Many times in my life I have taken courses or seminars only
to encounter an instructor who seemed out of touch with what is going on in the
real world. I remember one such course where even the instructor seemed bored
and unengaged with the lesson he was presenting. It is absolutely essential that educators stay
up to date with current teaching styles/concepts and technology. Furthermore,
instructors that teach trades should go back out into their industry to work
periodically. This will aid in keeping
the instructor abreast with current trends and skills in their field. When
instructors spend years in the classroom they can lose sight of what is really
going on in the industry and become an educator with no relevance to the real
world.
Fortunately many schools, colleges, and universities
encourage faculty to develop themselves by offering release time as well as
funds for higher learning. Nowadays a common way of thinking is the idea that
we are “lifelong learners”, a concept many instructors instill in their
students. It seem only fitting the
educators would also be lifelong learners.
I’m a firm believer that life itself is one big learning lesson and that
we do not stop learning until we pass on. Today’s learners do a great deal of
research before and during a course, they know their stuff and they know what
they want to learn. In order for an instructor to be able to provide their
learners with a meaningful experience, an instructor must remain up to date
with area in which they teach.
As an instructor I believe in taking courses regularly and
pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Recently, I applied to do my Masters of
Education, a graduate program that will largely focus on curriculum and
instructional strategies. In addition, I work out in the field one day a week
so I can prevent skill erosion and share industry trends with my students. What
do you do to keep learning and remain current?
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