My current level of education has put me into a point of professional and scholastic career where I feel that I have exhausted every opportunity and a dream I have ever wanted. Although I have received important skills and experience studying Master of Arts in Education majoring on Adult Education and Training, my professional path before joining this program has a been important on the progress of this course. Before joining Adult Education and Training, I had served as a Training and Development Specialist who educated people on didactic and psychomotor in both academic and field settings. After that, I worked as defense health agency in the Department of Combat Medical Training, Fort Sam Houston. My role in this institution was to provide quality and standardized instruction and testing for the US Army Health Care Specialists. In summary, I had worked with several organizations where I specialized in training people on different aspects which include their lives and those that are work-related. Currently, I serve as an instructor, primarily assigned to the Department of Combat Medic Training (DCMT) to fulfill the training mission.
Career Goals
Lindfors (1999) says that “And I know of no more important source of that discovery, for every child, than the inquiry that lives in the continuing exploratory dialogues of classroom life" (p.247), my career goals is to reach the highest level of education and attain the knowledge that is not only significant to me but also important to the society since it has been my aspiration. Allington and Johnston (2002) state that the only way through which we can be of importance to the society is to have a pertinent knowledge through education. In that regard, my major career goals to is work with my current employer as I continue with my masters’ degree in education. This is because my present job provides me with an opportunity to educate and train others, activities which are key to my current education program. Secondly, after completing the current program I would like to stay with my present employer, but move to a higher position where I can gain more experience at the same time utilize the knowledge and experience I shall have gained after completing my current program. Alongside, my childhood aspiration of reaching the highest level of my education, the courses completed in this program have also positively contributed to my career goals. Particularly, Impacts of Information on Policies and Student Learning course has provided me with definite rules and regulations that are important in achieving set goals not only in class but also in real life. Secondly, data collection strategies course has been important in providing knowledge about doing school-based research and those that are related to work. Additionally, violence in education style has given information on the importance of safe environment in achieving the set goals. Lastly, Cultural Diversity in Educational Institutions course has also provided me with important information related to teamwork and working with people from diverse cultural background and origin.
Preparation, Experience and Accomplishments
Behind every educational system, there are certain features or factors that influence or determine the outcome. These factors may be historical, social, economic, or political. Economically, any type of education largely depends on the economic strength of a country as well as the financial strength of an individual. On the same note, the economic factor influences the content of education. Through this course, I realized why some schools or countries provide best medical courses while others do not. In addition, strong economy countries such as France and USA have enough funds for their educational programs unlike developing countries where funds are limited to a point that they cannot even pay their teachers hence jeopardizing education programs. Therefore, there is a strong evidence to prove that there is a very handy relationship between the economic strength and the national system. Social and cultural factors have also influenced educational institutions and practices. In most societies today, changes have occurred in the attitude of young people towards their elders, for instance, they do obey their parents as it was 20 years ago hence they can decide to go school or not (Giroux, 2018). The same study reveals that teachers are more concerned about their salaries more than educating students. In that regard, place and time have been changing several elements of culture which is being reflected in the current education system. The political viewpoint which influences the management of a country habitually has its unavoidable power on education system. The political factors dictate the kind of management education. They also motivate several features of education. Lastly, the history of the country determines the type of education in the society. Most countries up to now follow the system that was introduced by the colonialists. For example, most official languages in several countries were introduced by the colonialists.
To most people, good leaders are not born, they are made. It is progressively acknowledged; however, for one to be a worthy leader, he/she must have the knowledge, experience, patience, commitment, and most outstandingly the skills to negotiate and operate with other people to accomplish goals. Form the course, I have learnt that good leadership is established through a non-ending development of education, training, self-study, and the accretion of germane experience. Educational leaders and professionals, therefore, have several roles in a range of education institutions. First, leaders have the mandate to ensure that educational policies are implemented and followed to the latter. This will prevent participation in wrong courses which have been passed with time. Learning, expressly in higher level, is inclined to problem-solving and, thus, is on how to put into practice information to get skills to solve real problems. As such, the guidelines to that effect should be provided by professionals and leaders within the educational set up. Secondly, leaders, especially legislature and political front-runners have the mandate to pass laws that are significant in promoting the prosperity of educational institutions. For example, channeling more funds to schools for quality and up-to-date programs. Therefore, leaders and educational professionals should enact policies so that education provision is not only fairly provided to all. In addition, through leaders, educational guidelines will ensure education quality offered is of the premier level to all learners irrespective of gender, religion, culture, and race.
From the course I have known that one of the most education leadership theories and research skills which encourage the progression of accountability of student-centered education are transactional theories which are also known as management theories. The theories concentrate on the roles of organizations, supervision, and the group performances and the exchange which occur between followers and leaders. These theories put education system on a scheme of punishments and rewards. According to Giroux (2018), this will ensure that those who do not obey the set policies of education are punished at the same time rewarding individuals or leaders who have performed well. Its simple meaning is on the view that a front-runner’s job is to establish structures and systems that will make it plentifully clear what is anticipated from the followers and the penalties (punishments and rewards and) which are associated with meeting or not meeting the expectations. Managerial or transactional theories are often linked to the practice and concepts of management and endures to be a tremendously conjoint component of voluminous organizational structures and leadership models.
During my time in this course, I have studied legal and ethical issues that arise in education practices and institutions, which are of significance to me right now and in my future engagements after completing the course. From the course, I have realized both educators, students, and institutions have engaged in ethical and legal issues. One of the most important way of avoiding getting into negative side of ethical and legal issue is following the code of ethics. According to Peters (2015), code of ethics act as the promise to support and protect safety of members in the society, solve ethical and legal issues, and protect the whole community. As learnt from the course, codes of ethics disclose and conserve the current and future viewpoints on what to do when involved in ethical and legal dilemmas. Therefore, code of ethic assists people to learn more about the responsibility each and every person has and how people within a society relate to each other. Some of the ethical issues that arise within educational system include religion and school, teacher freedom of association, and teacher personal lifestyle. According to the supreme decision in 1998 about ethical and legal issues in USA, Mr. Justice Peter Cory wrote said that principals and teachers should be in a position to react effectively and quickly to predicaments that face schools and protect learners and provide the suitable environment which is need for learning. Therefore, as a trainer I think the principle will be of great importance to me.
Conclusion
Having had an aspiration to reach the best level of education, I am certain that this program is of great importance to me. Other than the previous expertise and skills I have gained in other various institutions and organizations; I have also acquired significant experience which is important to me in my professional path. I have learnt about the historical, political, and economic factors that influence education institutions and practices. In addition, I have known certain structures in education organizations are imperative to further the agenda of learning if effectively mobilized. Lastly, I have also gained important aspects and theories of leadership which are significant in management. Other than being a trainer and educator, I have also aspired to be a manager hence leadership theories have made a positive impact in my life.
References
Allington, R. L., & Johnston, P. H. (2002). Reading to learn: Lessons from exemplary fourth-grade classrooms. Guilford Press.
Giroux, H. (2018). Pedagogy and the politics of hope: Theory, culture, and schooling: A critical reader. Routledge.
Lindfors, J. W. (1999). Children's Inquiry: Using Language To Make Sense of the World. Language and Literacy Series. Teachers College Press, PO Box 20, Williston, VT 05495-0020 (paperback: ISBN-0-8077-3836-0, $24.95; clothbound: ISBN-0-8077-3837-9, $53).
Peters, R. S. (2015). Ethics and Education (Routledge Revivals). Routledge.