Defining Instructional Professionalism
How do you define instructional professionalism?
@gmeers :You have to be credible. You can't just fake it to make it. The students will see right through you. You do not have to know EVERYTHING, but you do need to be the Subject Matter Expert, be willing to admit you do not know the answer, and get the answer in a timely manner. Lack of knowledge or preparation will cause the instructor to lose the class, and future classes, quickly.
Instructional professionalism is very important. I am a firm believer in starting and stopping a class on time. This shows the students that I value their time and also helps set the standard of being on time when in the workforce. I am in the healthcare field, and I believe in modeling the way the students should present themselves. Once lab begins, I have the standard of hair off the collar, no nail polish, etc and I come to lab just as I expect them to come in. We talk about why starting and stopping on time is important, why the way we dress is important and why our responses and our attitude is important everyday, whether in school or at work. Instructional professionalism is all about setting the standard whether you are in the classroom, lab or clinical setting.
I would define instructional professionalism to be the manner in which teachers/instructors carry themselves in and out of the classroom.
As the unit discussed, teachers act as role models for their students and need to model the professionalism expected of anyone in their field of expertise. In light of that, instructional professionalism is doing just that: modeling professionalism as the instructor.
Perhaps the only other component I might add that instructional professionalism includes the professional behaviors expected of educators. For me, this not only includes the mastery of the skills/content within my field but also the mastery & skills of a great teacher.
Instructional professionalism means to bring all the professional knowledge I have mastered in my field of my expertise to the classroom. Such professionalism will capture students' attention that will will make the learning environment fun and enthusiastic to students.
Instructing in a professional manner. Professional dress, professional attitiude, professioanl knowledge.
Pamela,
Good analysis on how to approach being a learning leader to and for students. Finding a balance in your role as instructor is important so that you can keep your students moving forward in their learning while being engaged in the process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I can see that many responses included "being an expert" on the subject matter in their definition, and while accurate, extensive knowledge on the subject is important, I don't know if being an "expert" is that crucial. As the Harvard professor stated in the first video clip, "know your subject, but don't try and show your students how smart you are; you are probably not the smartest person in the room!" We all need to be competent, but I think that having confidence in what you DO know is more important than being the expert. I think part of defining instructional professionalism means being able to say "That's a great question!I don't know the answer right now, but I will find out". I always let my students know how and where I found the answer as an example of how to research info. Another strategy I use is giving the students the tools and resources to further explore the subject matter on their own if it's something beyond the scope of the lesson plan for the day. They are often excited to come back and share their discoveries! I don't believe there's anything wrong with admitting there are limits to our knowledge base. We should model that we are always open to learning new things and show them how to find answers to satisfy their curiosity. I figure if they're not asking questions, then they're not thinking about the material, which means I'm not reaching them. I'd rather tell a student "I'm not sure, or I don't know" than give them incorrect information. Do that just once, and you lose credibility, and the students' respect, which renders you ineffective for the rest of your time together.
Instructional Professionalism is not easily defined. Have you ever seen those mosaic pictures that when you get closer to them, you realize that each piece of the mosaic is also a picture? That's the image that comes to mind. Instructional professionalism means treating all instruction that we do in our classrooms professionally. First, we need to treat the content professionally, so we need to be sure we know it, we've studied it, and we've prepared it. Then we need to treat our students professionally, as they will receive our instruction. We need to, therefore, design our content thoughtfully, weighing how best our students learn. Lastly, we need to treat ourselves professionally as the deliverers of the content by reading professional journals, attending conference, and staying abreast to the latest teaching tools for our subject. These are just three pieces that make up the complicated definition of Instructional Professionalism.
Suzanne,
Great list and right on target. Thank you for sharing these with us as I know they will be of benefit to other instructors, especially those just starting their teaching careers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Setting a standard within the classroom on the first day. Being well prepared prior to the start of class, business attire, sharing your educational and professional background with students and laying a good foundation of expectation for the semester. It is also important to share with students that while you may have many answers to their questions, for those questions that you do not have answers to you will research the answer and get back to them.
IRIS,
Like your definition as it includes both instruction and learning. I think like you that teaching is as much about learning as it is teaching.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I define Instructional Professionalism as teaching while learning from both the student and the instructor. While there is learning from both interims; engagment, challenge, motivation, and inpsiration is in full effect.
Monika,
This is the way to approach being a role model and learning leader for your students. They see you as a successful person in their field and that by modeling their behavior, knowledge and skills as you do they will have made a step forward in their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Conducting your self in a professional manner, including not only appropriate dress and talk but also appropriate professional attitude in every area that you talk about in the classroom. Leaving personal preferences, or commentary outside of the classroom is a must.
Sharon,
I support your position big time because our students need to realize that we take their preparation seriously. The reason we offer the content we do as well as the skill development is to prepare them to be top quality professionals in our field. To expect anything less than the best is to be unfair to our field and our customers/patients.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is a code of honor that we set for our field, ourselves, and our students. We are role models for our craft and educators for it. It is a big responsibility as we control and set the tone and bar for everything. We all should take this seriously.
Stacey,
Can you expand on these words to give me an better idea of what you are saying by listing these words? Thanks for your input on this.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
knowledge, professional conduct
I agree with most replies here. it's a very large blend of knowing your trade, preparing, ect. but some of It, to me, is handling a difficult class room situation in a way that makes student stop and say : I know what I want to do in life but THAT is the type of person I wish to be like.
