Happy half-term to all my colleagues, near and far. Or if you’re back at work this week, I’ll try not to taunt you too much. But I’m off; reading lots of books, taking time over breakfast, playing with kids and kittens… oh, and blogging. About work.
There’s something wrong with this picture.
Anyway. I’ve been playing around with this idea for a bit and decided there’s no good reason to wait. As of now, my recent CPD record is available to anyone who cares, via GoogleDocs. I will see about adding in previous CPD, including big courses and stuff, but the whole point of this approach is to make it quick and easy to add reflection to a continuing portfolio. I can’t see any disadvantage with making it public, and several advantages:
- if you want to see what’s caught my attention and interest, professionally, you can
- my contemporary notes are also accessible, where I’ve put in the links
- if anyone wants to headhunt me, they can see what I’ve been up to and I don’t have to update a pretty CV
- when I get around to putting in my CSciTeach application, I can email the URL instead of filling in a form. #kidding #maybe
A couple of health warnings:
- the primary purpose of the record is for my own reference; I make no guarantee about spelling, readability etc.
- most original rows get added via GoogleForm on my phone, so it will obviously change as I regularly go back, add links or further reflection
- if I specify any individuals or classes, then the names will already have been changed to protect the not-so-innocent
- anything I don’t want to fit into a GoogleForm will be blogged, as ever
I’d welcome readers’ thoughts about this; am I breaking new ground or opening myself up to a world of trouble?
PS – an NQT/PGCE/GTP version of this form and spreadsheet will be appearing in the next day or so. Right now I have dinner to cook, kittens to play with and presents to wrap. I must NOT get these instructions mixed up…
Teaching Science 
Hi,
I nicked your spreadsheet after the first iteration and have started using it to record my CPD. What do you decide goes on there? E.g. Reading a chapter in Full On Learning, resolving to try out idea x. Do you think that counts?
Well done for putting this up live. Will follow with interest, and intend to show in to school at first during my PM meetings.
Cheers for the comment, Alex. Yes, at the moment I’m figuring out myself what works best! For books, reading a chapter or so, then notes/ reflection sounds about right. I should probably add some thoughts about David Didau’s book, come to mention it. In the end this kind of record is for the user, mainly – sharing it might be useful but is definitely secondary. See what works best for you, and let me know! Imagine if a dozen or so practitioners all contributed to one spreadsheet, sharing links and reflection with each other. A very powerful improvement tool, I would say, to make the most of all kinds of informal cpd opportunities…
Ian, this is brill. I’d looked at the first version but had left it in the pile of ‘useful links to follow up’. Having your example has been great (though I might need help with the google form!) as I’ve been thinking about ways to record my development across my NQT year.
I assume you’re ok if I share this with my induction tutor?
Of course! If you give it a day or so, I’ll have the nqt version, with notes on how to make it work, up and available. Would value your tutor’s comments too!
I really like this idea Ian. I didn’t really consider how to record things like discussions, but this makes everything very clear.
Hi Ian,
Thanks for this – a brilliant resource. Having been saying to myself for a few years now that I need to get my CPD tracking better organised and this is really going to help. Thank you! I also must wanted to say that I am incredibly impressed that you find the time to do so much! You will have to let me know what your secret is.
Simple – I drink too much coffee, watch almost no tv and have trouble sleeping. Glad you like the idea, please keep me posted with how it works out for you and your colleagues…
Hi Ian,
This is a great idea and I really like that you are documenting every type of CPD, from the informally shared ideas to the official ‘courses’. It’s given me a great deal of food for thought and I am definitely going to set a similar system up for myself, I suspect it will be very useful in a number of ways, not least remembering all the CPD I’ve undertaken over the course of a year come appraisal time!
Many thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing. What an excellent way to record all of that professional thinking that takes place. Too easily I have a vague memory of something I’ve done or sombody I’ve spoken to that was useful, but not had the sense to log it systematically. That’s all about to change!