As an educator, it is important to keep an eye out for opportunities for professional learning and development. This blog discusses the benefits of professional development and why continuing professional development is essential for your career.
What is Professional Development?
The term professional development refers to opportunities that professionals engage with to improve their skills, and knowledge and further their abilities in their area of expertise or field of work.
Examples of Professional Development
Professional development can take the form of many different activities, including but not limited to:
- Training programmes
- Workshops
- eLearning
- Courses and qualifications
- Conferences
- Other education experiences
Less formal examples of professional development can include:
- Peer reviews
- Coaching
- Taking feedback from a colleague
- Sitting in on a colleague’s class or presentation
- Talking to your colleagues about new skills and new updates in your field
Benefits of Professional Development
Professional development opportunities are vital for professionals to stay up to date with developments within their field as well as allow them the chance to learn new skills, new techniques, and to expand their expertise.
Professional development can often be seen as an important aspect of career advancement, and it can also have benefits for organisations as it helps their employees to stay current and proactive. Professional development can be extremely valuable no matter where you are in your journey from an entry-level position to skilled, experienced professionals looking to advance their careers.
Why is Professional Development Important for Educators?
Educators are responsible for the learning and development of the children, young people, and adults in their care. Therefore, if you are teaching it is vital you are also continuing to learn and develop. In the education sector professional development refers to the ongoing learning and training opportunities that teaching staff, school administrators, teaching assistants and other educators engage in to improve their skills and knowledge in the field.
Professional development for education professionals is significant as it can keep you up to date with new teaching methods, government guidance, new technologies and best practice, and can also help improve skills in select or specialised areas such as new curriculum, safeguarding or additional learning needs.
Benefits of Professional Development to the School
For schools, colleges, and other education establishments, ensuring your staff are continuing their professional development is critical. If you have staff who are up to date with the newest trends, guidances and teaching methods then you can be assured that your students are in the best possible hands.
Education establishments pride themselves on high levels of success and the ability to promote that your staff also reflect this practice with their commitment to their own professional learning and development is second to none.
How can I Improve my Professional Development?
There are many different avenues to explore when it comes to your professional learning and development opportunities for your staff. If you are a supply teacher, tutor, teaching assistant or any type of educator then there are options available to you.
At Equal Education Partners we are passionate about lifelong education and learning opportunities. We offer both in-person and online live training sessions, mentoring and coaching support, and on-demand content from our online academy.
Read more HERE about the free online courses we offer through our Equal Academy and how they can help you with your professional development.
Register for the Equal Academy and start taking courses to further your professional development now!