Identifying Areas for Growth

Self-assessment can be revealing, encouraging, daunting, and, at its best, inspiring. The key is to use the results to help you grow. Again, engaging in meaningful discussions with colleagues can provide support. This week, you will use the Discussion to share what you have learned from the self-assessments in this week’s Learning Resources: Assessing Your Professional Development and Seventeen Competencies for Becoming a Professional: A Professional Development Checklist.

To prepare for this Discussion, review the results of the assessments.

By Wednesday:

Post a response to the following:

• Describe three areas in which you believe you now excel as a result of the coursework in this program.
• Identify three areas in which you need to grow, based on your self-assessments, in order to be more effective in your work as a child development professional.
• Describe how you will help yourself grow in these areas. Be specific.

By Sunday:

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings. As you read their responses, note those to which you would like to respond with advice, questions, comments, and/or encouragement.

Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ postings in any of the following ways:

• Build on something your colleague said.
• Explain why and how you see things differently.
• Ask a probing or clarifying question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Validate an idea with your own experience.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.
• Ask for evidence that supports the posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Consider what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.