As teachers transition from college to the classroom, they use the information they obtained in those college classes to inspire their students. Often, their exuberance can be felt as they pour the information out into the willing sponge-matter of each child.
But after a few years in the educational system, teachers may find the excitement dims, and they need to be mentally rejuvenated. Continuing education and teacher professional development can do that and more. Here are four reasons teachers need to take continuing education classes.
Invest In The Future
Being a teacher may not be your main goal in life. Perhaps you want to become a principal or an administrator in the school system. By completing continuing education programs each year, you can improve our promotion opportunities, as well as the ability to request higher wages to compensate you for the higher educational degrees. You can also better secure your position in your current school as you show your willingness to attend continuing education conferences.
Learn Field Changes
The adage that nothing stays the same can certainly be true of the field of education. Over the last decade, not only have astronomers found new planets, biologists have mapped human genes, and scientists have found matter smaller than the atom. Even history is being rewritten as famous men are defiled and explorers are determined to have never reached the land they supposedly discovered. With so many constant changes across almost all aspects of life, and with curious children having more access to the information that blasts across the computer screens in blazon headlines, there is a constant pressure on teachers to stay ahead of the children they are teaching. This is especially true of the upper grades of youth, as they can be defiant and argumentative if they believe they are smarter than the instructor.
Improve Your Marketability
You may want to do an EdD vs PhD degree comparison if you are looking at getting a higher degree, though you can also take furthering education classes that can result in a professional certificate. Depending on what classes you take, how they fit into your field of study, and what educational degree you are seeking, it may be a matter of months, or it may take years to accomplish your goal, but the additional education can easily improve your marketability. Staying on top of the latest techniques available in your field as they are developed will also allow you to stay on par with the young graduates as they move into your field of teaching. This will allow you to increase your competitiveness in the ever-changing field of education.
Change Your Focus
As you expand your schooling, you may find you enjoy a teaching field different than the one you first chose. Continuing education classes can allow you to develop your knowledge base and new skills often required to transition into a new field or career. If the field is a competitive area, then increasing your knowledge base may help you open the door into the career more easily. Acquiring new areas of thought along with the new skill set can help you more easily change your field of focus.
Personal Development
A person with no interests outside their work day is often considered to be a boring fellow. Whether you choose continuing education classes to improve your music theory, storytelling, or landscaping, the classes can help you become a more well-rounded person with interests you can share with your students. The diverse classes can also help you sharpen skills in the classroom because you may find a renewed interest in schoolroom activities.
Some people love learning and attend classes their whole life. Others must be urged to take advantage of continuing education opportunities. Whichever type you are, new classes can excite your mind and improve your life.
