Mandatory Continuous Professional Learning (CPL)

Monika Obermeier
Sep 1, 2018 · 5 min read

Early childhood educators (ECEs) are among the most creative and reflective people that I have met. I think it is trained into us as part of our education — we do countless self-reflection assignments and are encourage to actively challenge our own assumptions and beliefs; we are also required to plan numerous creative learning activities and take creative courses (such as art and/or music) that stimulate our creative senses. Then we go into the field and spend our days with the masters of creativity and adapting thinking to new learning — children!

So it comes to me as a surprise that many ECEs are up in arms over the continuous professional learning requirements that have been put into place by the college. This is not to discount the many complaints about the cost of registration in relation to the average salary of an ECE in Ontario; but, I think that is another discussion separate from complaints about the CPL.

The College is something our predecessors and those in the field for longer than I asked for. It was something they saw as lacking in the field. They wanted us to be recognized as the valuable and important professor that we are, based on the unique knowledge, skills and training that we have. They wanted to ensure that children in this province had the right to spend their early years under the care and guidance of these people. They got the government and the public involved in this discussion and they made it happen. It is required by law that child care centres have an ECE in every classroom and that every centre is supervised by an ECE, and these ECEs are required by law to be registered and maintain good standing with the College.

That law is to protect the public and the children we serve. It is not to protect the public from ECEs, it to protect the public from non-ECEs. It is protect the public from people who do not have the training, knowledge or skills from taking on the huge responsibility of shaping the way in which children view themselves and their world.

The CPL is a natural and next extension of this mission. Research on early childhood and learning has grown so much in recent years, especially in new areas where we did not have the capacities to study before — such as brain science and genetics. We know far more now than we did only 10 years ago and we will know even more in the next 10 more years. It is our job to be able to stay on top of that information. It is not enough to have graduated from college and to never learn again. The field needs to grow and change with this new information, and ECEs need to be at the forefront of that.

I know that many (perhaps even most) ECEs are already doing this. I see them everywhere — in the field, online, and in my peer group; however, not everyone is. This job has a high rate of burnout and that leaves many ECEs doing their best to get through the day and meet minimum requirements. They may still be great in the classroom with the children, but may also lack the drive that pushes for excellence and growth. The CPL is one way to help find those who need it. Our job is not meant to be easy or mindless, it is one of the most important jobs that exists in modern society. (And yes, I know most ECEs are not receiving salaries that reflect this which is a travesty but not an aspect of the CPL).

One complaint I see quite a bit is the fact that there is no time to do this. The trust is, I bet you are already doing it and just not documenting it. If you are not, then get creative and be reflective! The CPL is so easy to do and so open-ended. Make it work for you. Some examples may include:

  • taking on a college student
  • problem-solving classroom struggles with peers
  • keeping a journal, vlog, blog, or audio diary of your own personal thinking processes
  • focus on improving one area and your practice and looking to others for support (online, books, youtube videos)
  • joining some online professional communities and participate instead of scrolling (Facebook, instagram, twitter, etc.)
  • and so much more…
Possible suggestions from the CECE

The opportunities that will work best for you are the ones that suit you. So get reflective:

  • What works for you when you are learning?
  • What are you already doing that could be done better?
  • Who can you reach out to?
  • What do you wish you could do/know/try?
  • What is stopping you?

We are already doing professional learning every time we drive home and reflect on a challenge we had at work and come up with solutions to how to solve it. We are already doing it when we discuss a challenge with a peer to look for options. We are already doing it when we scroll through Facebook and Pinterest to find inspiration. YOU ARE ALREADY DOING IT!

So don’t stress yourself over the forms we have to fill out. Get creative and make them work for you and your own goals. Embrace them and let them guide you in being able to conceptualize and articulate all the amazing work you are already doing. If we cannot share this amazing work with the world, the world will never truly understand what we already know: ECEs are amazing, talented, reflective, creative, knowledgeable individuals who care deeply about our work, and each and every child who we meet in our professional journey.

My own journey has grown and changed into something rather unconventional for an ECE. Some of the CPL requires me to stretch my thinking about how that work still fits with the core standards and practices of my profession. I don’t work directly with children anymore but I can make the CPL work for me, so I am sure you can to.

In fact, this very blog is a part of my CPL, as is my website and my Podcast. So as part of my goals, I have decided to make my entire CPL journey public to perhaps guide and support others who are struggling. It does seem that there is lots of struggle with these new changes and I have always rather enjoyed and embraced change. So feel free to take a look at my journey on https://www.monikaobermeier.com/cpl and reach out to me with for any support or questions. I am happy to help in any way I can.

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