Kathleen,
Oh so true! We as instructors must show the way for professionalism.
Shelly Crider
Erin,
This is an awesome post and thank you for being so passionate about teaching!
Shelly Crider
Faculty for the career colleges can have a more difficult time assisting students in developing their professional skills because of the other factors associated with many second career students. Faculty must find a balance in the learning environment and a way to introduce and connect the dots.
I teach the general education courses at a career college, so I try to show my students that the skills they learn in my course can transfer. I expect professional levels of communication in email, text, and writing, and I ask them to reflect on how that would come across to someone who had never met them. Most students agree that it is the skill of coming across as professional and responsible that they seek most in writing. I try to show them how they can do that.
The class we teach Career Management identifies professional skills and the entire class is centered on the importance of "soft skills".
Absolutely! Professionalism is what would set any individual apart from the pack. Professionalism encompassing the image they project to the impression they give can make all the difference.
I help students define their professional skills by making each student list their top 10 career-related strengths. We review the list in class and discuss them as professional skills.
From day one, we impart the importance of professionalism in our career. Massage Therapy has gotten a bad rap and by thinking, acting , and looking like a professional, we give our students a good start on their journey as well as something they can work on and use for the rest of their lives.
Becka,
I love how you state this. Indeed this is what we want for our students.
Shelly Crider
Each student must treat every person that they come in contact with as a potential client. We as instructors take this very seriously and sometimes the students have a hard time showing other classmates their own level of professionalism. Once they see us as instructors act professionally towards others...thwy usually fall in line.
Todd,
Information is golden! You can add that info right into the online classroom as well!
Shelly Crider
Our campus has a professionalism initiative that is posted in each classroom to define the expected levels of professional skills that are required for the work force. Our course materials also offer a range of technological, social and presentation programs that help to increase a students professional development
