1. Professional Development
C H A P T E R 13
Professional Development
Chapter 13

2. Outcomes Identify the elements of career development.
Define ethics and morals.
Formulate solutions to ethical dilemmas.
Identify and describe ethics theories.
(continued)

3. Outcomes (continued)
Understand ecotourism, environmental ethics, and sustainability.
Examine the role of social responsibility in leisure services.

4. Professional Development
Skills and knowledge attained for personal development and career advancement
Done for career preparation, advancement, networking, skill development, increased compensation, and self-fulfillment

5. University Accreditation
Administered by NRPA
89 accredited programs in the United States
Accredited degree programs exceed standards of academic quality

6. Certification Enhances professional status
Usually requires continuing education
Available in many areas
Parks and recreation (CPRP)
Therapeutic recreation (CTRS)
Aquatics
Meeting and event planning

7. Professional Memberships
Discounted student rates
Sources of information and knowledge in the field
Internship and job announcement services

8. Continuing Education Builds competencies and advances career
Available through local, state, and national conferences and workshops
Measured in continuing education units (CEUs)
2.0 required every two years for CPRP certification
One-hour workshop earns .1 CEUs

9. Career Progression Networking Internal and external advancement
Build a diverse network of professionals.
Make contacts through conferences and professional involvement.
Internal and external advancement

10. Training and Development
In-service training
Mentoring
A relationship in which a person with more experience provides guidance for a person with less experience
Informal and formal relationships

11. Ethics Standards, behaviors, and principles that guide behaviors
Derived from professional associations, the profession itself, community, and the agency
Professionally driven

12. Morals Behavior that is guided by personal opinion
Often driven by society or religion
Morals formed by parents, teachers, religious leaders, community members
Personally driven

13. Reasons for Unethical Behavior
People do what is most convenient.
People do what they must do to win.
People rationalize their choices with relativism.
People desensitize themselves to unethical behavior.

14. Ethical Transgressions
Lying: “telling someone something we know not to be true with the intention of misleading them” (Howard and Korver 2008, 13)
Deception: “failing to correct an inaccurate impression, feigning ignorance, not telling the whole truth, withholding information, sugarcoating the truth, or overusing tact” (Howard and Korver 2008, 17)
(continued)

15. Ethical Transgressions (continued)
Stealing: procurement of property that does not belong to you that is taken without permission from the owner
Harm: putting a person or business at risk of injury or damage

16. Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development
People develop physically and morally throughout their life span.
There are three levels and six stages of development.
Each person must achieve one stage before moving on to the next.

17. Consequences Theory Behavior is dictated by outcomes or consequences.
Actions are chosen that have the best possible outcomes for those involved.
Utilitarianism is seeking the greatest good for the greatest number.

18. Kant’s Duty-Based Ethics
Theory is obligation based.
Actions should be taken that are good and right regardless of the consequences.
Actions should be taken that are morally right and well intended.

19. Virtue Ethics
Theory focuses on character and virtue rather than consequences and duty.
Someone who has high character will act accordingly in ethical situations.

20. Code of Ethics Written document
Outlines professional responsibilities, principles, values, and standards that are used to guide decisions and procedures
Directs professionals in a way that is in the best interest of the agency’s constituents

21. Resolving Ethical Dilemmas
Step 1: Define the ethical dilemma
Step 2: Identify the associated ethical principle or value
Step 3: Identify the stakeholders
Step 4: Determine the desired outcomes
Step 5: Determine goal or success indicator
Step 6: Establish objectives and actions

22. Ethical Issues Conflicts of interest
Person’s role at odds with best interest of the agency
Establishing a policy can help prevent conflicts of interest
Religion is difficult to use to solve ethical problems due to wide variety of religions
(continued)

23. Ethical Issues (continued)
Gift: item of value given with no expectation of return
Bribe: cash or other item of value given to persuade or induce an action
Kickback: illegal payback from a previous exchange

24. Social Responsibility
Ethical philosophy or approach to doing business in which decisions are made and actions are taken to contribute to the welfare of the community.
Organizations dedicated to being socially responsible seek to improve the quality of life for people and communities.

25. Environmental Ethics
Responsible conduct in the best interest of the natural environment
Greener society
Reduced carbon footprint
Ecotourism
Responsible travel to natural areas
Promotes conservation of nature and sustains the well-being of those in the community