Teaching and Training Philosophy
"The principal goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done; men and women who are creative, inventive and discoverers, who can be critical and verify, and not accept, everything they are offered."
-- Jean Piaget, Swiss philosopher and scientist
Working in a research and development organization, I find that the majority of those I work with and support are individuals who are professionals with advanced education and training yet are often stymied regarding how to proceed with continuous education and/or training needs. Collaboration is a powerful tool that can be used with these individuals to create and promote an atmosphere and culture of continuous personal and professional growth not only for them but for those around them, especially the junior staff. The junior staff is thus groomed for positions of greater responsibility and personal growth while the senior staff continually advances their educational boundaries.
Being able to move easily between the role of facilitator to that of teacher and trainer is paramount when one is an education and training facilitator / counselor working with individuals who are looking to continue their education or assuming new roles and responsibilities. One must utilize every tool available to them. In my case education and training in strategic thinking, project management and knowledge of finance and acquisition processes across the Department of Defense provide me the insights to effectively guide experienced staff and individuals new to the organization and research and development in general away from the pitfalls that have plagued many an individual and organization in the past. One must not only espouse continuing education but one must also practice it, which in my case prompted me to expand my educational experiences into Distance Education Teaching and Training. Learning through Distance Education Teaching and Training has provided immeasurable insights and the tools necessary for a more well-rounded understanding of how individual’s approach education and the skills necessary to tailor the learning experience to the individual to promote continuous learning.
The benefits of alternative educational approaches, distance education, are often overlooked by Baby Boomers and are often passed to future generations through organizational culture. It is imperative that organizations not only maintain traditional educational approaches but augment those with alternative approaches in order to avoid missing opportunities benefiting not only the organization but the individuals within the organization. This can only be accomplished by having organizational education and training facilitators / counselors that are capable of truly listening to an individual and communicating with that individual in such a manner that conveys the benefits of alternative education to the individual in both the short and long term and in turn the organization. This type of an approach is situationally dependent and must be tailored to the individual. One size does not fit all.
Change in educational approaches will come, some of the changes will be beneficial and some maybe not so much. Change will likely be slow and occur in spurts but we must not lose focus on the need for change for as we have seen each generation’s approach to continuing education is different. Patience for education and training facilitators / counselors is a virtue as we must offer the most appropriate educational options to each generation. We will need to tailor our educational offerings because as generations change so will their perspective on educational approaches. We must be ready to facilitate educational approach changes, embrace new educational approaches while maintaining traditional education, and be ready to blend across these as necessary to ensure that continuing education meets the needs of the individual and organization it is intended to benefit. This approach requires follow-up to ensure experiences are positive and adjustments are made as necessary in as near real time as possible.
This philosophy is a proven one. In my case the organization’s education and training attendance has doubled for both traditional and distance education. The number of individuals who have gained certification and proficiency levels has doubled as well. New individuals achieve certification sooner than at any time in the past. The need for certification waivers are a part of a bygone era. The atmosphere and culture of continuous personal and professional growth has taken hold.
Education and training facilitators / counselors cannot rest on their laurels and must continually utilize their education and professional training to open new doors where a wealth of knowledge and resources abound and share those with others to improve their continued education/training experience. For me this means building an organizational Knowledge Management Library and expanding training in all aspects, level of difficulty, content, and delivery mode. These will promote a constructivist-learning environment where collaboration can grow with the intent to root and embrace a Community of Inquiry within the organization’s culture. An education and training facilitator / counselor cannot look just at the individuals but must also look within the organization’s structure to develop a management philosophy that ensures organizational staff develop a sustainable road map for continued professional and personal educational growth that continues to expand providing ever-greater opportunities and approaches for the staff and organization to consider. It is important for the organization and individual to know where they came from in order to determine a sustainable educational growth path.
The ‘status quo’ should never be accepted. Thus "The principal goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done; men and women who are creative, inventive and discoverers, who can be critical and verify, and not accept, everything they are offered." -- Jean Piaget, Swiss philosopher and scientist
Kay Venteicher
Reference
(1988). Education for Democracy. Presented at proceedings from the Cambridge School Conference on Progressive Education.
