E. Continuing to Develop and Grow

A common theme in how people continue to develop and grow in their work was around gaining more experience in different areas that interest them. For others, networking and mentoring with colleagues, reading, bridging practice and theory, academic work and learning new things outside the field are ways they continue to grow.

Nancy:

"I prepare to be challenged by taking on projects that carry new dynamics that you have to accommodate. The best PD for workplace educators is more work because the pieces of work are so different they bring new challenges."

Mary Ellen:

" I keep on learning by taking courses at the Justice Institute. There are opportunities to move in a totally different circle of people. Being able to take up workplace issues with people with different work experiences and backgrounds is illuminating. For me, this is more useful than professional opportunities in our own field. We have to position ourselves in a broader education and training perspective…more stable and more possibilities. We have to look at what others are doing around organizational change."

Tracy:

" I continue to pursue things that interest me. I maximize informal leaning and learn new stuff all the time. I say, ' Oh sure, I can do it' and I jump right in. I read, sleep, eat and dream it. I become an "expert" as much as I can."

Sue:

" For me the best opportunity for professional development in a long time has come through my role as a researcher …doing ethnographic research in a textile factory. The ability to be challenged through a new aspect of workplace education and to work and observe along side the production worker, has provided me with renewed commitment to my values around this work. This new set of workplace experiences at close range can only make me a better practitioner in the end."