The Coach House
Ealing Green
London W5 5ER
T: 020 8840 4383
F: 020 8579 3991
info@cpduk.co.uk
 

PLANS TO ACHIEVE THIS

How will I get there?

What styles of learning best suit my situation?

The achievement of development objectives requires involvement in a wide range of learning activities on a continuous basis. CPD may take the form of any appropriate learning activity and need not necessarily be biased towards course attendance. The decision as to what constitutes relevant learning and development must therefore lie primarily with you as an individual. Some suggestions for CPD activity are included in the section ‘What is CPD?’, although you may well find other equally relevant methods for achieving your development objectives.

When arranging your CPD activities you will need to consider your preferred learning style. Different individuals perceive and process experience in different ways and these differences comprise a unique learning style. An awareness of your preferred ways of learning is therefore essential to the quality of CPD undertaken. The four major learning styles are highlighted in the chart below that may help to guide you in the choice of CPD activities.
LEARNING STYLES

Day to day Learning

  • connect new information/skills with personal experience and real-life problems/situations
  • prefer co-operative methods of learning e.g. seminar groups, brainstorming, learning through project work etc.

Listening Learning
  • want to acquire knowledge to deepen understanding of concepts/processes
  • prefer to learn from what ‘the experts’ have to say e.g. lectures, conferences, further qualifications etc.

Hands-on Learning

  • be interested in how things work and want to ‘get in and try it’
  • prefer experiential methods of learning e.g. through hands-on tasks, on the job learning etc.

Teach Yourself Learning
  • rely on self-directed discovery and want to teach yourself
  • prefer independent study and training which involves simulations, role-play etc.

NB: Many people will find that they have a mixed learning style which involves two or more of the above. This situation provides a wide variety of possible methods for effective CPD.

Although the emphasis of CPD should be on planned activities, you should also be able to recognise and use unplanned opportunities as they arise. If you have been involved in any activity which did not feature in your development plans but from which you have learnt something, record it and how best to take advantage of the opportunity. It may add to an existing and planned area of learning or it may open up something new.