approach it from another angle and see if that works, above all else don't loose sight of why you are here, to teach ALL students the material, sometimes that takes a little extra effort than you originally thought.
Hi Ana,
Good definition and one that reflects your desire to be an instructor of quality and impact for your students.
Gary
Also, I see it as joining my personal and professional knowledge and achievements to invest them in the lives of others (my students, co-workers,etc)and for their benefit and mine too!
