The document outlines a professional development worksheet for early childhood professionals, emphasizing goal setting, self-assessment, and research to inform professional practices. It includes sections for identifying long-term goals, areas of strength and growth, as well as near-term actionable goals with timelines. Additionally, it encourages the integration of research, policies, and resources to support professional development and achieve set goals.

1. PV005: Professional Development Worksheet
Use the following worksheet to guide the development of the
Assessment for this Competency.
Part One: Professional Goals and Self-Assessment
Long-Term Goals and Aspirations |
Note: These must reflect NAEYC standards for professional
preparation.
1.
2.
Areas of Strength
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Areas for Growth
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Areas of Interest/Inspiration
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Near-Term Goals (Note: These are goals that you will achieve

2. in the next 6 months.)
Goal 1:
Goal 2:
Goal 3:
Part Two: Research to Inform Professional Development
· What current policies, research, issues, and/or trends inform
your near-term goals?
· How might these policies, research issues, and/or trends
support or impede your ability to reach your goals?
· How can you apply your learning about the research, policies,
issues, or trends to advance toward achieving your goals?
Part Three: Early Childhood Professional Organizations and
Resources
Organization/Resource #1
· Name of organization or resource:
· Website or contact information:
· Brief overview of purpose of organization or resource:
· Statement of how the organization or resource can be used to
support one or more of your near-term goals:
Organization/Resource #2
· Name of organization or resource:
· Website or contact information:
· Brief overview of purpose of organization or resource:
· Statement of how the organization or resource can be used to

3. support one or more of your near-term goals:
Organization/Resource #3
· Name of organization or resource:
· Website or contact information:
· Brief overview of purpose of organization or resource:
· Statement of how the organization or resource can be used to
support one or more of your near-term goals:
Part Four: Individual Professional Development Plan
Complete the Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)
template and Appendix. Submit them separately.
©2014 Walden University 2
PV005: Goals, Action Steps, Timeline: Individual Professional
Development Plan (IPDP)
In the first column, list your near-term goals. They should be
specific and clear. Action steps should be specific, such as
gathering materials, interviewing specific people, visiting
specific places to observe, etc. Add resources, such as written
materials you will read, websites you will explore, funding
needed to attend events, etc. Finally, think about how long it
will take to reach your goal. This is your timeline and helps you
meet your goal. Put a day, month, and year next to each goal
and/or strategy showing when you expect to complete it or
check in on your progress; this is the status.
Near-Term Goals
Action Steps
(What specific tasks will I
complete to accomplish this goal?)
Resources
(What do I need to

4. accomplish my goal?)
Timeline
(Anticipated completion date)
Status
Example:
Obtain certification in child CPR
· Call the local health department to find where classes are held.
· Complete a child CPR certification course.
· Phone number of local health department
December 2015
November 17th—called the health department and enrolled in a
child CPR training course
1.
2.
3.

5. Note: After completing the IPDP, choose two action steps from
your plan to implement. Provide evidence to demonstrate that
you completed the action step and attach it as an appendix to
your IPDP. Examples of evidence might include such items as a
certificate of attendance from a professional conference,
interview notes, and/or photographs.
©2014 Walden University 1
Part I: Professional Goals and Self-Assessment
1. Start with the end in mind. Consider the goals you want to
achieve as an early childhood professional. What are your
highest aspirations for serving children and families? Write two
long-term goals in the appropriate “Part One” of the
Professional Development Worksheet that reflect NAEYC
standards for professional preparation.
2. Consider where you are now in relation to your long-term
goals and aspirations. Reflect on your current knowledge, skills,
and experience. Think about your areas of strength and areas for
growth, including areas of study and professional interaction
that have been most interesting and inspiring to you.
3. Consider this information within the context of each of the
following core areas of the early childhood profession:
Safe and Healthy Learning Environments
Physical and Intellectual Development
Social and Emotional Development
Relationships With Families
Program Management
Professionalism
Observing and Recording Behavior
Child Growth and Development

6. 4. Record your areas of strength, areas for growth, and areas of
interest and inspiration for at least three of these areas on the
Professional Development Worksheet.
With these areas in mind, formulate three very specific and
clear near-term goals—measureable goals that you will achieve
in the next 6 months to 1 year. List them on the worksheet.
These will be the goals that drive your Individual Professional
Development Plan (IPDP).
Part II: Research to Inform Professional Development
1. Each of the near-term goals you identified on your
Professional Development Worksheet is impacted by the
broader landscape of the early childhood field. For example,
you may have a goal of initiating advocacy efforts in an area in
which new sources of funding are being made available at a
national level. Or, it may be an area in which funding is being
withdrawn. Understanding how your goals are influenced by
current research, policies, issues, and trends can help you to be
more strategic in deciding where to focus your professional
growth and learning.
2. Consider each of the near-term goals you identified on your
Professional Development Worksheet. In “Section Two” of the
worksheet, summarize the larger context at the community,
state, national, and/or global levels as follows:
3. Describe at least three examples of current research, policies,
issues, and/or trends that inform your near-term goals. Explain
how the current research, policies, issues, and/or trends support
or impede your ability to reach your goals.
Explain how you can apply your learning about the research,
policies, issues, or trends to advance toward achieving your
goals.