Professional Development

OBJECTIVES
 Define & explain professional development.
 Create professional development plan.
 State the phases and develop strategies of
effective professional development.
 - refers to continuing education and career training after
a person has entered the workforce in order to help them
develop new skills, stay up-to-date on current trends, and
advance their career.

- can help today's engineers that are looking to improve

through educational opportunities and advanced degrees.
 Continuing Education
Enrollment in formal degree
programs, courses, or
workshops.
Pursuing certificates,
accreditations or other
credentials through
educational programs.
 Participation in Professional
Organizations
Coordinating events sponsored by the
organization.
Serving as an officer, board member, or
committee member.
Attending local, regional, national, and
international meetings, conferences and
workshops sponsored by professional
organizations.
 Research
Conducting research
Presenting findings of research to others
Presenting papers at conferences and workshops
 Improve job performance
Improving existing skills.
Keeping up with technology, systems, processes.
Learning about new developments in your field.
 Increased duties and responsibilities
 Taking on new challenges in current position,
projects, long or short-term assignments.

Skill Based Training

 Allows participants to learn conceptual information

or necessary behaviors.
 Practice learning the new information or behaviors,
and receive feedback on their performance.
 Job Assignments
 Learning by doing – by working on real problems and
dilemmas.
 May be an entirely new job, a responsibility added to
an existing job such as a short-term project.
 Something that stretches people, pushes them out
of their comfort zones, and requires them to think
and act differently.
 Building a Knowledge Base
 The purpose of this phase is to acquire new
knowledge and information and to build a
conceptual understanding of it.

 Activities in this phase might include goal setting,

assessing needs, participating in interactive
workshops, and forming a study group.
 Observing Models and Class.
The purpose of this phase is to develop a practical
understanding of the activity.

In this phase, one might participate in activities such

as peer observation, co-planning, and listening to or
watching audio and video examples.
 Reflecting on Your Practice
The purpose of this phase is to analyze your
professional practice on the basis of new knowledge.

Activities in this phase might include the use of

journals or other cases for discussion and reflection.
 Changing Your Practice
 The purpose of this phase is to translate your new
knowledge into individual and collaborative plans and
actions for change.

 Activities might include action research, peer-

coaching, support groups, and professional
development.
 Gaining and Sharing Expertise
 The purpose of this phase is to continue to refine
your professional practice, learning with and from
colleagues while also sharing your practical wisdom
with your peers.

 Activities in this phase might include team planning,

mentoring or partnering with a colleague, and
participating in a network.
 One of the hardest things about learning a new skill
is finding the time to do it.
 In fact, research has shown that many of us spend
72 hours a week working, leaving precious little
spare time each day!
 So, here are eight practical strategies that you can
use to prioritize your professional development,
even when you have a busy work schedule:
 Focus on Objectives
You'll need a strong sense of purpose when it comes
to drawing up your learning objectives.
Start by listing the skills and knowledge that you most
want to learn.
Express these as SMART goals .
When you've done this, break them down into long-
and short-term goals that you can add to your daily To-
Do List or Action Program .
 Manage Obstacles and Distractions
Identify possible obstacles that might make it difficult
for you to stick to your learning schedule.
Then, go through each obstacle
and brainstorm strategies that will help you to
overcome it.
 Make Learning a Habit
When you make learning a habit, you'll more likely
make a positive, long-lasting change, and achieve the
goals that you set yourself.
Do this by building learning into your daily routine.
Schedule time – however little – each day for learning,
and stick to it!
 Set Boundaries
 One of the biggest distractions is often other people.
 Set aside some time in your lunch break to read up
on a new industry development or complete an
online test.
 People may not realize this, so the work requests
keep on coming.
 Make Every Minute Count
Maximize the impact of every moment that you have
available.
Start by taking a look at your To-Do List. What could
you realistically achieve in the time available?
Make sure that you focus your energy effectively.
 Learn at Your Best
Many people opt to work on their professional
development after they've completed everything else.
Sschedule your learning for times of the day when
your energy levels are high and you're more likely to
be "in the zone ."
For example, you may feel a little slow straight after
lunch, but you might be buzzing with energy in the
morning.
 Find Your Own Learning Style
We all have our own way of learning. Some people
prefer to read and take notes. Others are more active
– they learn by doing.
When you identify your own personal learning style,
you'll be able to learn more efficiently and in the way
that works best for you.
Time spent slogging through a textbook, for example,
would be time wasted if you find videos more
engaging.
 Collaborate With Others
Learning alongside others can often make the
experience more fun and engaging.
They can help you to stay motivated, and provide
advice and support.
Social media sites like LinkedIn and Twitter can also
help you to find other professionals in your industry
who can offer training and advice.
 https://www.google.com/search?q=Professional+development&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi_k66f56P0AhU-
rlYBHaioCckQ1QJ6BAgLEAE&biw=1024&bih=487&dpr=1.88

 https://www.slideserve.com/engeduaust/professional-development-for-graduate-
engineers/?utm_source=slideserve&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=auto+related+load

 https://pdhacademy.com/2018/01/24/professional-development-engineers-tools-success/

 https://slcontrols.com/en/advantages-of-continuing-professional-development-for-engineers/