Continuing Professional Development: Current Provision, Developing Professional Learning Communities

1. Continuing Professional Development: Current Provision
Developing Professional Learning Communities
By- Monali Madhuchhanda Pradhan
Roll no.- 21BEDMED20
Assigned by-
Ms Nutan Panda
Assistant Professor, Department of Education
TEC-II: Issues and Research in Teacher Education

2. Continuing Professional Development (CPD):
• Continuing Professional Development generally refers to the ongoing learning opportunities
available to teachers and other education personnel through their schools and districts.
• It is a way of continuous development of teachers.
• It is a planned and well structured programme.
• CPD includes training courses, seminars, workshops, conferences, events, webinars and online
eLearning programmes.
• Through CPD, teachers try to develop their personal and professional qualities to improve their
knowledge, skills and practices.
• CPD helps them to empower themselves as well as their pupils.
• It involves any relevant learning activities i.e. Formal, structured, informal and self- directed.

3. Why CPD is important ?
 CPD ensures that the capabilities of teachers keep pace with the current standards of
others in the same field.
 It maintains and enhances the knowledge and skills that is needed to deliver in a
professional service.
 CPD helps to stay up-to-date in the changing trends in the profession.
 It helps to keep in touch with the new curriculum, new teaching methods and techniques,
new strategies and latest advancement in the knowledge and technologies.
 It serves an effective teaching-learning process.

4. Current Provisions
In-person Workshops
CPD provision through in-person
workshops is a popular option for
many professionals.
Online Courses
Online courses offer a flexible and
convenient way to access CPD
opportunities.
On-the-Job Training
Many employers provide on-the-
job training as a way to support
their employees' CPD needs.

5. Future Trends in CPD
As technology continues to advance, the way professionals approach CPD is likely to
change. Some potential trends include:
• Increased use of online learning platforms and digital resources to provide more flexible
and accessible CPD options.
• Greater emphasis on experiential learning and hands-on training, such as apprenticeships
and internships.
• More focus on soft skills, such as communication and leadership, as well as technical
skills.

6. Benefits of CPD
📚 Improving Knowledge and Skills
Continuing Professional Development
allows individuals to stay up-to-date
with the latest industry trends,
advancements, and best practices. It
provides opportunities to expand
knowledge and acquire new skills that
can enhance job performance and
effectiveness.
🎓 Increasing Career Prospects
CPD demonstrates a commitment to
professional growth and development,
making individuals more attractive to
employers. It can open doors to new
career opportunities, promotions, and
higher salaries.
🔒 Maintaining Professional Standards
CPD helps professionals meet and
maintain the required standards and
competencies of their industry or
profession. It ensures that individuals are
practicing in accordance with the latest
regulations, ethical guidelines, and
industry standards.

7. What is Professional learning communities?
Shirley Hord, an expert on school leadership, came
up with perhaps the most efficient description of the
strategy: “The three words explain the concept:
Professionals coming together in a group—a
community—to learn.”

8.  A professional learning community or PLC, is a group of educators that meets regularly, shares expertise,
and works collaboratively to improve teaching skills and the academic performance of students.
 PLC uses small-group collaboration of schools or teaching faculties as a form of professional
development.
 Professional learning communities have two major goals:
a) improved teacher practice
b) which leads to improved learner achievement.
 Teachers discuss and reflect on their instructional techniques, lesson designs, and assessment practices,
while administrators may address leadership questions, strategies, and issues.

9. Importance Of Professional Learning Communities
For CPD:
 PLCs help to achieve sustainable improvement in the learning takes place in the school.
 They fulfil a need for more professional development to become more authentic, timely and relevant.
 They help bridging the gap between education theory, policy and practice, creating spaces for addressing
practical issues and connecting pedagogical practice with subject content knowledge.
 They provide spaces where teachers share innovative ideas with others.
 This stimulates teachers to interrogate and renovate their practice rather than to recycle old ideas.

10. Developing Professional Learning Communities
• Foster collaboration and sharing of best practices among
educators
• Create regular meetings to discuss and exchange ideas
• Conduct professional development sessions to enhance
skills and knowledge
• Utilize online platforms for ongoing communication and
resource sharing

11. Conclusion
Continuing professional development (CPD) is paramount in today's rapidly
evolving world. As professionals, we must continuously enhance our skills, expand
our knowledge, and adapt to emerging trends and technologies. Through diligent
CPD, we ensure our relevance, competence, and effectiveness in our respective
fields. In conclusion, embracing CPD is not just a choice but a necessity for staying
competitive, achieving personal growth, and making meaningful contributions to
our organizations and society as a whole.