Continuing Professional Development (CPD) - Do You?

[simon43]

I wanted to make a poll out of this topic, but there were so many possible answers that I decided to leave it as a discussion topic.

What's your position on CPD? I'm talking about short, in-house or on-line training courses that aim to increase your knowledge about a specific educational subject, such as teaching children with AHDH.

Do you attend CPD courses? Or once you've got your degree/TEFL - that's it as far as PD is concerned!

If you attend/stuidy CPD courses, do you or your employer pay the course fees?

What sort of CPD courses do you study or wish to study?

IMHO, many employers may be unwilling to fund CPD for their staff, citing the risk of their staff taking new employment after completing the course. Or perhaps the director's purchase of a new Merc has used up all available funds...

For me, I don't expect anyone to fund my CPD - it's down to me to decide what CPD may increase my chances to remain in employment or obtain new employment, or to improve my knowledge on a particular teaching topic. So I self-fund (when I have the money!).

What's your take on this? Let's discuss

Simon

[gerry123]

0 take 0 = 0

[Slip]

Simon this is an interesting question and thanks for asking it. I'm short on time now, so hope to get into the discussion more later. Do you think that the the licensing aspect is relevant, in so far as a teacher who renews their licence is required to prove such CPD?.

[simon43]

Do you think that the the licensing aspect is relevant, in so far as a teacher who renews their licence is required to prove such CPD?

IMHO, CPD is relevant whether or not it is required to renew a TL in a particular country. I don't actually work in Thailand as a teacher, (although my home is here). I usually work in Myanmar where there is no requirement (yet) for foreign teachers to obtain a local TL. Nevertheless, if one is in the teaching profession (or any profession for that matter), one should surely try to keep up-to-date with relevant topics, or study new topics which may improve your career prospects and teaching abilities.

For me, teaching is a third career (after software techie and hotel owner). I self-fund and study short CPD courses that I feel are relevant to my area of teaching (primary level). I hope that by demonstrating my commitment to improving my professional knowledge, my current employer will not kick me out in favour of a younger and prettier teacher

If they do kick me out, then at least my CV should show my commitment to teaching and minimise a potential employer's gut feeling that I'm too old and out-of-touch.

If you teach in Thailand, and need to take CPD in order to renew your TL, what does your school (or you) do to satisfy this requirement? Is it actually checked when you renew?

Simon

Edited January 11, 2014 by simon43

[bundoi]

Simon, you're a smart guy and this the 2nd "discussion" topic you've launched today, so I guess you're a bit bored on this Saturday in your new position in Myanmar/Burma (hope it's going well by the way).

Continuing Professional Development....

- learn the grammar of the language one is paid to teach (sad to say many here by their own protestations have never had that opportunity)

- learn the first language of the country one is teaching in (I understand from your previous posts you've done that several times).

[simon43]

so I guess you're a bit bored on this Saturday in your new position in Myanmar/Burma (hope it's going well by the way).

It will go well when I get there. Sadly my elderly mother passed away in the UK a few days ago and I am waiting on news from my family before flying back for the funeral. I'll return in a few days to start my new job.

[chonabot]

I'm all for learning new skills in order to better yourself.

At 31, I decided to go back to school and managed to complete an OU course over 6 years and get a nice shiny BA for my efforts.

Since then I have tried to take a new course each year and recently passed my grade 8 music exam with the London College of Music - Guitar.

Currently I am into my first year of a rather challenging M Ed course, with the OU again.

After teaching for one year in a government school, I am back in the UK, looking after my sick parents.

But I find the continuing personal development route to be a refreshming challenge that affects all areas of my personal and professional life in a good way.

I did find it rather frustrating when I rocked up for a number of teaching interviews in Thailand only to have my Open University degree met with either

a baffled look, or a sneer.

Thai professionals seem to be more about the brand than the actual content.

Once I logged onto the 'Top 500 universities website' and pointed out the OU's mid table placing, they soon lost interest.

I'll probably be taking a sentence shortening course in the near future.

Edited January 11, 2014 by chonabot

[bundoi]

I'm all for learning new skills in order to better yourself.

At 31, I decided to go back to school and managed to complete an OU course over 6 years and get a nice shiny BA for my efforts.

Since then I have tried to take a new course each year and recently passed my grade 8 music exam with the London College of Music - Guitar.

Currently I am into my first year of a rather challenging M Ed course, with the OU again.

After teaching for one year in a government school, I am back in the UK, looking after my sick parents.

But I find the continuing personal development route to be a refreshming challenge that affects all areas of my personal and professional life in a good way.

I did find it rather frustrating when I rocked up for a number of teaching interviews in Thailand only to have my Open University degree met with either

a baffled look, or a sneer.

Thai professionals seem to be more about the brand than the actual content.

Once I logged onto the 'Top 500 universities website' and pointed out the OU's mid table placing, they soon lost interest.

I'll probably be taking a sentence shortening course in the near future.

The thing is, CPD is an adjunct to one's career; it's not one's WHOLE career; but I do understand where you're coming from. More importantly, do you know where you're going to ;-)