In today’s educational landscape, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is no longer just a nice-to-have – it's a necessity for teachers and education staff who wish to hone their craft and develop their careers. Whether you’re a newly qualified teacher/educator or a seasoned professional, CPD for teachers offers invaluable opportunities to learn new skills, deepen subject knowledge, and ultimately enhance the learning experience for students. Here, we’ll delve into why teacher professional development is essential and how our CPD platform is making it easier than ever for educators to engage with high-quality, accessible CPD topics.
Why Continuous Professional Development is essential for teaching staff
The role of teachers and educators today goes far beyond delivering the curriculum. Educators are mentors, guides, facilitators, and lifelong learners. With complex student needs, new technological tools and enhancements to educational tactics and processes, there’s a lot to keep up with! By investing time into ongoing CPD, teachers and educators can maintain a high level of competency, stay current with best practices, and enhance their teaching approaches.
Some of the key benefits of continuous teacher training include:
1. Improved teaching effectiveness
- CPD keeps educators informed about the latest educational strategies, research, and pedagogical methods. This directly impacts their teaching effectiveness, helping them better engage students, adapt lesson plans to diverse learning styles, and implement innovative teaching techniques.
2. Enhanced subject knowledge
- CPD for teachers often includes subject-specific training, which can be especially beneficial for those teaching complex subjects. By deepening their subject knowledge, teachers become more confident in the classroom, able to answer student questions thoroughly and create more meaningful learning experiences.
3. Adaptability to technology
- With the rapid rise of technology in education, it’s essential to stay up to date with digital tools and online platforms. CPD courses covering technology integration, online teaching methods, digital literacy and important processes and laws, such as GDPR and online safety, ensure that teachers are well-prepared to adapt to classroom changes or even teach remotely if required.
4. Increased student engagement
- Teachers and educators who engage in regular professional development are often able to bring fresh ideas and new energy into the classroom, inspired by their new knowledge. When educators are excited to learn and grow, it translates into a more engaging and inspiring learning environment for students.
5. Career advancement opportunities
- For educators who are looking to move into leadership roles or take on specialised teaching roles, CPD is crucial. Continuous Professional Development helps teachers build the skills and qualifications needed for career growth, including moving into senior leadership or specialist roles.
6. Growth mindset and wellbeing
- CPD doesn't just focus on academic growth – it often includes modules that support educators’ mindsets too. With the demands of teaching, courses that focus on self-care, time management, managing work-life balance and growth mindsets are essential for teacher wellbeing.
What types of Continuous Professional Development is available for teachers?
CPD can come in many forms, educators should ensure they are taking part in various forms of CPD to keep themselves engaged and gain different types of information and feedback. Some common types of CPD includes but is not limited to:
- In person training (INSET days) or seminars
- Online training and webinars
- Reading books, journals and articles
- Attending exhibitions and conferences
- Classroom observation and peer-to-peer mentoring
- Watching documentaries and YouTube videos (or similar platform)
Webinars, journals and online training videos (for example on YouTube) are an accessible and convenient way for educators to take part in CPD, enhancing what has been taught on INSET days or observations. Gaining knowledge from various sources and experts can add extra layers to knowledge and help educators see CPD topics from different perspectives.
Our CPD platform: Your gateway to quality teacher professional development
Recognising the importance of accessible and effective teacher training, our agency’s CPD platform My-Progression has been designed to meet the needs of today’s educators. We offer a library of bite-sized CPD video content tailored to busy educators who want to develop their skills without committing to hours of lecture time. Our CPD videos, available for free on YouTube, cover a wide array of topics relevant to modern educators, available for you to choose the topics for you whenever and wherever you like.
Here’s what makes My-Progression unique and valuable for teachers and educators:
- Bite-sized learning
- We know how limited educators’ time can be. That’s why My-Progression offers bite-sized videos that can be completed during short breaks, on the commute or in the evening. Each video delivers practical insights and strategies that can be immediately applied in the classroom, making it easier than ever for educators to engage in continuous teacher training without overwhelming their schedules.
- Diverse content library
- My-Progression provides access to a wide range of topics relevant to all aspects of teaching. From classroom management techniques such as the ignore, divert, challenge method and the forgetting curve, to interpersonal skills such as handling feedback and job interview tips, My-Progression ensures that educators have access to training that meets their individual needs and interests.
- Easy certification
- Keeping track of professional development hours is essential as some employers ask for evidence of CPD. My-Progression makes this simple, providing teachers and educators with certificates after completing a short quiz. Plus, our safeguarding series is CPD Certified as an equivalent to a Level 1 in Safeguarding. These certificates not only serve as a record of progress but also adds to their professional portfolios for future career opportunities.
Why CPD matters now more than ever
In an era where education is rapidly changing, CPD is essential to meet the needs of both students and teachers. Continuous Professional Development empowers educators to stay on top of new educational trends, improve their teaching practices, and, most importantly, continue growing in their careers.
My-Progression is designed with the modern educator in mind, providing accessible, effective, and flexible training that truly makes a difference. By engaging with our bite-sized videos, teachers can continuously develop their skills, stay inspired, and ultimately make a positive impact in the classroom.
Take the next step in your professional development journey
If you’re ready to invest in your teaching career, My-Progression is here to support you every step of the way. With flexible, easy-to-access videos on a wide range of topics, you can continue your professional development without the need for lengthy time commitments. Explore our CPD content on YouTube today and discover how you can enhance your teaching effectiveness, support your students better, and open doors for your career growth.
My-Progression is powered by TeacherActive, one of the UK’s biggest education recruitment agencies which can help develop your career with rewarding work in education. To find work as an educator in your area, check out TeacherActive’s job page today.
