Continuing personal professional development

One of the most significant examples of professional development is an individual staff member committing himself to a contract for personal professional development.

This case study reflects the experience of one academic staff member who was already performing very well, but who wanted to improve on that performance. Multiple sources of information were used over a period of two years. Student feedback from various groups of students was obtained, strengths and weaknesses were established and verified by class visitations and video-feedback. Extensive feedback was obtained from alumni who had completed the course during the previous five years. In the final analysis a teaching portfolio was prepared and on the strength of this, a distinguished teacher award was given to the staff member. In this teaching portfolio the following information was represented:

• an introductory orientation (a brief CV);
• a reflective statement on a personal vision
• course outline, curriculum and student manual;
• teaching materials;
• examples of assignments, tests and examinations;
• evidence from student feedback and/or peer assessment;
• evidence of participation in staff development activities and attempts to improve teaching.

The latter section of this portfolio provided excellent examples of how staff development workshops contributed to professional development when newly acquired knowledge or skills are applied and integrated into an existing repertoire of knowledge and skills.

The personal professional development plan eventually showed dividends when the academic staff member was promoted to professor and elected chair of his department.