21 Key Attributes Adult Literacy, Remedial Education, And Ged Teachers And Instructors Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Olivia Williams

Monday, January 4, 2016

Adult literacy, remedial education, and GED teachers and instructors teach or instruct out-of-school youths and adults in remedial education classes, preparatory classes for the General Educational Development test, literacy, or English as a Second Language. Teaching may or may not take place in a traditional educational institution.

The core tasks that adult literacy, remedial education, and ged teachers and instructors are likely to carry out include:

Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs, abilities, and interests.
Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws or administrative policies.
Assign and grade class work and homework.
Prepare and administer written, oral, and performance tests, and issue grades in accordance with performance.
Observe and evaluate students' work to determine progress and make suggestions for improvement.
Conduct classes, workshops, and demonstrations to teach principles, techniques, or methods in subjects such as basic English language skills, life skills, and workforce entry skills.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that adult literacy, remedial education, and ged teachers and instructors would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Having a strong preference for social work environments. Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 100%

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 92.6%

Being honest and ethical.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 90.6%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 90%

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 89.8%

Being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89.6%

Being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89%

Maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 88.8%

Teaching others how to do something.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 87.6%

Being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 86%

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 85%

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 85%

Preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 82.8%

Developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 82.6%

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 82.4%

Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 82.4%

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 82.4%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 81.8%

A willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 81%

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 80%