-- Jean Piaget, Swiss philosopher and scientist
Working in a research and development organization, I find that the majority of those I work with and support are individuals who are professionals with advanced education and training yet are often stymied regarding how to proceed with continuous education and/or training needs. Collaboration is a powerful tool that can be used with these individuals to create and promote an atmosphere and culture of continuous personal and professional growth not only for them but for those around them, especially the junior staff. The junior staff is thus groomed for positions of greater responsibility and personal growth while the senior staff continually advances their educational boundaries.
Being able to move easily between the role of facilitator to that of teacher and trainer is paramount when one is an education and training facilitator / counselor working with individuals who are looking to continue their education or assuming new roles and responsibilities. One must utilize every tool available to them. In my case education and training in strategic thinking, project management and knowledge of finance and acquisition processes across the Department of Defense provide me the insights to effectively guide experienced staff and individuals new to the organization and research and development in general away from the pitfalls that have plagued many an individual and organization in the past. One must not only espouse continuing education but one must also practice it, which in my case prompted me to expand my educational experiences into Distance Education Teaching and Training. Learning through Distance Education Teaching and Training has provided immeasurable insights and the tools necessary for a more well-rounded understanding of how individual’s approach education and the skills necessary to tailor the learning experience to the individual to promote continuous learning.
The benefits of alternative educational approaches, distance education, are often overlooked by Baby Boomers and are often passed to future generations through organizational culture. It is imperative that organizations not only maintain traditional educational approaches but augment those with alternative approaches in order to avoid missing opportunities benefiting not only the organization but the individuals within the organization. This can only be accomplished by having organizational education and training facilitators / counselors that are capable of truly listening to an individual and communicating with that individual in such a manner that conveys the benefits of alternative education to the individual in both the short and long term and in turn the organization. This type of an approach is situationally dependent and must be tailored to the individual. One size does not fit all.
Change in educational approaches will come, some of the changes will be beneficial and some maybe not so much. Change will likely be slow and occur in spurts but we must not lose focus on the need for change for as we have seen each generation’s approach to continuing education is different. Patience for education and training facilitators / counselors is a virtue as we must offer the most appropriate educational options to each generation. We will need to tailor our educational offerings because as generations change so will their perspective on educational approaches. We must be ready to facilitate educational approach changes, embrace new educational approaches while maintaining traditional education, and be ready to blend across these as necessary to ensure that continuing education meets the needs of the individual and organization it is intended to benefit. This approach requires follow-up to ensure experiences are positive and adjustments are made as necessary in as near real time as possible.
This philosophy is a proven one. In my case the organization’s education and training attendance has doubled for both traditional and distance education. The number of individuals who have gained certification and proficiency levels has doubled as well. New individuals achieve certification sooner than at any time in the past. The need for certification waivers are a part of a bygone era. The atmosphere and culture of continuous personal and professional growth has taken hold.
Education and training facilitators / counselors cannot rest on their laurels and must continually utilize their education and professional training to open new doors where a wealth of knowledge and resources abound and share those with others to improve their continued education/training experience. For me this means building an organizational Knowledge Management Library and expanding training in all aspects, level of difficulty, content, and delivery mode. These will promote a constructivist-learning environment where collaboration can grow with the intent to root and embrace a Community of Inquiry within the organization’s culture. An education and training facilitator / counselor cannot look just at the individuals but must also look within the organization’s structure to develop a management philosophy that ensures organizational staff develop a sustainable road map for continued professional and personal educational growth that continues to expand providing ever-greater opportunities and approaches for the staff and organization to consider. It is important for the organization and individual to know where they came from in order to determine a sustainable educational growth path.
The ‘status quo’ should never be accepted. Thus "The principal goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done; men and women who are creative, inventive and discoverers, who can be critical and verify, and not accept, everything they are offered." -- Jean Piaget, Swiss philosopher and scientist
Kay Venteicher
Reference
(1988). Education for Democracy. Presented at proceedings from the Cambridge School Conference on Progressive Education.