What Is a Professional Development Day?
A professional development day is basically a learning day for educators or business professionals. Some professional development days are public events with keynote speakers; the topics relate specifically to a certain profession. Seminars and workshops held during a professional development day give educators and business professionals an opportunity to learn and discuss new ideas in their career field.
For example, a professional development day for educators at a high school may include a seminar on student learning styles. The seminar would likely highlight new research information of relevance to educators. Such knowledge helps a career professional continue to develop and learn to keep growing in his or her job. Learning new information and techniques can benefit any profession. It also provides a way to put research results to practical use.
Learning professional development at a business often features presentations about what the future may hold for that particular industry. For instance, keynote speakers may discuss how changes in the economy affect the field or even a certain company. In this way, businesses can stay up to date on their forecasting planning. Forecasting in business is aided by computer software programs that project future business production factors that affect company costs and revenues.
Sometimes a business or school holds a professional development day as an invitation to job seekers or students interested in their training programs. Seminars and presentations about the career field are likely to be included. Job seekers or students interested in pursuing a particular career may attend the professional day to find out what training requirements are needed for entry-level and other jobs in that field.
Any type of business or school can benefit by holding a professional development day. Organizations other than corporations and educational institutions also host this event. For example, a sports organization may hold professional development days mainly so coaches on different teams can meet to discuss new programs or regulations.
Professional development days usually include a selection of seminars from which the professionals can choose. Comparing and discussing different viewpoints can aid critical thinking. A professional development day may include breakfast and/or lunch. Meeting and socializing with people in the same profession is a big part of most professional development days. A professional development day could bring together colleagues from different regions in the country or the world.
Many business professional days are annual events. Educational professional days may be held more often, such as each time new school curricula is introduced. Students don't usually attend professional development days. Instead, they get a extra day off from school. Parents are given advance notice so they can plan for the day in their schedules.
Written by Sheri Cyprus
