EDUCATOR’S PAGE
How do you Fulfill Your Professional Development Needs?
Michael J. Urban, MEM-1910
People participate in professional development for a variety of different reasons. Some of us need it for career advancement. Others are required to stay abreast of new technologies or techniques related to their jobs. Still others feel that in order to remain current in their disciplinary fields, they must brush up on their understanding of concepts or new ideas encoun- tered in the mainstream literature. And then, of course, there are those life-long learners who simply just want to continue accumulating knowledge over the years. Whatever the reason, professional development is a necessity for many. Geologists are no exception. Be they involved in industry, private consult- ing, education, or another setting, professional geologists are routinely on the lookout for inexpensive and efficient ways to meet their professional development needs.
Professional development may be defined as the pursuit of relevant knowledge or skills in a particular profession. It may have widely varying meanings, depending on the profes- sion in question, but is typically used in reference to further- ing professional preparation or credentialing via formal or informal education and training. Professional development activities may provide clock hours, continuing education units (CEUs), university credit, certificates, or other forms of verifi- able documentation.
Types of Professional Development
What types of professional development (PD) opportunities exist? Given the somewhat expansive definition of professional development, an assortment of different activities may meet the general description. Of paramount importance, then, is knowing specifically which kinds of PD activities are accept- able to your organization or employer for advancement, cre- dentialing, and disciplinary knowledge maintenance. Seek out the specific guidelines of your organization, or ask someone who knows.
Common professional development activities include for- mal coursework (through universities or organizations), workshops, short courses, seminars, or webinars. Conference attendance may count toward PD needs too (but again, check with your organization first). In some instances, workshops and field trips may be offered at conferences, and it may be possible to obtain, or arrange for, CEUs for participation. It is also worth mentioning the possibility of earning college credit through completion of short courses or other forms of PD (existing partnerships between organizations and universities may already be arranged, or you may contact a university to discuss earning credit; these usually involve additional costs). Depending on a person’s career goals, it may be advantageous to pursue a graduate degree or another certification simultane- ously with professional development.
Important Considerations
What should you look for in a professional development opportunity? In addition to pertinence, one might weigh a number of other factors when deciding whether or not to pursue a specific PD option. If you are anything like me, you probably want the biggest bang for your buck – so, finding a high-quality, low-cost prospect is vital. Equally important to cost, though, is the required investment of time. Expediency may be a top priority for us, so that we can accomplish our PD goals in one sitting (e.g., seminar) or through a short-course lasting just a few weeks. Therefore, the three most important considerations when evaluating the value of any potential professional development activity relate to: 1) quality, 2) cost, and 3) efficiency.
While less substantial than the previously mentioned con- siderations, there may be a few relevant others. At the risk of betraying our idiosyncrasies, we might consciously note the location of a PD event, opting to select or dismiss it based on particular characteristics of the building, city, state, or nation in which it is being convened. Our rationale may stem from a desire for specific driving conditions or to avoid certain airports. We may, for example, simply prefer local or online PD activities for sake of convenience, or when combined with a sense of fiscal responsibility, so that we do not incur the additional costs associated with distant travel.
Today, we also face another critical decision: mode of delivery. Do we prefer in-person or virtual meetings? Online professional development – thanks to lower costs, ability to reach a greater audience, and convenience – is much more prevalent than in the past and continues to open doors for both providers and intended recipients. Still, some topics may better lend themselves to face-to-face training, where specific tools or equipment must be utilized under direct supervision. Also of consequence is our preferred style of learning. Is our motivation in an online setting different than in a traditional, face-to-face, environment? Depending on your answer to this question, and the topic of the PD, online options may present advantages or disadvantages, and these must be taken into account.
Veteran professional development attendees likely have preferences, but sometimes we have a need that must be sat- isfied and do not have the luxury of being too selective. For newcomers, you may want to try out a few different kinds of professional development settings to see how each fits your individual interest, learning style, or need. One could, after all, be pleasantly surprised by a new venture.
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