Professional Path Action Plan Xavier Williams Unit 8 Assignm

Professional Path Action Planxavier Williamsunit 8assignment 1goalsth

The structural division that I envision working in, is the teaching and learning organizational division. In this particular structural division in an institution of higher learning, I have various goals that I am destined to achieve. Given the technical nature of my profession; Online Instructor for criminal justice course, I will have to have various goals that will guide me all through. First of all, I will have to make myself more knowledgeable and as flexible as possible to make sure that I provide the content to my students at all times. I am also aiming at making the subject that I teach enjoyable to the students so that they can be willing to learn and acquire the skills needed.

I will do this by making the subject interactive among the students I teach. Again, I am aiming at doing all that is in my capacity to tell people that taking criminal justice course on an online mode is not a challenging task as many people have always thought. According to Schmalleger et al., (2014), the main goal of an online instructor is making sure that they create an environment that all the students from the various diverse cultural backgrounds can work together to achieve together as far as their social skills and more so, their knowledge and skills are concerned. This is what I am destined to do.

The institution that I envision working with is a government public university. I believe that a public university will broaden my views on the subject matter as well as helping to develop me professionally. The institution will do this because of the various characteristics that define it. For instance, public universities usually have scholars from diverse backgrounds and this will be very essential in ensuring that I develop mechanisms to manage all of them regardless of where they are coming from. I will be able to interact with a number of them, understand how they view things so that I can incorporate their ideologies in my teaching profession.

Again, the institution will develop me professionally by aligning me to a large pool of resources that I may need to educate my learners. Public institutions of higher learning enjoy large funding from the government that enables them to acquire modern and up-to-date resources that are essential in ensuring that learners acquire the necessary skills and knowledge (MacDonald, 2008). Being in the institution will help me enjoy these resources that will also expand my knowledge. In addition to all this, I will also have the privilege of interacting with other professionals of my caliber within my department. Through this, we will be able to share and brainstorm on ideas that will build us professionally. For instance, we may decide to come up with a project in the area of criminal justice field that will help the government curb terrorism and related acts of violence.

In the section, I will outline strategies that I can use to address gaps in my current knowledge, skills, and disposition. In the list of core competencies, I stated five major competencies, that is, decision-making, conflict resolution, information technology skills, flexibility, and leadership. The following are the strategies that I will use to address gaps in each competency;

• Decision making: Currently I can make good decisions when managing students. My aim is to be able to make complex decisions that involve ethical dilemmas. To address this gap, I will study materials that involve complex decision-making. I will also practice by engaging in decision-making activities that involve these dilemmas.
• Conflict Resolution: in my professional fields, I have been handling many conflicts involving domestic students. However, it has been difficult when solving conflicts involving students from different nations. To address this issue, I will embark on a study to understand the basis of different cultural beliefs. This way it will be possible to solve conflicts resulting from diversity in learning institutions.
• Information Technology skills: Currently I have some basic IT skills such as data entry and data search. I plan to be equipped with many IT skills to respond to the fast changes in technology. I will therefore need to enroll into an IT school to study a few IT courses. Moreover, I will study various IT concepts on my own.
• Flexibility: I have been able to adapt to various parts of the country. My target is to work in different countries. This requires more flexibility and adaptability skills. To address this gap, I will be visiting various countries during my free time to study more and understand their ways of life. By doing this, I will improve my flexibility abilities and be able to live in different parts of the world.
• Leadership: I plan on becoming a good leader in my profession. To improve my leadership skills, I will enroll for a leadership program in a recognized institution.

The above action plan is in line with the trends in higher education. In the recent past, many changes have been made in this sector (Hazelkorn, 2015). Such changes need one to improve their core competencies. For instance, there are many technological improvements in the education sector and that’s why I need to improve my IT skills. The action plan is also in line with my field of specialization. The plan will play a major role in my job as an instructor.

