Reflecting on and Reviewing CPD
Tools and tips to help you reflect on and review your learning as part of your structured CPD.
In any activity it is important to regularly stop and take stock – and the same applies to your professional development. People who reflect on their learning retain more information and are more efficient at applying it to improve their performance. And reviewing your CPD progress will help you keep on track against your plans, and ensure your goals remain relevant and appropriate.
The development cycle is a continuous process, and only through effective review can you move on to formulate suitable plans for your next steps. Doing this can also identify if your planning is effective, and that your overall direction is in line with your long-term ambitions.
Reflecting on your learning
Reflection is the process through which many great discoveries have been made, and it is the only way that we are able to learn from the unexpected results and reactions that we often encounter. However, our hectic pace of life often distracts us from this useful activity.
Taking time out to consider what we have learnt and how it impacts on us is an important way of embedding the learning in a way that makes it useful in our work. For example, new information might contribute to the way we solve a problem now, but might also change the way we tackle other tasks, how we conduct ourselves, our approach towards others, or our attitude and motivation.
Reflection is especially important if you want to get the best results from planned development activities. When you plan an activity put time in your diary for the end – even just half an hour – to reflect on what happened. You may decide to do this alone, or to arrange with a friend, colleague or mentor to talk it over with you. It can be equally effective after a training course, secondment, project closure, or even a piece of research.
Think about what happened and how it made you feel. You might like to structure your reflection by asking yourself some questions, such as:
- What were the key points that you remember and/or were relevant to you?
- What points did you agree with and which did not seem ‘right’?
- Did the activity go as planned – and if not, why not?
- What would you do again, and what aspects would you avoid in future?
- How could you have done it differently or better?
- How will you change what you do or how you behave as a result of this activity?
- Did it meet your needs – fully or in part?
- How did the activity fit with your learning style – was it right for you or should you try something different next time?
- Do you feel you've learned enough, or is there more you want to find out?
- What follow-up actions do you need to take?
Sharing reflection with others who have experienced the same or a similar activity can also provide valuable insights into how different perspectives colour our learning.
Reviewing your CPD
Reviewing is a key step in the development cycle and has many benefits, including:
- Refreshing our memory – we often forget a large part of the information we pick up during formal learning activities, such as courses, shortly after returning to work. Reviewing our notes allows us to remember key points, helps to consolidate the learning in our memory, and to consider how much we have used in our work.
- Keeping on track against our plans – ensuring that we are meeting targets (if appropriate), heading in the right direction, and haven't forgotten anything.
- Making sure our planning is effective – that we do not have too much or too little to do, that the plan is still appropriate and relevant to our needs, and that we are moving towards our long-term goals.
- Learning about how we learn – reviewing our activities can reveal insights about our preferred learning style, when we learn best, and how much learning we can handle at any time.
Most people review their plans at regular intervals, say every six months. It doesn't have to be at the end of your ‘development period’, but might coincide with your appraisal or a job change. You may also find you have to review your plans ad hoc – perhaps re-prioritising to meet a change in our roles or to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity. When or however you review, it will provide an opportunity to learn from the experience itself, and you will find you build all the insights you gain into your future planning.
There is more information on undertaking effective professional development in the Professional Development "How to do it" Guide. Here you will also find many useful hints, links and sources of further information.
