Professional Development/ Growth

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/ PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

Professional development is the enrichment training provided to teachers over a period of time to promote their development in all aspects of content and pedagogy.

Teacher’s Professional Development “is the body of systematic activities to prepare teachers for their job, including initial training, induction courses, in-service training and continuous professional development within school settings.” (OECD, 2010)

Avenues for continuous professional development 

ü School programmes- participation in various programmers of school/college may results in professional growth.

ü Observing classroom teaching…by senior colleagues or guest teachers

ü Participating in the lively discussion ,seminars and workshops held in the institution for improvement of commerce education

ü Seeking useful advice and help from the experienced teachers, head of the dept and subject experts for bringing improvement in own work

ü Seminars and conferences/workshops –these may prove a potent source for the professional growth of commerce teacher. By Participating in such seminars, conferences the teacher broadens outlook and expands knowledge. Outside ones own institution these are being organized by the extension dept of training colleges, universities, SCERT, NCERT. These proves to be source of store house of knowledge.

ü Refresher courses and summer institutes(In service programmes): Teacher may join refresher course and summer institutes held by universities and central authorities. These helps in updating knowledge and methodology of teaching commerce

ü Contribution in paper and journals : A teacher contributes his/her work by communicating ideas in black and white(scholarly exchange of ideas): if one publishes article in reputed journal …others will be benefited

ü Setting up of association: For exchange of ideas, views discuss on certain new topics related to commerce. Even one can publish articles by establishing forum

ü Talk by eminent personality on various issues of commerce, contemporary commercial problems and teacher should attend the same

ü To go through professional literature a commerce teacher should have a small library of its own… even teacher should also try best possible to consult latest books on commerce…presently retrieve information online and refer e resources for updating the knowledge.

ü Visits: The commerce teacher can induce knowledge about different commerce trends, problems and systems to make visits to the different commercial institutions. Even can conduct a small survey with the help of students.

Role of Commerce Teachers Association, SCERT and NCERT 

NPE, 1986 emphasises the role of teachers’ association and their role in the following words:

“ Teachers’ Association meet play a significant role in upholding professional integrity, enhancing the dignity of the teachers and incur…. professional misconduct. With regard to the professional development of teachers, the functions of teachers’ association are:

² To safeguard their professional interests & to secure satisfactory condition of work and service.

² To secure the professional growth of teachers through refresher courses, seminars, publications etc.

² To improve the teaching of subjects through the establishment of subject teachers’ association

Teachers generally set up such associations to make their bar gaining capacity stronger. But the teacher can discuss and solve their difficult problems during meetings of such associations. Such an association can therefore, easily become a forum for discussions and publications of professional articles. Through this association teachers are likely to enrich their experiences. It  is a non profit making, self reliant and voluntary organization of commerce teachers in various higher secondary schools, established with the prime objective of professional excellence of commerce teacher’s fraternity. It has provided a platform where teachers can exchange their ideas, suggestions, views, problems, innovative methods and observations. The mission of the association is the professionalization of commerce education. Another aim is to organize a large number of value added programmes for promoting commerce education and research. It would not only refresh and update their knowledge but also it would be helpful in their professional growth and strengthening their social ties.

Role of SCERT in Professional development/ growth of commerce teachers

To conduct workshops, orientation programs, seminars, conferences and other programs to update and upgrade the levels of knowledge of teachers and students.

REFRESHER COURSE: It is an important in –service training for teachers. The main purpose is to enable the teachers to keep abreast of the latest developments in their subjects as in theory and practices of education. It includes refresher course, orientation & training programs for teachers, headmasters, DEOs &DDEs on curriculum-related topics.

CONFERENCES: It can be organized on subjects of practical interest, such as revision of school curriculum, selection of text books, and report of successful educational experiments.

STUDY GROUPS: Teachers of different subjects can form study group which may meet once a week.

SCHOOL PROGRAMMES: This includes club meeting, faculty meeting, study circles, exhibitions in the school, experimental projects, film shows, demonstration lessons etc.

STUDY OF PROFESSIONAL WRITING: Teachers can study various publications of SCERT, NCERT, Extension service departments of colleges to acquaint with the latest research findings.

MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMMES: This includes educational tours, visits to places of educational importance and teacher exchange programmes can be organized for professional growth of teachers.

Role of NCERT in professional growth of teachers:

Organizes pre-service and in-service training of teachers, teacher educators and other educational personnel.

To undertake aid, promote and co-ordinate research in all branches of education for improving school-education.

Conducts and promotes educational research.

 Disseminates improved educational techniques and practices and research findings.