Continuing Professional Development for Diploma Practitioners
The Diploma will mean a change in approaches to teaching as well as approaches to learning. Up to date sector knowledge and experience is crucial to successful delivery of the Diploma in Creative and Media, and consortia will need to plan effective Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for their staff.
Appropriate opportunities for continuing professional development which will support staff in delivering the Diploma include:
- work experience placements with sector practitioners/employers
- access to mentoring from sector practitioners/employers
- joint working with employers/practitioners to develop strategies for applied learning and working assignments and briefs
- attendance on programmes and workshops, delivered by industry
- attendance on programmes and workshops delivered by specialist practitioners within the consortium, for example in specialist colleges and higher education institutions
- secondments or internships linked to creative projects, for example working with professional practitioners in the local community or with other Diploma delivery partners or industry training providers
- team teaching with colleagues from specialist colleges and professional practice programmes
- opportunities to network and share ideas and expertise with colleagues within and outside of the consortium
- access to training which will develop innovative applied teaching methods.
Who can support CPD?
Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK), in partnership with the Training and Development Agency (TDA), have developed a guide to assist with the planning of professional development for Diploma teachers. This can be downloaded from Lifelong Learning UK.
LLUK and TDA have also worked with Canterbury Christchurch University to offer Occupational Currency for Practitioners of Diplomas, a free online short course for Diploma practitioners. For more information visit Canterbury Christchurch University.
Universities have a key role to play in both Initial Teacher Training and Continuing Professional Development. Some examples of projects designed to support CPD for Diploma practitioners are available in the HE section of this site.
Many universities are looking to create modules from their existing masters' programmes to provide relevant CPD for Diploma practitioners.
Creative practitioners and employers from the creative industries are also keen to support CPD for teachers. Check out Work Related Learning for examples of how employers can and do support CPD.