In this blog, we look at all things CPD. How CPD enables progression in learning, to why it’s important. Finally looking at how you can start logging your CPD to take your learning to the next level.
What is CPD?
Firstly, what does CPD stand for? CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. Put simply, it is a process by which you can develop yourself personally and professionally through various types of activity and learning, including participation-based or independent learning, online learning and knowledge sharing. This can be a mix of self-guided learning methods or certified learning courses.
Why is CPD important?
Through CPD your learning becomes conscious and proactive rather than reactive. Many professional bodies require individuals to record a pre-allocated number of CPD hours in each calendar year. As with all these things, the preferred method of practice is to consistently progress and track your CPD to build up to these hours. Try to avoid a last-minute panic by giving yourself two weeks to complete 30 hours of CPD work!
Self-guided reading of recommended articles within your industry, attending group training, watching webinars, going to events and training at work, amongst other learning methods, count towards your CPD. Reflecting on your learning helps to cement the information to memory and keeps you on top of your game professionally. Assessing what you have learnt through self-guided learning or certified courses will help you apply the learnings in your profession and will also help you reflect on how you might have done things differently should you encounter a similar situation again.
Tracking your CPD will also help you determine your learning style. Establishing what type of learning method you benefit from the most will help you get the most from each activity.
The four most common learning styles are:
Kinesthetic – a hands-on learning style, learners in this group prefer a physically active role in learning in order to process the information
Auditory – learners in this category learn best when given information verbally
Visual – you absorb information when it’s presented in a graphic way through meaningful symbols and diagrams
Reading/writing – this learning style responds well to reading and writing the information they are given.
How CPD enables progression in learning
CPD puts you in the driving seat. Whether the learning is self-guided or through certified courses it will be sure to boost your confidence in the workplace and equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to enable progression. It is an ongoing learning journey through which you maintain, improve and expand your professional skills and knowledge. For many, their profession means it is essential to stay up to date with the latest thinking in their industry. It’s also worth noting that CPD is more than keeping up to date: by becoming more aware of your own CPD process, the more informed and reflective you’ll be. This gives you the insight, you need to learn and progress with confidence and success.
Through a CPD Hub like LEAP, your goals, records, certificates, files and reflections are all stored in one place so you can view your progress clearly on your phone, tablet or laptop. We rarely stop to think about how we learn, after all, it’s a natural and constant process that occurs as we participate in hundreds of different events and activities each day. Furthermore, we often recall only exceptional or unusual events. By logging your CPD, you can feel in control and proud of how far you have come and what you have learnt on the journey.
This internal reflection is key to how CPD enables progression in learning; it’s a confidence boost and affirmation that you are good at your job and have worked hard to get to the level you’re at. It also allows you to learn from setbacks and mistakes to change the outcome in the future. CPD is a tool for life that will be there for you as you grow and develop through the learning and working cycles of life. It demonstrates commitment, consistency and dedication to employers and stands you in good stead when it comes to applying for promotions, new roles or career changes.
CPD, where to start?
Here at Leap, when it comes to where to start with your CPD we recommend starting with little and often. Make logging your CPD an enjoyable experience by logging the detail and type of professional development completed followed by a reflection. Start by aiming to do this once a week and schedule time into your working week to do this. Accumulating small but consistent habits will ultimately lead to results that may have felt unimaginable at the start. Use an online platform to log your CPD, a platform such as the ‘LEAP Hub’ is easy to access, cost-effective and takes away the worry of where to store all your information safely and securely.
What is the LEAP CPD hub?
The LEAP CPD Hub is a learning tool that helps capture, manage and connect learners’ development and experiences in a simple interface. The Hub provides a solution to your CPD management requirements whether you’re an individual or an organisation.
You can use the LEAP CPD Hub to:
- Capture and manage activities that support your personal development objectives
- Store and organize all your CPD plans, records, files and reflections
- Access your CPD files and resources online, anytime, anywhere.
Don’t let starting your CPD overwhelm you. It should be an enjoyable process where you track your progression and learning to enable progression. Knowing your learning style will help make self-guided or certified learning more beneficial for you, not to mention more enjoyable. Tracking your learnings will also boost your confidence and help you reflect on how far you have come. So join us in celebrating progression, committing to the process and logging your CPD to create more opportunities.
Thank you for reading and please do share this blog if you have found it useful. We’d love to hear how you have benefitted from logging your CPD. Should you have anything you want to ask us, please do get in touch here.
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