PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS:

On the threshold of new millennium, fast changes have occurred in the field of socio-political and economic scenario. The breath of the challenges, demands and pace of change make the present situation different then earlier years. The revolution of information and communication technology has put new demand on the individual for the acquisition of new knowledge and skills, not only in their day-to-day life, but also in their respective occupational areas. The human kind repertoires of the knowledge in all areas of study in also undergoing change rapidly through addition of new knowledge and modification or obsolesces of existing knowledge. Like all other professions, the profession of the teachers is also placing new demands on their competencies which they shall be able to meet it they continue to update the upgrade and upgrade their skills in tune with advancement in the content and pedagogy of their disciplines. The teacher has to play different roles of the significance, discharging multiples functions and performing a variety of the skillful tasks. In the contemporary context, the role of the teacher has expanded from transmitter to knowledge to reflective practitioner, action researcher, classroom manager, curriculum developer, lifelong learner, community partner etc. One of the most crucial challenges facing education today is the changing characteristics of the students. In order to prepare students for an ever changing world, the teacher must be given the opportunities to deal with the impact created by these changes, teachers education can no longer end with entry in to the profession. It needs to be life long education process that keep pace with the continuous changes taking place. Students and teachers alike must become continuous life-long learners. Teachers professional competence and commitment determine the quality of the education to a great extent. Delores Commission (1996) has rightly emphasized that there is need to update and improve teachers knowledge. In service education is a good as the preservice education, even better for quality improvement. In the context of teaching being recognized as a profession, the life long approach to professional development must be embedded in a larger context of organizational improvement. It

should be driven by a clear, coherent strategic plan for each individual that focuses on the student need, learning outcomes and on a combination of generic and context specific skills. Teachers who have taken the responsibility of teaching children in school should strive for their continuous professional development in the context of their own needs, the needs of their students, goals of the schools and of the nation. Teaching is a profession not a job: there is difference between a profession and a job. A job is one, which can be accomplished with skills and dexterity in different situations and sectors. The skills that one has acquired are such that can be used in a variety of situations and sectors. These skills are not specifically confined to anyone particular sector. For instance, a good typist is useful in many sectors. If he is good he could work in a school, office, hospital, wherever he is necessary. While a teacher, a doctor, an engineer or an advocate are those to have to work in a particular sector for which they have been trained. They are professions and those who practice them are professionals. Professional development implies updating, strengthening and sharpening of the professional competences and development of understanding and insights in different process of a profession. Very rightly the international dictionary of adult and continuing education(1990) has emphasized professional development , As resulting in persons, being of greater use to the organization for which he works through the acquisition of greater knowledge , skill and different attitudes. An individuals personality has many facets like social, emotional, aesthetic, moral etc. He continuous to improve or deteriorate in different dimensions of personality, which are interrelated and interdependent as change in any one aspect is likely to impact many other aspects of his personality. Professional dimension of an individuals personality plays an important role in shaping his overall personality. Therefore, professional development is essential for the wholesome development of an individuals personality and his functioning at the optimum level... Professional Development of Teachers Why?

Profession by definition/ nature is development: Any profession is developmental in nature as well as by definition. Development is essentially a part of any profession. Therefore, the term Profession and Development are like two faces of the same coin. Therefore no professing can exist without it being developmental in nature. Any profession cannot stagnate: There cannot be stagnation in any, profession, because, it cannot be called a profession if its stagnates and dont develop. Stagnated Practices die naturally: If any professional practice stagnates, it dies out naturally. Stagnation cannot sustain for long as other professionals surpass stagnated practitioners. Dead Practitioners serve wrong models to their clients: the present day society is choosy about useful specialists. Common man is a client wishes to approach a specialist who is fully professional. Those practitioners who are dead professionally are not respected in the society. So, the dead practitioners have no premium in the society and obviously, they serve as wrong models to their client in the society. Dead Practitioners are ineffective: Since, dead practitioners serve wrong models in the society, they become ineffective or vice versa too. In essence, they are ineffective and irrelevant to any society. Dead Practitioners become irrelevant and burden to the society: Since, dead practitioners became irrelevant to any society; they become burden to the society. For all the above logical reasons Professional development becomes a must. Any individual who gets into any profession need to understand the expectations and challenges of the profession and plan to be trained in it accordingly. Any training in the absence of this understanding becomes not only wastage but also a liability. Thus when one gets into a profession, he must understand the expectations of the profession and enter. Ideally, there should not be any reversion. However, the rate of the growth may vary. It also becomes necessary to understand how a professional development can be achieved. Professional Development of Teachers How?

