The Professional Development of Thomas R

I am a lifelong learner. A teacher must continue their education ad infinitum. Things change. Stuff happens. If I was only able to teach what I was trained to teach in college, I'd have been out of work long ago. Since then my professional path has taken me from elementary schools to middle schools to high schools to adult education to university classrooms, from teaching to administration and back to teaching again. I've been known for my expertise in physical education, elementary teaching, adult learning, community education, community recreation, foundations of education, educational psychology, methods of teaching, teaching with media, educational technology and the teacher's use of computers in the classroom.

Here are a few things I've been doing lately to keep up:

• Attended NECC in San Diego - a conference for teachers who use computers
• Purchased Microsoft Frontpage - to learn how to use another application that my students should know about
• Completely rebuilt my home pages used in teaching.
• Spent at least four hours a day at the computer exploring the Internet resources available to teachers.
• Registered for MACUL's annual meeting, a Michigan teacher's computer conference.

For anyone who has all the degrees (tickets to jobs) they need, professional conferences are the route to continuing education. One can personalize the learning to fit need-to-know criteria. Professional organizations who seem to have something to offer me at this point in my career are:

• NECC - National Educational Computer Conference
• ISTE - International Society for Technology in Education
• ASCD - Association for School Curriculum Development
• PDK - Phi Delta Kappa, School leadershipand management
• MACUL - Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning

Things change, stuff happens. Earlier some of the above-listed groups didn't even exist. Then, these organizations were part of my pursuit for new ideas:

• MCSEA- Michigan Community School Education Association
• NCEA - National Community Education Association
• MASCD - Michigan Association for School Curriculum Development
• NEA/MEA - The National and Michigan Education Association

Mostly I attend, participate and learn at the conferences of these organizations but, presenting at them is also a way to grow professionally. Nothing like putting oneself out there to bring focus to what you believe and advocate.

Keep checking this site for more ideas regarding a professional educator's continuing education.