Update and stay updated (CPD)!

Update and stay updated (CPD)!

Having basic qualifications is one thing, but in order to be on top of your subject and the rapid changes that occur in post-compulsory education, you need to keep updating both your taught subject and your teaching. Staying on top of new techniques and thinking in your subject means not just taking courses where needed, but also reading up and staying in touch with others in your field (the Internet can help a lot with this!).

Staying up to date as a teacher means taking courses. Luckily the APTT can help a lot with this, offering Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to all members free of charge via the 'PLATO' programme of accredited courses. CPD shows that you are up-to-date, care about teaching and have the newest concepts at your fingertips. It means being a 'real' professional, and not just someone who happens to turn up of a night time to 'entertain' a group of adults. If you're serious about teaching then you really need to take it as being your key focus; think first about how good a teacher you are and secondly about how good you are at your subject. Especially take great care to stay on top of key areas:

New teaching methods
Prior assessment of learning
Assessment and evaluation
Quality issues
Planning and course development
Learning theory and how to implement it
Managing your work

You know it makes sense! So why not do it now?

Check out the PLATO programme for further details and remember to ask for evidence of your learning when you do unaccredited/uncertificated courses and training days. Put a portfolio together of your own work by storing all your evidence systematically; it will be vital when it comes to APEL for future qualifications, and save you a lot of time an effort (let alone being excellent evidence for getting work!).

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