Getting started
- How will this module help me with my continuing professional development?
- What is continuing professional development?
- What do we mean by reflective practice?
- Recording and using your reflections
- Where do I start?
This module is designed to help you develop your teaching skills and approaches using modern industrial examples, experiences and practices. The module is aimed at teachers working in the further education (FE) system across all disciplines of engineering and technology.
At the end of this module you will be able to:
- identify your own continuing professional development (CPD) needs
- identify how to establish industrial contacts to help your work
- make use of industrial visits and secondments to develop innovative teaching and learning materials
- develop teaching and learning approaches based on sound pedagogy and modern industrial practices
- analyse how industrial trends will have an effect on your future CPD needs.
The Institute for Learning defines CPD, in relation to teachers, as:
'any activity undertaken for the purposes of maintaining, improving and broadening relevant knowledge and skills in your subject specialism and your teaching so that it has a positive impact on practice and learner experience'. (Guidelines for your continuing professional development (CPD), October 2007, page 4.)
So it is about:
- developing your teaching skills and approaches
- updating and applying your specialist knowledge and skills
- making learning a positive and beneficial experience for learners.
Under the 2007 government regulations, all teachers are required to demonstrate evidence of their CPD in order to maintain their licensed status. CPD includes a whole range of activities, formal and informal, externally organised or self-directed. In this module you will hear teachers talking about and reflecting on CPD activities that they have chosen to undertake, the reasons for their choice and the impact that this has had on their practice.
Reflection is a critical aspect of all stages in the CPD process and teachers will be expected to provide evidence of their reflective practice.
TopThe Institute for Learning (IfL) promotes a CPD model that is based on reflective practice, as shown in the following diagram:
The aim of this reflective learning process is to enable you to:
- highlight your professional competences and needs
- keep a personal record of your CPD activities
- plan your self-development and future career
- evidence your ability to remain in 'good standing'.
The planning cycle is an iterative process. You will interpret the stages differently depending on whether you are setting out on the professional development journey for the first time, or are already involved in an ongoing personal development plan.
TopAs you work through the module, note down your reflections and any actions that you plan to take as a result. At the end of the module you will find further guidance on what you could do next, with links to information and resources that can support you in planning, carrying out, reflecting on and recording your professional development.
Note:
The terms 'teaching and learning' and 'teachers' are used generically to include:
- teaching, training and learning
- teachers, tutors, trainers, lecturers and instructors in the further education (FE) system.
The first thing that we recommend you to do is to register with the Institute for Learning. You can find out more about the requirements for professional registration by visiting the IfL web site. Further information can also be found on the Lifelong Learning UK web site.
If you haven't already seen these resources, please click on Supporting your CPD which will take you to:
These resources will help you to create your professional development plan and analyse and reflect upon your role, subject specialism, and teaching and learning priorities.
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