Paper For Above instruction

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, adapting to technological, cultural, and pedagogical changes is essential for professionals aiming to excel in higher education. As an aspiring online criminal justice instructor, I have outlined a comprehensive action plan to strengthen my core competencies—decision-making, conflict resolution, information technology skills, flexibility, and leadership—to effectively fulfill my role and contribute meaningfully to my institution.

My chosen organizational division, teaching and learning, offers a platform for interaction with diverse student populations and colleagues worldwide. This diversity necessitates cultural competence and the ability to foster an engaging and inclusive learning environment. I intend to leverage online tools and pedagogical strategies to make criminal justice topics accessible and engaging. As Schmalleger et al. (2014) emphasize, creating an interactive environment conducive to collaboration among students from various backgrounds is pivotal for success in online education.

The institution I aspire to join is a government-funded public university, which provides numerous resources and opportunities for professional development. Public universities typically have access to advanced technological infrastructure, research funding, and a diverse community of scholars. Engaging with such an institution will allow me to broaden my perspectives, refine my teaching methods, and participate in collaborative projects addressing societal issues like terrorism and violence, especially relevant to criminal justice.

To bridge gaps in my skills and dispositions, I have devised targeted strategies aligned with each core competency. Decision-making skills, especially in complex ethical dilemmas, can be enhanced through studying relevant literature and simulated decision-making exercises. Developing cultural awareness through self-directed study will improve my conflict resolution skills, particularly in mediating disputes among international students with diverse belief systems. Upgrading my information technology proficiency involves enrolling in specialized courses and continuously self-educating on emerging technologies relevant to online teaching platforms.

Flexibility and adaptability are crucial for working across borders and cultural contexts. I plan to visit various countries to understand their social norms and incorporate diverse perspectives into my teaching practice. Such experiences will also prepare me to work effectively in multicultural environments, fostering an inclusive classroom atmosphere.

Leadership skills are vital for curriculum development, team management, and institutional contribution. Enrolling in recognized leadership programs will equip me with strategic planning, communication, and motivational skills necessary for academic leadership roles.

Aligning my professional development with ongoing trends in higher education ensures I stay current and effective. Technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence and interactive learning platforms, are transforming education delivery, necessitating continual skill enhancement (Hazelkorn, 2015). Embracing diversity and inclusion aligns with global educational mandates, ensuring my teaching methodology remains relevant and impactful.

In conclusion, this action plan reflects a strategic approach to professional growth, ensuring I am well-prepared to meet the challenges of modern higher education as an online criminal justice instructor. Continuous learning, cultural competence, technological proficiency, flexibility, and leadership development are key to my success and to making meaningful contributions to my students and the broader academic community.

References

• Hazelkorn, E. (2015). Rankings and the reshaping of higher education: The battle for world class experience. Springer.
• MacDonald, J. (2008). Blended learning and online tutoring: Planning learner support and activity design. Gower Publishing Ltd.
• Schmalleger, F., Donaldson, S., Kashiwahara, K., Koppa, T., Chase, S., Brown, A., & Marash, D. (2014). Criminal justice today. Prentice Hall.
• Zhu, C., Wang, D., Cai, Y., & Engels, N. (2013). What core competencies are related to teachers' innovative teaching? Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 41(1), 9-27.
• Anderson, T. (2011). The theory and practice of online learning. Athabasca University Press.
• Bawa, P. (2016). Retention in online courses: Exploring issues and solutions—A literature review. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 42(2).
• Garrison, D. R., & Vaughan, N. D. (2008). Blended learning in higher education: Framework, principles, and guidelines. Jossey-Bass.
• Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Estrada, V., & Freeman, A. (2014). The NMC Horizon Report: 2014 Higher Education Edition. The New Media Consortium.
• Lee, M. J., & McLoughlin, C. (2010). Beyond distance and time constraints: Applying />Web 2.0 and social software tools to support collaborative learning in higher education. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 26(3), 341-356.
• Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, 2(1).