Professional_Knowledge_and_Abilities

Professional Knowledge and Abilities GEN 200 February 15, 2010 Tricia Maxon An individual learns and acquires professional knowledge both from studying in an academic institution and from a structured and monitored workplace experience. Education and practice increase one’s knowledge and abilities that can be very helpful in his or her personal and professional success. He or She needs to consider professional development activities such as attending higher education or continuing training courses and degree programs, in-service trainings, seminars, and workshops provided by the company, mentoring programs, and through constant updates by taking the initiative to acquire and make use of ongoing informal resources, which includes online forums, discussion boards, newsletters, and other opportunities to socialize with other staff or professionals to share ideas and expertise. Individuals who take the initiative and extra effort to acquire advanced levels of education have the strong drive to achieve their professional goals. When they have acquired the knowledge necessary for the job, they crave to apply them at work so they willingly take tasks that allow them to develop their skills and abilities that eventually result in accomplishing varied tasks and goals. The development of these skills and knowledge become few of the factors for promotion or transfer to a better position that will lead to success in one’s professional career. It is no doubt that employers consider one’s educational attainment and experiences during the hiring and promotion process. Requirements are not only the experiences and education but also some professions need a license or certification related to their professions. This will prove to be advantageous for the applicant. The qualifications in most entry-level jobs have raised standards and require a high minimum educational level and most of them need college level education whereas other jobs require professionals who have completed studies in their respective courses. According to (Fox and Spetor, March 2000), “In addition to the kinds of knowledge, skills, and abilities traditionally associated with task performance, success in today's work organizations may require a more personal configuration of competencies, such as self-management, self-presentation, empathy and interpersonal sensitivity.” Professionals understand the need for them to become members of professional organizations to improve their knowledge and abilities in matters that relate to their professions as this continual learning will greatly improve their contribution to the organization. For teachers, it is good for them to join the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE). “The Association of Teacher Educators was founded in 1920 and is an individual membership organization devoted solely to the improvement of teacher education both for school-based and post secondary teacher educators.” (ATE). Organizations like the AAE specialize in different aspects of most professions and they have plenty of informative and useful tools that can help in developing and maintaining career skills and enhancing a professional’s abilities. The ATE provides standards for teacher educators which can be used for a variety of purposes such as assessing performance of teacher educators, data collection, and it can provide better insights for those who teach the teachers. The ATE offers books and publications on teacher education that can help those who assist teachers become more proficient in the field. ATE has voting seats on the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and its representational form of governance provides chances for ATE members for national leadership. ATE regularly holds annual meetings and other conferences and workshops to communicate and collaborate on important matters, which affect teacher educators. ATE’s Special Interest Groups (SIGs) provide the needed information and support for its members. The ATE site provides a page for professional opportunities that will prove beneficial to the members who want to seek for better learning and teaching opportunities. The ATE can develop and improve the teacher educator’s leadership because of its mode of governance and regular meetings and conferences. Its publications, journals, and books together with the SIGs provide the needed information and support in different fields that members will need from time to time. The ATE Standards for Teacher Educators serves as a guide for the members to better understand his or her roles more clearly. All of these features and benefits of the ATE can give the teacher educators the resources, knowledge, skills to help them climb up the ladder to career success. References Fox and Spetor (2000). Professional Knowledge and Abilities. Louisville Mojo. http://www.louisvillemojo.com/blogs/Blog.Cfm'EntryID=80627&BlogID=15541 Peters, C. (2009). Professional Knowledge and Abilities. Louisville Blogs. http://www.louisvillemojo.com/blogs/Blog.Cfm'EntryID=80627&BlogID=15541 The Association of Teacher Educators. (2003) http://www.ate1.org/pubs/Home.cfm