Some of the strategies proposed in the western context, include peer coaching, Study groups, Dialogue Journals, Professional Development Portfolios, Mentoring and Participatory Practitioner Research. Peer coaching: This is an activity where pair of teachers (who have been trained to do so) visit each others classes and provide each other with insights and advise on their teaching. This includes three phase model covering planning, Observation and feedback. Study groups: Here teachers should engage themselves in two ways. One by reviewing professionals literature and the other by analyzing samples of students work. According to Brichal et al. (1998) Teachers Group structure their interactions around scripts or agendas called protocols and use lesson plan or samples of student work as input for discussion. If study groups are visualized above can work, it can be very effective. Diologue Journals: they play a very important role for language teachers. Peyton (1993) holds the view that dialouge journals are conversations in writing. Here, the content of writings is technical issues. Normally who cannot meet their colleagues or professional friends for various reason can use this to share and reflect on their practices and innovations. This professionals acceptance and endorsement can really bolster the morale of a practitioner. Mentoring: According to Diaz-Maggioli (2003) Mentoring is a process, which brings together a more knowledgeable professional with a less experienced colleague for collaboration and feedback on teaching and learning. Mentors provide advice, support, encouragement and modeling for their mentee whom in turn provide mentors with opportunities to use and reflect on their expertise. Mentoring relationships work best when structured and developed over time. They are particularly suited to beginning teachers, who need to understand issues such as school culture, and climate and their impact or student learning. Practitioners Research: Popularly known as action Research is reflective practice of practitioners undertaken to enhance ones professionals skills. This in indeed an

effective technique, which can enable teachers to become more effective, leading one to self emancipation. Attending workshops and generating new knowledge: Every professional needs to look for opportunities where he/she can become an agents of change, generate new knowledge, may be by attending different development oriented workshops. It could be development of new syllabi, teaching learning material, (TLM) teaching aids, evaluation techniques etc Attending Training Programmes, Learning New things related to both content and methodology: It is equally important to attend to training programmers where one will have the opportunity of learning new things in both content and methodology. This learners attitude and volition are necessary for one to grow. By attending Seminars, symposiums and conferences: Any practitioner can develop himself/herself if he/ she has the inclination of sharing his/her innovations, experimentation of research attempts before a set of professional peers. This provides a platform to subject ones experience and outputs to professionals scrutiny. This also enables one to modify ones way of thinking and develop a sense of professionals perspective. In this bargain one also gets an opportunity of listening to others too. This surely enables Professionals development. By sending entries to state/National level competitions about innovate practices: Innovative practices need to be documented as well as disseminated .These documented innovations can also reach state and national levels competitions, which can earn recognition. This is another source of keeping alive the motivation level of a professional. This is the right direction of professional development. By becoming a member of professional organizations/bodies: Affiliation to professional bodies enables professionals to be able to update the latest in the field, this becomes a prerequisite. Therefore, all professionals need to know the existence of professional bodies and affiliate with them. This can lead to the professionals development.

By subscribing to national/ regional level journals/Periodicals: Different institutions and professionals bodies bring out many journals at national, regional, local level focusing on different concerns. New ideas and issues are presented for dissemination. As professionals we will have many things to learn from such write ups. Therefore, by subscribing to such journals and periodicals we can update our knowledge with the latest development in the field. A professional getting specialized in a particular area can select journals and periodicals of his choice and subscribe to them. This can be one of the best methods to grow professionally. By developing healthy reading habits: Healthy habits of all those things, which can make a professionals grow, are to be seriously pursued. A professional is an eternal learner, he/she know different sources , which can provide him/her, rich source of information that can enable him/her to go strong. By Developing Professional Network with fellow Professionals: A professional develops a network, of fellow professionals by way of being in touch with them, sharing of latest with them , trying to exchange ideas , seeking co-operation, collaboration, etc. this is possible at all levels . A serious minded professional does keep a high premium on this. By contributing, Papers, articles and books to professional publications: Any professional will attempt to also write articles, papers, book reviews, and research reports and concept papers, in professional publications. This will not only sharpen their intellect, but also can break the monotony and boredom in the routine activities and give some freshness. Professional development of teachers can take place, if the practitioners want to be a professional. No amount of external pressure can do any magic. It has to come from within. If teachers can be professionals, there can be a better world tomorrow.

To Sum Up Teachers have a moral responsibility of being professional, develop professional perspectives in their profession and remain professionals in their career. Professional development is possible and all teachers need to become better and better in order to serve the course of education whichever level one serves. One can hope that. Professional development activities of teachers will catch the imagination and attention of all those who matter in education differently from ones currently followed now. Er. Manmeet Singh Chairman, REC