Before we explore adult learning theory, let’s review “What is Professional Development?”
Professional development, commonly referred to as PD, is a systematic process that strengthens how professionals obtain and retain knowledge, skills, and attitudes. It consists of intentionally designed processes and activities developed to improve organizational approaches.
The CDC Professional Development Practices are based on research and previously identified best practices that provide optimal conditions for implementation to occur.
As you’ll recall from PD101, there are six professional development practices:
Although not a completely regimented process, the PD Practices do follow a logical flow, from one practice to the next. They create the framework for providing professional development offerings.
Professional development offerings follow a systematic process from planning to evaluation. Offerings are:
This course will focus on events. A professional development event, such as a workshop or training, is a set of skill-building processes and activities designed to assist individuals in obtaining new knowledge and skills. The purpose is to reach specific goals and improve workplace performance. Events can be face-to-face training, distance learning, workshops, train-the-trainer sessions, or webinars.
All events have three things in common. They are:
The fact sheet, Understanding Professional Development, provides an overview of professional development and types of professional development events.
For this training, we will explore webinars as the primary PD event.