Proactive Professional Learning: Creating Conditions for Individual and Organizational Improvement

by Oran Tkatchov, Mary Tkatchov

In America, the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work, or about a quarter of his or her adult life. Job satisfaction, then, can have an enormous influence on quality of life. Unfortunately, many in the workforce will spend all or a portion of their work life feeling stagnant and lacking passion for their job. The choices organizational leaders make about staff development can influence the organization’s success. Being proactive and intentional about how professional learning opportunities are selected and incorporated into the learners’ professional lives will optimize the benefits for employers, employees, and the students, customers, or clients they serve. The topic of this book, proactive professional learning, is a way to create a rewarding, highly effective work environment that makes people want to get the most out of their work experience, and in doing so, optimize the effectiveness of the organization that employs them.

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2019

About the author

Oran Tkatchov's educational career has included such roles as a middle school teacher, high school teacher and charter school director. He has an additional 11 years of experience directing, presenting and providing professional development in the areas of special education, leadership and school/district improvement at the Arizona Department of Education. He currently supports professional learning initiatives for the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. He received his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, is a Level 1 Google Certified Educator and a certified facilitator for the National Institute for School Leadership.

Reviews

[Sindy Castellanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guide for schools, organizations and companies interested in promoting the growth and personal fulfillment of their members. Highly recommended for the strength of its argument, the clarity and simplicity of its writing, and the help, resources and examples it offers.
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Excelente guía para escuelas, organizaciones y empresas que están interesadas en promover el crecimiento y realización personal de sus miembros. Altamente recomendable por la solidez de su argumento, la claridad y sencillez en su forma de exponer y la ayuda, recursos y ejemplos que ofrece.

[Ivona Kafedjiska · Rating 4 out of 5]

“That’s when I first learned that it wasn’t enough to just do your job, you had to have an interest in it, even a passion for it.” - C. Bukowski

This quote is present in the book and it is the quote that - in my opinion - is outlining the main goal of the book. More precisely, Tkatchov has written a book on proactive professional learning in which he wonderfully explains how through constant and proactive learning at our working place we can nourish (maybe even, develop) that interest and passion for our work.

My core understanding of the book is that through this continuous, proactive learning, the employee can stay motivated, even inspired; can feel like s/he is developing and growing on the working place, and see purpose to the new skills that sh/he is learning by putting them in practice. As a consequence, the employees can often feel they are making a meaningful contribution in the company; they can create better relationship with their colleagues; as well as start caring more about their performance. Thus, the proactive learning within an organization ensures not only improvement in the employees' satisfaction from their work, but also, the company's performance.

Although the book is targeting primarily organizations, I found it to be quite a pleasant and thought-provoking read. I think that the outlined techniques and arguments are also valid on a personal level. This book helps me rethink some of the ways and reasons of how and why I learn and it inspires me to diversify, structure, and target my learning in a better way.

In terms of what I liked and disliked in the book, here is a short summary.

I especially liked the emphasis on how continuous, proactive learning at the working place should take into consideration why and how adults learn or can be trained, as well as how learning comes in many forms (for example, via conferences, observation, book study, action learning, individually-guided learning, and mentoring). Thus, proactive learning is not the same the on-the-job training and it can happen outside the working place, or it can even continue once the worker leaves the working place. The author covers in satisfactory length the four main proactive professional traits (that it should be targeted, data-driven, job embedded, and continual) and through examples, inspiring quotes, and insightful questions keeps the reader engaged.

What I lacked in the book was a criticism or rather, scenarios of possible "failures" of proactive learning. The author writes about "resistors" -the people who will oppose the idea to learn something new, but he does not go in depth to analyze other possible challenges that an organization/a person can face. For example, when can proactive learning not yield results and why? What do we do when this happens? Can proactive professional learning somehow backfire and what should individuals and companies be especially aware/alert about? I think that even if these points are included, they will not at all make the argument for a proactive learning any less compelling.

In conclusion, Tkatchov does an amazing job at convincing us that proactive learning is a beneficial learning mechanism; all I was missing was just a little bit of "this is why not every company engages in proactive learning" in order to get a complete view of both the pros and cons of this type of learning.

[Liana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dry read but useful material. A good book for businesses to have employees read.

[Asmaa Fawzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have book for anyone seeking professional learning as it serves as a complete guide that will walk you through the whole process of proactively learning. Mr. Oran outlines the outcomes of his research in a simple and powerful way. The chapters are connected in a meaningful and coherent manner that answered any question that popped up while reading. Stating the Why in the first chapter compelled the necessity of planning a system for professional learning. The drive that activates the desire to learn is stated in a clear way that we can apply in teaching youngsters. The information and examples stated in each chapter set a concrete base to help organizations in selecting the most appropriate action learning that is targeted, data-driven, job-embedded, and continual. The last chapter will help organizations in dealing with the change and resistance that usually arise from the implementation of large-scale professional learning. You have to read and reflect on the information outlined in the last chapter as it is crucial to know how to deal with different groups of people adopting or resisting change in a collaborative manner as it guarantees the continual improvement in the professional learning aspects.

[Abhishek Srivastava · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Industry Professional I found Proactive Professional Learning as a very useful resource, lucid writing and plenty of scenarios and practical approach set this book apart from other available texts. Book discusses fundamental theories as well as environment where the learning takes place. Best practices like action learning, communities of practice is very relevant to workplace learning.

[Rohit Goel · Rating 5 out of 5]

we always try to pick good book through book store and as well as through E-website. But sometimes we feel that this was not my choice. But Oran book gives combo of our choice in Proactive Professional Learning. Good book for self-help and to learn fundamental of professional life. I applied his fundamental in my professional life and it's really impact on my career.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great resource. The examples were very relatable, and real life. You can see them happening and the authors perspectives. Also, the author not only presented his arguement he also explained his reasons and why things should take place. This is a great resource tool!

[Clare Elman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a great resource. The examples were very relatable, and real life. Would recommend to everyone!