Skills For Professional Development

Gen 300

Skills for Professional Development

Table of Contents

Chapter One.................................................................................4

Adult Education..............................................................................4

Learning Team...............................................................................6

University of Phoenix Resources............................................................8

Chapter Two...............................................................................11

Online search techniques and University of Phoenix resources.......................11

University of Phoenix Library............................................................12

Style Guide....................................................................................13

Five steps of the writing process.........................................................14

Writing mechanics.........................................................................16

Plagiarism and how to avoid it............................................................17

Methods of citation and documentation...................................................17

Chapter Three.............................................................................21

Critical thinking skills.......................................................................21

Time management skills..................................................................22

Stress management.........................................................................23

Study skills..................................................................................25

Self-Assessment and expectations........................................................27

Organizational skills.......................................................................29

Team project planning......................................................................31

Chapter Four..............................................................................33

The Effective Oral Presentation Skills...................................................33

The Appropriate Use of Visual Aids....................................................36

Strategies for Team Presentation.........................................................40

Peer Review Process to Prefect Presentation Skills....................................40

Chapter Five...............................................................................43

Lifelong Learning..........................................................................43

References and citations.................................................................53

Chapter One

Adult Education

Until recently college was considered a young persons ambition. The challenge of the adult was to overcome the restrictions of family, job, and similar adult responsibilities. Many people would expect to be left behind soon after the age of 40 as younger folks educated in newer methods and technologies passed them up in knowledge and skill. This paradigm started to change in 1973.

Despite being dyslexic and poorly educated out of high school John Sperling taught himself how to read and write while serving in the merchant marines. After service in the navy during the Second World War he completed his BA at Reed College, his Masters at Berkley and his PhD in Economic History from Cambridge University.

Dr. Sperling realized during these experiences that there was a limited amount of educational opportunities for individuals who had already started their careers without first going to college. In an effort to provide this type of resource he established an adult learning course for police officers in San Jose. When he decided there was a need he could fill he asked the UC system to establish a curriculum using his education model he was turned down. The Institute for Professional Development folded into the Apollo Group in 1976 and the University of Phoenix was born.

The educational influences of philosophy in Dr. Sperling's life led to the establishment of the model for University of Phoenix. The University learning model is based on the Philosophies created by Plato around 385 BC, also known as the Socratic Method.

In today's information age the value of higher education is extremely high. According to a research the value of a College education was as follows:

Bachelors Degree Bachelors No-Bachelors

Senior Management $ 92,967 $ 62,147

Middle Management $ 72,775 $ 61,896

Staff $ 59,916 $ 48,356

Masters in Business Masters No-Masters

Senior Management $ 119,030 $ 84,949

Middle Management $ 74,053 $ 72,600

Staff $ 60,825 $ 59,877

Technical Masters Masters No-Masters

Senior Management $ 104,648 $ 90,548

Middle