Peaks & Pitfalls: 7 Best Practices & Pitfalls of Professional Development

Professional development is interwoven into the fabrics of one's profession. The goals of professional development are varied and should include opportunities that allow participants to expand their knowledge base via the acquisition of new information, or through sessions where additional theories, content, or concepts are being introduced as to peaks (best practices) or new techniques relevant to their positions and organizations. Additionally, quality professional development should offer opportunities for personal reflection and self-evaluation as to one's current roles and responsibilities and their relevance to the topic being covered. Lastly, the book is grounded in brain development and the manners in which adults learn. This is critical, as professional development must be delivered in a manner in which the participant is able to process the information, thus transforming the content into practice via the travel from short-term memory to long-term. This book presents the aforementioned items and expands on these to ensure that professional development is not an afterthought but key to the organization's ability to develop and consistently provide a platform for staff as they continue to craft and implement best practices. Embedded within the contents are participant recollections of best practices, their experiences, as well as sample evaluation forms, inspiring quotes, and schedules.