CPD Team

Raymond Young’s stand-in (Con Morris) made a plea for the Standards as a unifying measure for assessing the impact of CPD, but not before playing a version of ‘Call my Bluff’ to see who knew their Standards best!

John Daffurn of the National CPD Team sums up his group’s view at the recent CPD network meeting.

We were asked to consider how best to exemplify the professional Standards on CPDReflect.

Here are the key issues raised:

• Allows us to refocus on the Standards
• be wary of the Big Brother tag
• HTs need to be more aware of corporate management issues. Will that be reflected in the SfH? Possible use of HMIE Leadership for Learning document?
• How will local processes tie in with CPDReflect
• Checklists are good for speed but how deeply is practice being reflected on?

Jim Keegans of the National CPD Team sums up his group’s view at the recent CPD network meeting.

We were asked to consider how best to exemplify the professional Standards on CPDReflect.

Here are the key issues raised:

• Good exemplification sources already in place, J2E, HMIE, GTCS, Learning about Learning and are already quality assured
• Check Strathclyde University ITE benchmarks site
• CPD network to be responsible for quality assurance
• Include all Standards in time
• The Highlands exemplification was very interesting
• Take care not to overwhelm with exemplification

This a guest post from Kirsty MacRae of East Lothian Council, who sums up her group’s view at the recent CPD network meeting.

“We were asked to consider how best to exemplify the professional Standards on CPDReflect.

Here are the key issues raised

• whilst there is more confidence now in sharing and risk-taking (promoted by recent ITE arrangements), there is a fear that older colleagues may not be so forthcoming
• some colleagues are more ready to use online technologies than others
• as the tool allows colleagues to add their own exemplification, there must be clear guidelines on the process
• ensure the ability of others in the authority to have a presence (eg how will colleagues access CPD offered by the HR department)
• sustainability of the exemplification process (eg meeting the standards within the standards)
• consider a ‘blog’ tool for endorsements and/or comments on exemplification

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This a guest post from Peter Kormylo, Area Adviser for Learning & Teaching Scotland, who sums up his group’s view at the recent CPD network meeting.

“We were asked to consider how best to exemplify the professional Standards on CPDReflect.

Here are the key issues raised:

• questioning should begin with articulating the positive (appreciative enquiry technique)
• are there other exemplifications needed beyond the standards?
• the standards offer consistency
• some local authorities will want to offer their own exemplification
• the CPDReflect tool works on both sides of PRD (interviewee and interviewer)
• PRD is not the only mechanism. Other mechanisms deal with other issues
• reference to good practice through Journey to Excellence. Do not dilute it!”

This group felt strongly that the Standards are the base and that the LTScotland websites are powerful enough to keep exemplification live and up-to-date. The Standards offer unity of concept to all in the profession. Local authorities may develop local support documentation but linking to the Standards.”

This a guest post from David Johnstone of Dundee City Council, who sums up his group’s view at the recent CPD network meeting.

We were asked to consider how best to exemplify the professional Standards on CPDReflect.

Here are the key issues raised:

• exemplification will be helpful but there will be issues of QA and individual relevance
• would a protocol for offering exemplification be helpful?
• exemplifications should be time-limited and regularly refreshed
• QA the exemplification through monitoring hits and allowing users to rate individual examples?
• layer the QA from personal endorsement through to national sampling

Caroline Hill of Edinburgh City Council sums up her group’s view at the recent CPD network meeting.

We were asked to consider how best to exemplify the professional Standards on CPDReflect.

Here are the key issues raised:

• Try not to overwhelm people with exemplification. Just enough to cater for interest
• Local authorities have their own exemplification and may wish to add
• How do we expand this tool to meet the needs of all staff working in the Children and Families context?
• Teachers will welcome tools but some preparatory work needs to be done
• Needs to link between HGIOS, Annex B and SFR
• Who will monitor the exemplification? Will CPD coordinators have a gatekeeping role? Establishments need a process to oversee and quality assure.

The latest meeting of the CPDReflect usability group met yesterday with colleagues of 3T Productions Ltd who are developing the self-evaluation toolkit for LTScotland and the National CPD Team. As ever, I am indebted to colleagues who come from far and wide and give of their time to provide invaluable feedback on the way the tools are developing.

In preparation for the session, we were able to get a ‘wee shot’ of the 1st version to go online. Although, the functionality is a long way from complete, the potential power of the tool to reflect on professional standards and identify CPD objectives and activities is already apparent.

A key step in realising the power of CPDReflect takes place next week at the CPD Network meeting in Glasgow. This is the group that represents the local authority CPD managers, CPD providers, Universities and other key bodies such as the GTCS. A good part of the meeting will be dedicated to CPDReflect and, in particular, how we can provide relevant and up-to-date examples of practice to bring the professional standards to life. Already colleagues such as Terry Kerr of Highlands Council and Raymond Young of Clackmannanshire have sent me some of their work in this area, which is very much appreciated.