Increasing professionalism and targeting effort: Recent books on the training and development of continuing education professionals

Abstract

Three recent books provide a wealth of resources to help the continuing educator develop his or her expertise. These works trace the changing concerns which economic and political forces have created for those working in this area of higher education. They are in one sense similar in that their underlying values encourage participation and professionalism in the field, but each focuses upon a specific client area and the individualistic responses each institution makes to provide resources and encourage participation. Teaching strategy assumptions covered by these authors do not always reflect the full range of possibilities, but the areas of omission are the challenges which individual agencies might seize to obtain their marketing advantage and leadership in an increasingly competitive arena.