Time for a Professional Learning and Development (PLD) Stocktake: Why and How?

As we approach the end of the year, I always take some time out to pause and reflect on my own professional learning and development (PLD) journey.  

• Understand where we stand in our knowledge growth professional development journey
• Identify and assessing what knowledge we have acquired and implemented 
• Explore areas for improvement and future focus.
• Recognise and celebrate our success and progress, which can boost our confidence and drive for continuous learning.
• Ensure that the knowledge and skills we have gained remains relevant and up-to-date, and
• Identify areas and opportunities for upskilling or value adding.

1. Reflect on the PLD Goals you set at the beginning of the year. You may also draw closely on your professional development plan or most recent performance review.

2. Identify all the PLD you have attended since the beginning of the year. For example, courses, workshops, certifications, and informal learning experiences, sector webinars, books you have read, or hands-on projects where you have applied new skills. You can refer to your diary or outlook calendar to help you remember all the professional development you have attended.

3. Identify and evaluate how and where you applied the knowledge you learned. If you have knowledge which you have yet to apply, write reminders for when you can revisit it.

4. Assess and evaluate the impact of your transferred knowledge. For example, you may ask yourself what difference your acquired and transferred knowledge made to your practice, the quality of services to the children and families, to your colleagues or to the wider community?  This could be as simple as noticeable changes in the behaviour of children, or increased engagement in their learning or more involvement from community members.

5. You may also seek feedback from a colleague or supervisor about your practice and/or performance. External perspectives can provide extra insights you may have missed or overlooked. 

6. Compare your performance before and after; what worked, what did not and what may need consolidating or changing.

7. Consider research and sector trends or projected knowledge needs for the coming year and beyond, and update your professional learning and development plan accordingly. 

8. Finally, and the thread that ties all the above steps, celebrate the achievements and milestones during each step! Celebrations can be as simple as sharing a story of success or some certification received from attending a course or feedback from a colleague.