Unit 1 Discussion

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Professionalism is a continuous process throughout your career. The workplace continues to evolve and change depending on many factors. Therefore, professional behavior and requirements that were in place in the past may not be required or they may change in the future. When you can better understand your own needs as a professional, you can better focus on the areas to improve.

Throughout this course you will have the opportunity to discuss what you are learning with your classmates through participating in the Discussion and Seminars. In these discussions you will represent your ideas and respond to others’ opinions and comments in a professional manner.

Please respond to the Discussion below. Your posts should be in the 100-150-word range and your responses in the 75-100-word range. Respond to at least two of your classmates with meaningful comments. Support from unit materials or outside research should be included. Check out the Discussion topic grading rubric in the Course Resources area for information about how you will earn your grade for the Discussion.

Using the Self-Assessment Survey outcomes, you received from the Self-Assessment Learning Activity, respond to the following areas in your Discussion prompt: include your survey score and determine two areas that you feel you should work on during this course. What are these two areas? How will these areas be important to your profession? Comment on how you might use this information to develop your professional presence.

When you respond to other students, if possible, choose one classmate who may have different scores than you and one that has similar scores to you.

Unit 2 Discussion

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A professional image is not solely defined by your choice of clothing, but by multiple personal factors. You are all unique and present yourselves in a unique manner, whether it is by the jewelry you select, the shoes you wear, how you do your hair, or through other means of behavioral expression. In this Discussion, you will present your ideas on this topic and respond to others’ opinions and comments in a professional manner.

Please respond to the Discussion below. Your posts should be in the 100–150-word range and your responses in the 75–100-word range. Respond to at least two of your classmates with meaningful comments. Support from unit materials or outside research should be included. Check out the Discussion topic grading rubric in the Course Resources area for information about how you will earn your grade for the Discussion.

Body piercing and tattoos are very common in today’s society. What is your perception of body piercing and tattoos related to professional image? Are piercings and tattoos acceptable in your industry?

Have you seen this perception differ from one workplace to the next in your industry? Why?

Contact a professional in your field and ask him/her about the issues surrounding this topic and share what you found out.

Unit 3 Discussion

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This Discussion is the first opportunity during this course to do have a space for you and your peers to brainstorm in preparation for an assignment that is due during the particular unit. These Discussions will be in Units 3, 6, and 9 and each one gives you the opportunity to discuss a topic that directly relates to the assignment due during that particular week.

Discussion requirements are slightly different for this unit. An initial response and two responses to a peer are required during this unit. This is primarily a peer to peer discussion, so while your instructor will be observing this discussion, they will not be an active participant. Additionally, there is no minimum word requirement, but addressing the topic completely and descriptively will be important to earning credit.

The purpose of the Discussion this week is to help you start planning your approach to the Unit 3 Assignment to explain professional characteristics that will be needed in your field. At some point in your life, you met someone who impressed you as a professional. Think about what characteristics you saw in him/her that made you think of them as a professional.

Describe three characteristics that are key to developing your professional image in your chosen career field. Share your thoughts as to why you think the characteristics are important to your personal image.

Unit 4 Discussion

The concept of working together to produce a better outcome is not a novel idea. Competition in a collaborative working context may encourage productivity and the realization that different people bring different skills and different levels of skills to the workplace. For example, doctors can gain perspectives about a patient based on discussions with other staff such as nurses and therapists. However, coworkers may have differences in opinion and perceptions that do not allow them to collaborate with others. It is not always necessary to have complete harmony in the workplace but a civil, working relationship will get the job done.

Please respond to the Discussion below. Your posts should be in the 100–150-word range and your responses in the 75–100-word range. Respond to at least two of your classmates with meaningful comments. Support from unit materials or outside research should be included. Check out the Discussion topic grading rubric in the Course Resources area for information about how you will earn your grade for the Discussion.

Imagine a situation where you are paired up with a coworker to complete a very important project for your company. The coworker does not share the same work ethic that you do, and you are concerned about working together toward successful completion of the project. It is not a job that you can handle on your own as there are a lot of specialty areas that this person knows well, and you know nothing about. Discuss at least three things you can do to improve your working relationship with this person so that you do not dread going to work every day and that will improve the work you produce as a team.

Unit 5 Discussion

The image you portray as a professional is often reflected in the communications that you relay. Communication in the workplace happens in many forms. In previous units, you had the opportunity the delve into non-verbal communication and even focus on your own oral presentation skills. Now you will focus on how others present information.

Please respond to the Discussion below. Your posts should be in the 100–150-word range and your responses in the 75–100-word range. Respond to at least two of your classmates with meaningful comments. Support from unit materials or outside research should be included. Check out the Discussion topic grading rubric in the Course Resources area for information about how you will earn your grade for the Discussion.

