Professional development?

AS L&D professionals, our goal is to help others learn and grow through education, but, what about ourselves? What professional development activities are of value and how do you pursue tham?
TTT sessions are professional development activities for us as Instructors, then you can add or create your personal path you want to develop on.
 
AS L&D professionals, our goal is to help others learn and grow through education, but, what about ourselves? What professional development activities are of value and how do you pursue tham?
While I like the suggestions that instructors should remain current and add to their instructional skills let me also suggest getting outside of yourself. Ways that you can stretch your skills include:

Writing books (or eBooks),
Making instructional videos (let me add the caveat 'for your audience'),
Making instructional audio recordings (no video challenge), and
Volunteering to participate / lead industry groups (like CompTIA or NIST).

Writing books is something that many aspire to. Some would argue that printed books are yesterdays tech and that eBooks or online books are the way to go. It's a way of sharing your knowledge and also refining how you communicate.

Making Instructional videos are *or can be) fun. The challenge is making the video 'fit' for your audience. I did this in my role working for a major cyber security vendor. We tailored videos to our sales teams, support teams, and customers. That's three different audiences that I learned are really different. Sales teams wanted content that they could make their own and redeliver to their customers. Support teams were looking for technical details and step wise instructions. Customers were a mix of the what we did for sales and support but always seem to want a shorter (time wise) product.

In the past I worked with folks with various disabilities and so when I heard a request to record audio only I jumped at the chance. That project was short lived and didn't achieve it's goals but that led to the group starting to create podcasts. Podcasts that explained features - what they were and how they were used or interviewed other people using a product were very successful. I was a 'producer' for such a podcast that went on for almost 4 years and the only problem we had was keeping a host. Our first host was promoted and dropped out. We replaced that host with two hosts who were then both promoted. The last host left the company.

Finally VOLUNTEER! I'm participating in a NIST NICE working group and signed up to be a project lead. You meet great people and get to hear great info and opinions AND (hopefully) help advance the cyber security profession.

Brian
 
Finally VOLUNTEER! I'm participating in a NIST NICE working group and signed up to be a project lead. You meet great people and get to hear great info and opinions AND (hopefully) help advance the cyber security profession.

Brian
I always love volunteerism - it's one of the fastest ways to get in the door and get some quick experience. Small and large organizations need folks who understand cyber, particularly if you get into BCDR work - since none of them have ever done any and can't afford a professional to come in and build a BCDR program that a business can then take over and manage. Places of worship and other non-profit 501's are great places to start since many of them have to have an active cyber program for insurance purposes, but have no idea how to start or maintain one.

/r
 
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Making Instructional videos are *or can be) fun. The challenge is making the video 'fit' for your audience. I did this in my role working for a major cyber security vendor. We tailored videos to our sales teams, support teams, and customers. That's three different audiences that I learned are really different. Sales teams wanted content that they could make their own and redeliver to their customers. Support teams were looking for technical details and step wise instructions. Customers were a mix of the what we did for sales and support but always seem to want a shorter (time wise) product.

In the past I worked with folks with various disabilities and so when I heard a request to record audio only I jumped at the chance. That project was short lived and didn't achieve it's goals but that led to the group starting to create podcasts. Podcasts that explained features - what they were and how they were used or interviewed other people using a product were very successful. I was a 'producer' for such a podcast that went on for almost 4 years and the only problem we had was keeping a host. Our first host was promoted and dropped out. We replaced that host with two hosts who were then both promoted. The last host left the company.

Finally VOLUNTEER! I'm participating in a NIST NICE working group and signed up to be a project lead. You meet great people and get to hear great info and opinions AND (hopefully) help advance the cyber security profession.

Brian
I echo this too!
You can create instructional videos, post them on social media, then share it across.
Not only that it could help your students but it will also help the trainer to "sharpen the saw", so to speak.

Audio recordings are fun too, as you can make your own podcast! ^_^
 
I echo this too!
You can create instructional videos, post them on social media, then share it across.
Not only that it could help your students but it will also help the trainer to "sharpen the saw", so to speak.

Audio recordings are fun too, as you can make your own podcast! ^_^
Yes, they are good
 
I echo this too!
You can create instructional videos, post them on social media, then share it across.
Not only that it could help your students but it will also help the trainer to "sharpen the saw", so to speak.

Audio recordings are fun too, as you can make your own podcast! ^_^
I keep wanting to start in on this project. I'm even building my office to make a studio of sorts...until someone needs a password reset or can't get their wireless connected...again.

/r
 
I also highly recommend working as part of a team of SMEs to develop courses and certifications. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in an Item Writing Workshop last week.