October 31, 2021
Professional Development for Teachers: More than Training Days
Are you ready to take your professional development to the next level? Forget training days, although they are important! From workshops and conferences to online courses and certifications, there are endless effective professional development opportunities to help you grow as an educator and advance your career.
Why is Professional Development Important for Teachers?
Professional development is important for teachers because it allows them to stay up-to-date with the latest teaching strategies, technologies, and research. It helps existing and new teachers improve or learn new skills, enhance student learning outcomes, and develop a professional network for collaboration and support.
There are constant changes in the education and training world, including changes to government policies, regulatory requirements that relate to teaching positions, and changes to the practices within your organisation or the subject that you teach, to name just a few. As a result, it is crucial that teachers keep up to date through in-person and online learning to benefit their career, their students and the institutions they work for.
Teachers are considered dual professionals, which means that, apart from having expert subject knowledge and skills, they need the ability to communicate these to others in an effective way. Therefore, teachers cannot stand still and completing their teacher training courses marks the beginning of a much longer process that helps them become better individual teachers and trainers.
Continual Professional Development for Teachers
Continuous professional development, or CPD, is anything that helps you improve your teaching practice. Taking responsibility for your growth shows that you are a committed professional and treat your role seriously. There are many continuous professional development activities available to teachers, ranging from formal, informal, well-planned or more opportunistic opportunities.
Courses & Further Training
CPD courses are designed specifically for teachers and aim to contribute towards their continuous professional development. They typically cover a wide range of topics, from effective classroom management to innovative teaching techniques. By taking this course, you’ll not only gain valuable knowledge and insights but also earn CPD points that can help boost your career prospects.
Additionally, if you don’t have a formal teaching qualification yet, you may want to change that by enrolling on an appropriate course for further education. One way to do this is with the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (Level 5 DET), which enables you to apply for QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills) status once qualified.
Organisation Support & Coaching
You should check with your organisation if there is an existing CPD strategy where activities considered valuable for improving standards will be prioritised. They may suggest some in-house training can be provided or time off could be arranged for you to participate in chosen external training events. Schools offer some support by providing inset days to enable teachers to train for new technologies, new ways of doing things within the school, attend due refresher courses, etc. This support makes it much easier to carry out continuous professional development while working.
Other Opportunities for CPD
Other opportunities for continual professional development (CPD) include:
- Work experience placements
- Voluntary work
- Visiting other organisations
- Being a member of professional associations or committees
- Researching developments to the subject you teach
- Updating your knowledge regarding relevant legislation
- Shadowing and observing colleagues
- Evaluating feedback from peers and students
- Self-reflection
- Reading relevant literature
- E-learning activities
- Improving skills in language, literacy, numeracy and ICT
CPD for Career Growth
CPD ensures teachers continue to deliver high-quality teaching to their students and that they can adapt to new developments and the changing needs of students.
As a training professional, you will likely participate in appraisal performance reviews at your organisation. This offers a valuable chance to discuss your learning, development or any training and support you may need. It could also be an opportunity to reflect on your achievements and exchange ideas with your colleagues. As such, you must maintain records of CPD and reflect on how it has influenced your teaching role. Keeping records of your CPD will not only provide details of your competence within your job role but also improve your CV should you look for a new role in the future.
Investing in continuous professional development is essential for teachers to stay up-to-date with the latest teaching methods and strategies. By participating in Carlton Training’s CPD course online, you can enhance your skills and knowledge, ultimately benefiting you and your students. This course offers a convenient and flexible way to learn, allowing you to develop professionally at your own pace. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your teaching career to new heights – start your online CPD course today!
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