Message from the Certificate Director
Greetings Educators,
In this column we normally focus on teacher professional development and ways for integrating technology into education. However, we don’t always consider how professional development takes place in other aspects of our jobs, other environments, or in other fields. We tend to avoid professional development programs that are only marginally related to our jobs or may require extra work on our behalf. And if it means working on our day off or training for no pay, we’re even less likely to participate.
This past week two professional development stories came to my attention and I want to share these stories and look at how professional development can impact the lives of others. Programs, such as our Educational Technology Certificate Program, are designed to improve both teaching and learning outcomes and there are many other programs ranging from self-improvement to workplace safety.
What follows are two stories that show the range and impact professional development programs are having.
The first story is one we’ve all most likely heard this year; Sully Sullenberger successfully landing a crippled US Airways jet in the Hudson River with no injuries. This, of course, made national and international news and it was clear that Captain “Sully” Sullenberger’s many years of training and professional development were keys to the successful landing on that fateful day.
Sully began flying a crop duster when he was 16 and years later became an Air Force fighter pilot flying Phantom F-4 jets. Later he became an airline pilot and on January 15, 2009, at age 58 with over 19,700 hours logged, he sat down at the controls of US Airways flight 1549 with 155 passengers and crewmembers.
In his book, “Highest Duty,” Captain Sullenberger talks extensively about what prepared him for that day and it’s clear that one key element was professional development. He has a passion for improving his own skills and teaching others the lessons learned from his 42 years flying.
In a recent interview on learning trends with Elliott Masie, head of the Masie Center, Sullenberger addressed the issue of training and professional development and its impact on performance. He noted “It was 208 seconds from birds to landing.” And the only way to be prepared for those 208 seconds was through training, practice, and experience.
Our second story is a story of heroism that would most likely go unnoticed. It’s a story where professional development also played a key role and a life was saved as a result.
Mr. Mehmood works for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad, Pakistan. As many of you know, I worked this past summer in Islamabad on a program to reform pre-service teacher education and Facebook has allowed me to stay in touch with many people I met. Through Facebook Mr. Mehmood recounts this story:
Yesterday after saying my Juma Prayers in main building of HEC, Me (Tahir Mehmood-Learning Innovation Division) and My Friends Mr. Malik Shahzad and Mr. Ghulam Abbas from Finance Division came out from the mosque and walked to the van stop. At the van stop we saw an old man who was sitting beside the road. Suddenly the old man fell down on the ground, we rushed to the old man and found him unconscious. As we recently received a training of “Fire Fighting and First Aid” from HEC in collaboration with the Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management CDA, Islamabad, we gave him First Aid basic treatment to save his life. We found a receipt from the old man’s’ pocket with a telephone number on it. We called on the number. The young receiver (relative) rushed from Rawalpindi for the old man. On reaching his relative we took the old man to the hospital. This is all possible due to our training which helped us how to save a life in case of any emergency. The prevalent situation in the country demands such civil defense and emergency response related trainings to be given to ordinary citizens, employees of organizations so that they could play a positive and sensible role in case of threat or danger. We are thankful to our Honorable Executive Director, Dr. Sohail Naqvi, and Honorable Member (O & P) Prof. Mukhtar Ahmed for arranging such training and considering us to be a part of it. We will continue supporting our fellow beings in this way.
As I look back on my own professional development, opportunities I’ve taken, one’s I’ve missed, and how our Certificate program has evolved I think about why we participate. Often it’s because there’s something in it for us; a pay raise, upgrades to our professional certifications, or for personal interest. I’ve missed opportunities because they just didn’t seem like fun. In one case it was a program offered by the Red Cross on first aid and life saving techniques. I’m now sorry I missed that one, particularly in light of Mr. Mehmood’s story. Fortunately I acquired those skills through another job that made the program mandatory rather than voluntary. I’ve learned over time that, as educators, we see the need to better prepare ourselves to teach in an ever-evolving 21st century and we do this through both formal and informal professional development.
Our Certificate Program is a wonderful example of formal professional development. The program enhances teachers’ credentials, improves teaching skills, and provides training in a field that’s almost now mandatory. Keep in mind that you are shaping the minds of generations to come by preparing the future Sully Sullenberger’s, Mr. Mehmood’s, and everyday people who will make a difference in our lives and the lives of others.
As you think about your own professional development consider what you want and need to learn and how programs such as our Certificate Program, NP Endorsement, and Masters program can meet your needs.
Send us your story about professional development and what impact it’s had on your life and maybe the lives of others. And send us your stories about using social networking programs (such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, MySpace and others) for professional development. I see the topic for my next Director’s Column evolving here!
Best Regards,
Joe Codde
Professor and Director
Educational Technology Certificate Program
Tags: professional development, training
December 1st, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Joe Codde,
My name is Michael Hughes and I teach sixth grade English and social studies at the Jakarta International School. I graduated with the MAET cohort in Plymouth, England in July of 2009 (Yeah, Leah Graves-Wolf). As my second masters degree, it did not get me a pay raise, different professional position, or kudos from colleagues. It was just me following a passion and improving the learning of students I contact each day.
JIS this year admitted our first deaf student, a sixth grade boy who has been placed in my homeroom. His very efficient and effective professional interpreter has begun offering an American Sign Language course and obviously, I’ve enrolled. There are no professional development funds for this, nor any pay grade increase for completion of study. What I receive for my personally funded professional development is the ability to communicate on a growing level with a very cool and unique young man who walks through the door each day.
What I really want to emphasize, though, is, that I’ve been hooked by this aspect of American culture of which I’ve had no prior knowledge. After 38 years in middle school “mainstream” classrooms, this PD opportunity, thrust upon me by chance student admittance, has made me consider how I can best increase my communication skills and be a part of a more inclusive community. This PD is not about one student, but about opening an avenue where I can continue to be a learner as well as give back to others.
Thank you for the opportunity to express myself. PD is great, vital, and you never know where some of it is going to take you, from an emergency aircraft landing to saving the life of an elderly gentleman.
All the best,
Michael Hughes
Jakarta International School
Jakarta, Indonesia