CPDAnswers

Help will follow here shortly when the new look CPDFind goes live (around April 2011)

Most of the CPD funding available is devolved to local authorities. This can, of course, make it difficult for supply teachers and others not currently employed to access CPD.

Your first step should be to join CPDStepin. This is a professional community on Glow for supply, under-employed or unemployed teachers. See this CPDAnswers post for more details.

  CPDFind contains a wide range of CPD opportunities and much of it is free. Just type in a CPD topic into the search box to get started.

Another option is to contact CPD managers from nearby local authorities to see if it is possible to attend CPD events. You will find an up-to-date list of CPD managers on the CPD Team website.

CPDFind is a national database of CPD opportunities which has been developed as part of the collaboration between the National CPD Team and LTScotland. The opportunities (not just courses!) come from a wide range of providers including LTScotland teams, HMIE, SQA, private providers and universities. In addition, we are seeing some local authorities (eg Aberdeen City) using CPDFind to advertise their local CPD to a wider audience.

You might be interested in CPDFind for a number of reasons:

• your own professional development (just type a keyword into the CPDFind search box)
• to support your colleagues in their professional development
• to promote CPD that you deliver or enable.

All the providers on the system have gone through a registration process. If you are interested, contact cpdregister@ltscotland.org.uk

There is also an endorsement feature for Glow users of CPDFind

There are plans to further develop CPDFind in the coming year, including development of local versions for both authorities and school establishments

CPDFind is part of the CPDScotland project, led by Con Morris, which also includes:

• promoting Glow for CPD purposes
• gathering interesting CPD practice using the CPD Team blog
• a PRD toolkit called CPDReflect

CPDShorts are thought-pieces on Glow with accompanying discussion points and activities. In a CPDShort opportunity, you can:

• study and reflect on a think-piece (usually a video clip, an audio clip or a short document)
• record your thoughts on the matter
• discuss or raise key questions
• find like-minded colleagues who have taken part in the same CPDShort as you.

You can find a few examples of CPDShorts on in CPDFind (just enter cpdshort in the search box). You will also find details on how to take part in the CPDShort. You will find a complete set of CPDShorts on the Online CPD Library on CPDCentral (needs Glow username)

If you have a think-piece that you would like to see become a CPDShort, contact cpdanswers@ltscotland.org.uk and we’ll help you to build it and get it into CPDFind.

Visit the CPDShort page on CPDCentral…

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Yes! We have a number of providers (some outwith Scotland) who provide online CPD, for example OpenSource CPD, Hibernia College and The Open University.

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CPDFind  does not replace the long-established, local procedures for evaluation of the quality of CPD delivery by providers. You should report any dissatisfaction with CPD provision to your establishment CPD coordinator (or headteacher). Generally any concerns will be raised directly with the CPD provider but may also be referred up to the local authority CPD manager.

However, the National CPD Team welcomes information about any continuing concerns. Please contact us on cpdanswers@ltscotland.org.uk or call Ruth on 0131 474 9360.

For users it’s usually a 3 – step process:

1. type in a search term.  CPDFind will search the database of CPD opportunities to let you…
2. browse the results and add the ones that interest you to a wishlist. You can then…
3. email or download the wishlist for your CPD plan

It is the responsibility of the individual CPD providers to maintain their opportunities. We provide a management system for them to add, edit and delete opportunities. In addition, any dated occurrences are automatically deleted when the date passes.

If you see information that is out of date on CPDFind, please let us know (cpdanswers@ltscotland.org.uk) and we will take steps to remedy the situation!

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There are a number of bodies in Scottish education who may be able to help. A good first step is to contact the International Education group at Learning and Teaching Scotland.

You may also want to try searching for international education in the CPDFind search page.

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This logo is only available for use to registered providers and is, therefore, not on the public-facing site.

If you log in as a provider, you will see a button marked Resources.  Select that to view and download the various types of logo available. There are print as well as web site versions.

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