Continued Professional Learning: A Career Necessity
Given today's rapidly changing workplace, its demands on employees, and the stiff competition of the job market, it is necessary to make continued professional education part of your career management activities. Learn about exploring learning strategy options through the Internet, both traditional and on-line curriculum offerings.
By Dr. Annabelle Reitman, Career Management Consultant
Traditional Campus Programs
www.collegenet.com
www.petersons.com
Online Campus Programs
www.alx.org
www.degree.net
www.ubonline.edu
www.uwex.edu
Additionally, www.gradschools.com covers both traditional and online programs.
Continual professional growth is no longer an option; it is a survival necessity of crucial importance. Consider it an investment in your future success. In today's world, it is quite impossible to keep up with the latest advancements, practices, trends, and issues in most professional fields. Positioning yourself for a promotion, changing jobs, or making a shift in work roles relies on having up-to-date professional expertise and proficiency.
However, it is easier than ever before to meet your professional growth needs through a wide array of learning options. You can select learning settings, formats, and delivery methods that fit into your schedule, convenient to your time availability, and doesn't interfere with your work and personal responsibilities. These can include: degree-granting and certificate programs, CEU credits, in-house training courses, company sponsored off-site training seminars, computer assisted learning activities, long distance learning via videoconferencing, and online learning forums.
Be aware that at different points of your life, different learning options will be suited for your needs. Deciding what is the best learning strategy for you at any given time is part of managing your career effectively. A number of criteria factors are involved in determining the most appropriate learning strategy and approach that will meet present work goals and plans? Ask yourself these questions:
- What competencies, professional expertise/skills or knowledge do I want or need to acquire?
- What is my timeframe for starting and completing this learning activity?
- What are some constraints I may have, e.g. personal/family responsibilities, tight budget, work hours?
- What factors may impact my education/training opportunities, e.g. choice of curriculum offerings, class schedule, cost, prerequisites?
- What would be the most effective and efficient learning strategy and structure for me at this time, e.g. full-time, on-line, on-campus, a certificate program?
Distance and online learning course options are rapidly growing, both in the number of subject and curriculum choices and in the education institutions that offer them. Given today's fast paced, changing and competitive world, this type of education/training option fits many people's lifestyle. However, it does not matter how and where you continue professional learning, but that you do continue. Make professional growth a lifelong learning activity.
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