Part 1:

There is a miscommunication while you are working on a project with a team. This miscommunication leads to a delay in getting the work done and frustration from both coworkers and yourself. For the purposes of this Discussion, choose one of the following mediums for the miscommunication to happen:

a. Email
b. Texting
c. Face-to-Face
d. Phone discussion
e. Workplace Instant Messaging

Create a brief audio recording by following directions on this template that focuses on two tips that could be used to avoid miscommunication in the medium you chose from above. This recording should be an informational explanation you would give to coworkers. Recording should be 1–2 minutes in length and include a clear explanation for the tips you have determined would be helpful.

Part 2:

During this Discussion, to assist you with your planning for next unit’s work, you will also share information about your planned observation for your Unit 6 Assignment. Please share the following information (in written form):

What company will you observe?

Unit 6 Discussion

This week is the second opportunity during this course to complete a self-reflection that will connect with the Assignment you are creating during this unit. Discussion requirements are slightly different for this unit. An initial response and two responses to a peer are required during this unit. This is primarily a peer to peer discussion, so while your instructor will be observing this discussion, they will not be an active participant. Additionally, there is no minimum word requirement, but addressing the topic completely and descriptively will be important to earning credit.

The image you portray as a professional is often reflected in the communications that you relay. Communication in the workplace happens in many forms. In previous units, you had the opportunity the delve into non-verbal communication and even focus on your own oral presentation skills. Now you will focus on how others present information and critically analyze this presentation.

You will locate a presentation online that focuses on your field (for example you might choose a TED talk focused on your field) and analyze this presentation. For the analysis, at least two effective presentation skills the presenter has used and two areas that could be improved should be noted. Explain why you chose these areas.

You will want to ensure you focus on evaluating communication skills for the presentation such as oral presentation skills and nonverbal communication skills. Be sure to share the link to the presentation for everyone to be able view it.

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Unit 7 Discussion

All of the information that is available on the internet about you can be used to help form or destroy your professional presence. It may be something that you have entered yourself or a friend or family member has posted on a social networking website. Even pictures can damage your professional presence if not closely monitored. Are you aware of all of the information that is “out there” about you?

Please respond to the Discussion below. Your posts should be in the 100–150-word range and your responses in the 75–100-word range. Respond to at least two of your classmates with meaningful comments. Support from unit materials or outside research should be included. Check out the Discussion topic grading rubric in the Course Resources area for information about how you will earn your grade for the Discussion.

Discuss at least two ways that you can help to control what information is readily available about you to anyone, including employers on the internet. How will using the two ways you identified help you to maintain your professional presence online?

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Unit 8 Discussion

Professional organizations that are specific to career areas are a common way that professionals stay in touch with current issues in their field. For instance, the Business and Professional Women (BPW) is a common group in many cities. They offer workshops, conferences, and meetings that provide opportunities for training, skill building, and networking. International Association of Fire Fighters is another example and have similar groups and offerings for their professionals.

Please respond to the Discussion below. Your posts should be in the 100–150-word range and your responses in the 75–100-word range. Respond to at least two of your classmates with meaningful comments. Support from unit materials or outside research should be included. Check out the Discussion topic grading rubric in the Course Resources area for hints on how you will earn your grade for the Discussion.

Research to find one professional association, either locally or nationally, that you feel will provide you with opportunities for professional development and staying current in your area. What is included in the membership? Discuss what the association provides and how it will be a help to you in your professional life to maintain your career marketability in the future.

NOTE: This should be a professional association you can join and should not be a company where you want to work.

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Unit 9 Discussion

During Unit 1, you had the opportunity to take the Self-Assessment Survey and then you took this assessment again in the Learning Activities area during this unit. Use this information to answer the questions during this unit. You will have the opportunity to reflect on both your strengths and weak areas.

This week is the last opportunity during this course to complete a self-reflection that will connect with the assignment you are completing during this unit. Discussion requirements are slightly different for this unit. An initial response and two responses to a peer are required during this unit. This is primarily a peer to peer discussion, so while your instructor will be observing this discussion, they will not be an active participant. Additionally, there is no minimum word requirement, but addressing the topic completely and descriptively will be important to earning credit.

Many concepts have been covered during this class to give you an opportunity to delve into your professionalism in more depth. After reviewing the results of the survey, what is one area that you feel is a professional strength for you and one area that you continue to need to work on? How do you plan to work on this area that continues to need improvement?

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Unit 10 Discussion

During your journey together through this course, you have met new people and shared some very good ideas. Take this time to say your farewells to your classmates and share any insights you have gained from this course.