CPD Explained

So, what is CPD? CPD stands for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and is the term used to describe the learning activities educators engage in to develop and enhance their abilities. It enables learning to become conscious and proactive, rather than passive and reactive.

CPD combines different methodologies to learning, such as email news letters, summarizing international educational journal articles, online resources and videos, training workshops, conferences and events, e-learning programs, best practice techniques and ideas sharing, all focused for an individual to improve and have effective professional development.

Accompanied by such growth is the acceptance that academic qualifications must offer more vocational and skills-based or ‘practical’ learning. A structured, practical and methodical approach to learning helps heads of schools to retain key staff and develop the skills & knowledge in their schools to maintain a sustainable and competitive advantage.

Engaging in Continuous Professional Development ensures that both academic and practical qualifications do not become out-dated or obsolete; allowing educators to continually ‘up skill’ or ‘re-skill’ themselves, regardless of occupation, age or educational level.

CPD allows an educator to focus on what specific skills and knowledge they require over a short-term period, say 12 months, in order to be confident there is recognisable improvement within their proficiency and skillsets.

What does CPD stand for?

CPD stands for Continuous Professional Development and it is important as it’s used by professionals to further their career. It’s a proactive and conscious form of learning which uses various methods to help individuals either learn new skills or develop existing ones.  As the name suggests, it is an ongoing learning process. It is also a self-driven form of learning. So, it would be you, rather than your employer, who decides to undergo additional training.

What is CPD training for teachers?

CPD stands for Continuous Professional Development. It is operationalised through a system that recognizes and accord professional status for all professional learning acquired formally, non-formally and informally by an individual teacher.

Is CPD compulsory for teachers?

Yes it’s compulsory as per national education policy 2019.

Why is CPD for teachers important?

The Importance of Continuous Professional Development. Continuous professional development (CPD) is accepted as an integral part of teacher education because only a Continuous learning and training assures a high level of expertise and enables the teachers to keep their professional skills and knowledge up-to-date.

What is effective CPD for teachers?

Research from 2006, 2011 and 2012 shows that the evidence is clear that CPD is effective when it is targeted, evidence-based, collaborative, sustained and evaluated: CPD is most effective in improving teachers' practice and pupils' achievement when it is sustained and evaluated.

BACKGROUND OF CPD AND ITS PURPOSE

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The concept of CPD can broadly trace its roots to the decades following World War II, when institutional bodies identified a need for structured further learning post formal qualification. Up until this point it had largely been assumed that qualified professionals would identify and initiate their knowledge enhancement requirements on a casual or voluntary basis. However, in an increasingly litigious and technologically advancing business and professional environment, the need became apparent for a more disciplined and structured approach to further learning. Over the past two decades this commitment to CPD has spread beyond those affiliated to institutional bodies and is now embraced throughout all sectors.

WHO DOES CPD?

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Allocating time for CPD is the individual’s responsibility. They need to identify the CPD requirements for their school to understand how their CPD learning should be recorded and how much time is required. The level of CPD necessary for any individual can vary between sectors. National Education Policy 2019 tend to expect schools to ensure a mandatory CPD policy is implemented across the various roles and job functions working within schools. CPD enables an individual to regularly apply attention to areas of development and take appropriate action to reduce any deficiency in knowledge. Equally, an individual must see Continuous Professional Development as a way to remain competitive with his or her peers, and as an opportunity to differentiate themselves at moments where this may be required. As more people become professionally qualified with similar qualifications, CPD can be important as a means of separating yourself from the pack.

Why is CPD important and why does it exist?

Continuous Professional Development exists to ensure that an individual enhances their skills and abilities once they have formally qualified. Typically, academic qualifications have already been completed at this stage and an individual is now working within their specific industry and job function. CPD is important as it helps to ensure that further learning is progressed in a structured, practical and relevant way to guarantee that there are applied efficiencies in learning. CPD allows an individual to focus on what specific skills and knowledge they require over a short-term period, say 12 months, in order to be confident there is recognisable improvement within their proficiency and skill sets. “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think” – Albert Einstein.