Planning for Professional Development Using Extension Competencies
The following steps will help you determine what professional development goals to set
for yourself. Choose one or two areas on which to focus so that you can dedicate enough
time to strengthen your skills. It might be helpful to review your job description or
consult with your supervisor in development of your plan. Your CED/DED will visit
with you about your plan during your annual performance review.
Step 1: Identify your strengths
Control + click on the following link to complete the self-assessment. You will receive
scores at the end of the assessment. Possible scores range from -2 to 2. Enter those
scores in the spaces provided below before you close out of the survey. This page is
for your use only.
UF/IFAS Extension Competency Self-Assessment
Competency Area
Program Planning and
Development
Extension Teaching, Tools,
& Methods
Program Evaluation
Subject Matter Expertise
Professionalism and
Professional Development
Extension Organization and
Administration
Information and
Communication
Technologies
External Linkages
Volunteer Development
Interpersonal Leadership
Working Definition
Strategies or tools used to develop an
extension program.
Means used to deliver content to clientele.
Measures used to document outcomes and
impacts as a means of accountability/program
success.
Technical knowledge and skills possessed to
perform tasks related to a specific field(s)
Maintaining a high code of ethics and seeking
opportunities to stay up-to-date in relevant
fields.
Understanding of the organization and overall
management of the duties of the position.
Current technologies and how they are used to
reach mass audiences.
Collaborations with other governmental
agencies, non-governmental agencies, and
industry.
Use of the ISOTURE model to work with
volunteers
Process of creating change in others through
positive relationship-oriented behaviors
My Score
Step 2: Identify areas to develop your skills.
There are two ways to approach professional development. You may want to choose a
competency area for which you have a lower score, so that you build your skills in that
area. Negative scores are generally an indication that there is an opportunity for
improvement.
However, it is also valid to select a competency area for which you have a positive score if
you have a goal of establishing expertise in that area. For example, you may already be
able to conduct good program evaluations but have a desire to become a recognized expert
in this area. A plan to develop expertise should clearly focus on engagement in
professional development activities offered at the intermediate or advanced level.
The competency area(s) I will focus on:
Competency Area 1:
Competency Area 2:
Step 3: Professional Development Goal Writing
Use the following pages to set measurable goals for the coming year to develop your skills
in the competency area(s) you’ve selected. Set realistic goals; your CED/DED can help
you determine what is realistic within a one year time-frame. You will be asked to report
on the progress you made on reaching your professional development goals when you
have your 2015 performance evaluation. Use the IST catalog to help you select
appropriate activities to advance your expertise. If you have a need for an IST that is not
in the current catalog, contact Amy Harder, PDEC Coordinator, at [email protected] or
352-273-2569 for assistance.
The following pages are the only pages you need to provide to your CED/DED.
Professional Development Action Plan
Name:
Competency area:
Date:
Goal Statement:
What specific actions will you take? (e.g. IST enrollment, consult with specialist,
conference attendance, audit a course)
How will you measure the results?
What will be the impact on you, others, teams, or the organization?
Timeline: What are important dates along the way?
Competency area:
Goal Statement:
What specific actions will you take? (e.g. IST enrollment, consult with specialist,
conference attendance, audit a course)
How will you measure the results?
What will be the impact on you, others, teams, or the organization?
Timeline: What are important dates along the way?