PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CATEGORIES

List the type of activity, the date of the activity, the number of hours involved in the activity, and the category of the activity, for each professional development activity within the past three years.

Categories of professional development are:

1. Work-based learning
2. Professional activity
3. Formal/Educational
4. Self-directed learning
5. Other

Examples of each of these categories are provided below for illustrative purposes only. The list is not exhaustive, nor would each item listed receive the same weight of consideration. They are meant only to help clarify the intended meaning of the above categories.

1. Work-based learning

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Experiential learning: Learning by doing the job - gaining, and learning from, experience - expanding role.
• In-service training - includes orientation programs, standard operating procedures and employee development.
• Receiving coaching from others.
• Work shadowing.
• Peer review of own work, including presentations to colleagues.
• Review of case studies & literature
• Discussions with colleagues - idea generation, problem solving, etc.
• Presentations to external clients, regulators, policy makers.
• Supervising colleagues or students.
• Sabbaticals, job rotation, temporary placement in another organization for professional development.
• Involvement in the wider work of employer - beyond scope of role.
• Post-mortem & lessons learned activities following significant projects, events.
• Requesting and analyzing feedback on performance from colleagues, clients.
• Participating in the employer's performance appraisal and goal setting process.

2. Professional activity

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Involvement in the management of a professional body - officer, organizer, committee member, working group member.
• Organizer of a conference, meeting or course.
• Journal referee, associate editor, or editor.
• Supervisor of research.
• Membership of a technical expert group - e.g. special interest group, section or study group.
• Being an expert witness.
• Lecturing or teaching (new material).
• Giving presentations or being a discussant at conferences or scientific meetings.
• Networking with professionals in other organizations.
• Coaching or mentoring.

3. Formal/Educational

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Undertaking a program of learning or research for an academic qualification. · Attending training courses.
• Attending conferences or meetings.
• Undertaking distance learning or e-learning activities.
• Reading to understand the legal, regulatory framework for professional work.
• Maintaining or developing specialist skills.
• Writing articles or papers.
• Preparing presentations for conferences or meetings.
• Preparing material for training courses.

4. Self-directed learning

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Reading books, journals and articles.
• Reviewing and summarizing books and articles.
• Upgrading knowledge through internet searches and the use of electronic information sources.
• Reflective practice - assessing benefit of professional development activities to self, client or employer - identifying next steps.

5. Other

Examples include, but are not limited to, activities that develop:

• Strategic thinking (e.g. projects for employers such as organizational restructuring, strategic planning & resourcing, external/community relations, facility development)
• Leadership skills (e,g. Chairperson for a club or society)
• Organization and planning skills (officer for a club or society, activity direct)
• Finance skills (e.g. treasurer for a club or society)
• Coaching and counseling skills (e.g. coach, volunteer work, mentoring, tutoring)