Conducting a Self-Assessment of Learning Needs and Developing a Learning Plan

One of the biggest challenges of the CPD process is conducting a meaningful learning needs assessment.

The first step is to ask yourself three questions:

  1. What are some issues and challenges I face in my practice?
  2. What are areas of my professional knowledge/skills do I feel are weaker than I would like them to be?
  3. What new areas of practice would I like to undertake?

Then, ask yourself: 

What do I need to know to be able to address the issue/challenge, fill the knowledge/skill gap and/or obtain the competencies to undertake the new area of practice.

Using the answers to these two sets of questions, you can write your learning objectives and develop a learning plan.


Some resources to assist in this process can be found at the following links:

How to Assess Your Learning Needs, Kieran Walsh, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine

Learning Needs Assessment, Assessing the Need, Janet Grant, British Medical Journal

 

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