When you are asked to list what continual professional development (CPD) you have completed in the previous 12 months, where do you draw the line on what gets included?
- I would think attending a seminar on teaching skills should be included.
- A new degree, diploma, certificate, etc. would certainly be included
- I would think that participating on this or any other website (Academia.se) would not be included.
- I would think that discussions, no matter how long or involved, would not be included.
- How about reading books?
- How about watching a video series specific to the position?
- How about audio books?
- How about reading articles?
- How about research for writing articles on the subject of teaching (if you are a teacher)?
I would also think as a general rule that things done to improve a teacher's teaching or subject knowledge would count.
Answer
Seconding Damien's answer - it depends on who you are reporting to, and it depends on what they want. Ask for guidelines.
I report to a committee of peers in my department who forward my report with recommendations to the dean. I am judged in several categories. Explicit guidelines on what counts (and what does not) in each category are provided. I would earn credit somewhere for everything on your list. Each category is weighted differently, so I do not received equal credit for all activities. I have taken your list of activities and placed them into the categories for which I would receive credit, and added some of my own.
Instructional Design and Development - Activities to improve the courses that I teach and the methods by which I teach them.
- Attending a seminar on teaching skills
- Video or webinar series on the position
- Experimentation in teaching methodology
- Developing new materials that better suit the needs of the course
Teaching Performance and Feedback to Students - Activities that improve my interacting with students in and out of the classroom.
- Nothing from your list fits here
- Reflecting on student evaluations and using them to improve your instruction
- Faithfully keeping office hours and responding to students in a timely fashion
- Advising students and writing letters of recommendation for them
Scholarly Activity / Professional Development - Activities to improve my knowledge of my discipline and which improve the discipline as a whole
- A new degree, diploma, or certificate
- Reading books, articles, letters, reviews, etc. in your field
- Conducting research in your field, even if specific to education in your field
- Attending, and especially presenting at, conferences
- Submitting grant requests, and especially receiving grants
Service - Activities which forward the mission and goals of the department, the institution, the profession, or the community.
- Participating in Stack Exchange
- Serving on committees at the department and institution level
- Serving as department chair
- Being active (and especially holding an officer position) in professional organizations
- Educational outreach to the community
Collegiality - Activities that improve my relationship with my colleagues and improves my colleagues' abilities to perform their jobs.
- Discussions with colleagues focusing on best practices
- Sharing of teaching materials with colleagues
- Mentoring younger colleagues
Again, the specific answer to your question is held by the authority to whom you are responsible - your supervisor, department, department chair, dean, provost, vice president, etc. Ask for guidelines. If your supervisor wants you to be productive in the desirable way, you should receive guidelines.
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