Teaching Professionalism.
When you are in front of a classroom filled with adults, I have found that teaching professionalism is the most difficult thing to do. Most of your students, being adults, have already been set in their ways about things. it can be very challenging to change their minds. Showing that you are a professional, and walking the walk, so to speak, goes a long way towards getting your point across.
Joseph,
You are right about how powerful professionalism is in relation to career success. Those of us that have been in the field know that but sadly many of our students don't or won't believe it. The more can help them to develop their professional persona the greater chance they will have when they are ready to enter employment.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Professionalism is one of the most important thing that we can transfer onto our students, as this can greatly improve their success later in life and there future endeavor's.. I feel its a skill that most are now no longer taught and learned a some of our students' younger years
Everett,
I experience this same thing each time I start a new class, which by the way is tonight. It is always a challenge to be able to span the generations and experience levels of students in order to bring value to each student while helping him or her move closer to their expressed career goal.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
One of the (many) struggles I'm encountering as I teach a new subject for the first time is the fact that my class spans many age-ranges.
For example, I have both just-graduated from High School students sitting at the same desk as a 40-something professional trying to expand her knowledge and opportunities.
I find I have to change my "walk" regularly to accommodate all of these different experience levels and histories.
Stephen,
Yes, it is. This is why it is so important for us to be role models for our students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Absolutely, modeling is one of the best ways to connect students with professionalism.
WILLIAM,
You make a very good point about how to reinforce the need for professionalism by students. You are right about adults and how they perceive things. So the walk is so important because they will not generally connect with just the talk.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
