I’m noticing that initialisms are common in this June EdTech Challenge gig. I’m familiar with Continuing Professional Learning (CPL) and Continuing Professional Education (CPE), so I’m going to assume that CPD is Continuing Professional Development.

These are some of the things I do to continue my own professional learning, your mileage might vary but these have served me pretty well so far (note, this list is intentionally unordered):

• Set up that RSS feed – I use Feedly and follow a whole bunch of different edtech, learning, UX, visual design, and elearning bloggers. I learn so much from these folks everyday, and it works better than other social media generally because the feed is categorized by me and chronological.
• LinkedIn Learning – I’m fortunate to have access through my employer to this resource. I don’t use it a tonne, but when I need to learn a technical skill it is a great starting place. Even if I don’t end up directly applying the specific course to my work directly, it gives me conceptual tools to work better with others such as developers.
• Fill your ears – I listen to Podcasts and Audiobooks regularly, although since the pandemic I don’t keep on top of them quite as well given my commute is now 30 seconds instead of 30-45 minutes. I find these particularly effective because they’re not about learning a specific skill, but hearing thoughts, challenges, successes, and insights from others in the field and other fields. Plus I can clean the house or do routine work while listening.
• Blog! – Blogging is actually something I’ve really struggled with in the past. What has helped is adopting the approach Stephen Downes uses at OLDaily, and a bit that Terry Greene promoted through the 9x9x25 thing a few years ago. Short posts as think-alouds, repsonses, or design charettes is a way for me to capture what I’m learning and engrain it more deeply. It doesn’t have to be a scholarly article, just blog it out.
• Discuss – however you do it, either through social media, video call, face-to-face, whatever, talk to your friends and colleagues. Again, it doesn’t have to be something as formal as a journal club, but talk about the things you’re wondering about and doing with those around you. Moreoever, ask them about what they’re thinking about and doing.
• Join a professional organization – this edtech challenge is run by ALT, so you might already be a member there, great! I personally am a member of ACCP-CAID and learn from the workshops they put on throughout the year. Recently I’ve joined their board, and actually am learning quite a bit through that role as well.

What tips would you add?