1. Unit Three Personal and Professional Development
Unit Three Personal and Professional
Development
Rationale
Personal reflection is an important part of
personal development. This unit aims to help
you to develop and reflect by setting yourself
objectives and working towards them.
Learning
Outcomes
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
• Reflect on your role as a School Administrator
• Identify areas for self development
• Produce evidence of self improvement
• Consider the impact of self development
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Quotations
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll
land among the stars.”
Les Brown (American Singer, 1912-2000)
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in
rising every time we fall.”
Confucius (Chinese Philosopher, 551BC-
479BC)
“The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
Albert Einstein (American Physicist, 1879-
1955)
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Self Development
Self development is an important means of developing efficiency in
your job as well as improving your self esteem. This unit will help you
to identify your current skills and knowledge and examine what
further skills and knowledge you would like to acquire.
Personal Development Journal
The Personal Development Journal complements the Reflecting in the
Workplace unit by allowing you to consider how you yourself can
become more efficient. The journal should be gradually completed as
you work through the course.
Once completed, the journal should give you a clearer view of how to
develop yourself further. It is also a useful tool which allows you to
look back over your working methods in the past and compare them
with the present.
The journal helps you to identify the skills that you have acquired in
your job. This is useful for updating your CV as well as recognising
where changes can be made.
The objectives that you set for your journal should relate to both your
aims at work and your personal aims. Consequently you may find it
useful to consult the Work Management module when setting
objectives as this covers improving stress and time levels.
The Personal Development Journal is made up of two parts. Part one
allows you to identify the skills and knowledge that you would like to
achieve and helps you to determine the steps you need to take in
order to do this. Part two is then made up of the evidence that you
collect to show that you are working towards your goals. You will also
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reflect on how successful you have been and what you would do
differently if you had to do it again.
Personal Development Journal: Part 1
To be completed initially:
1. Objectives - Identify between three and five objectives that you
want to achieve. These should be confirmed with your tutor
and, if possible, your line manager.
2. Required Skills/Knowledge - Consider what skills/knowledge
are required to achieve the objectives.
3. Steps Needed - What steps do you plan to take in order to
develop your skills/knowledge?
4. Potential Evidence – What sort of evidence can you collect that
will prove that you are working towards your objectives?
• Photocopy the grid in Appendix 1 (you may need to use more
than one).
• Fill in the grid using the information above to guide you.
• Ensure that your plan is agreed with your personal tutor before
continuing on to part 2.
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Personal Development Journal: Part 2
To be gradually completed over the course:
a) Evidence
Prepare a portfolio of evidence showing that you have worked towards
your objectives. Each piece of evidence should be numbered and at
the start of your folder you should list all of the evidence with the
relevant index number. Example: If your objective was to learn to
produce minutes at meetings you could photocopy some minutes that
you have completed as evidence.
b) Aims, Skills and Reflection
• Photocopy as many pages of Appendix 2 as you need.
• Use at least one sheet for each objective.
1. Objective – Fill in your original objective from part 1.
2. Achieved? – Either a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer is needed here. Do not
worry if you have not been able to achieve your objective. The
emphasis here is on reflecting back and considering what you
could have done better.
3. Skills – List the skills that you have achieved as shown by your
portfolio of evidence.
4. Reflection
– How would you rate your success at achieving your objectives?
Give yourself a percentage rating.
– Is there anything that you could have done differently if you had
to do it again?
Note: There is no word count for your Personal Development
Journal.
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Appendix 1
Personal Development Journal – Objective Setting
Objectives Required
Skills/Knowledge
Steps Needed Potential Evidence
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Appendix 2
Personal Development Journal - Reflection
Objective Achieved? Skills Developed Reflection