Richele,
Excellent! You are right, I have found many students are not good active listeners!
Shelly Crider
Anna Marie,
Interesting.....thank you for the resource!!
Shelly Crider
Professional development courses are a requirement at our school. we incorporate professional behavior, ethics, writing skills in all of our medical classes as well. one thing I did not emphasize is nonverbal communication skills , active listening , I find that the majority of students are not good listeners , they are either too nervous (I'm next) or interrupt the speaker. I intend to create an exercise in listening.
I help my students to develop their professional skills by developing class activities that include the use of professional associations like Cotton Incorporated. This association is free to the students and helps them to build professional networking skills.
Warren,
That is an excellent example of professionalism!!!
Shelly Crider
Mentoring our students to be professional is important, not just for their future, but it can be important for them while they're attending classes. I always want my students to put their best foot forward because you never know who will be watching! Case in point, I had a student who was asked by a fellow student to come to his place of employment to fill out an application for a job. The student who did the asking was aware of the professional manner/skills/attitude that was necessary for the position. Because they were in school learning a skill it was obvious that the passion/desire to learn was there. What the prospective employer didn't have to worry about was the professional behavior didn't have to be part of the training!!!
Sean,
I love a success guide! This way students can add to it!
Shelly Crider
My school has a success guide that is given to the students when they arrive, but the primary source of what professional skills "should" be comes by example from the faculty/staff. It's up to us to lead by example and provide the students a template to work with and improve their own professional skills, not only when things are operating normally but especially when things aren't going as planned.
greg,
I like how you add from the customer's standpoint.....that is the bottom line!
Shelly Crider
Angela,
There is nothing better than seeing what you are learning!
Shelly Crider
Jacob,
I love this being a graded category. This really puts importance on the item!
Shelly Crider
In my classes I like to observe and question my students on there skills, as they work and question them about what could improve the outcome of the projsct. How could it look better from the custimers standpoint, and professionalism on their part.
I always dress professionally for my classes. I also make sure my behaviors and mannerisms are professional. My school does require all students to take a class towards the end of their course of study that will help them build their portfolio. They have a business uniform ordered and worn as part of a mock interview.
Sheila,
Students do need to be encouraged in many areas.
Shelly Crider
Steven,
This is good as professionalism is more than just about fashion.
Shelly Crider
At our school professionalism is a graded category in every course. It's has a weight of 10% - 30% of the overall grade depending on the course. The instructor is at liberty to use deductions in this category, which has proven to be an extremely effecting motivational tool to improve professional behaviour, and turn that behaviour into habbit.
Developing student's professional skills is so important to their workplace success. While skills can be learned, understanding how to speak and write at the professional (entry-level) is critical to success. So many students enter their professional programs with minimal writing, communication, and critical thinking skills. Encouraging each student to develop these skills will make the difference between having a successful career and one that is just paying the bills.
In my course, I emphasize the importance of a "professional mindset". Students are expected to dress appropriately for a lab environment, perform tasks in an organized manner, and turn in neat/legible paperwork. After paperwork has been approved, the students are expected to clean their tools, equipment, and area. I stress to them the importance of acting/looking professional even in a dirty lab environment. Many students appreciate being held to a higher standard, and enjoy the edge that a "mindset" like this gives them over the competition.
Bruce,
I so agree....we need to walk the walk that we talk!
Shelly Crider
As an instuctor I feel it is my responceability to model a professional apperance and attitude. It is very important to encougage your students to work on their professional skills daily along with preforming labs and other class activities including interaction with class mates.
