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
Working Definition
Strategies or tools used to develop an extension program.
Means used to deliver content to clientele.
My Score
Subject Matter Expertise
Professionalism and
Professional Development
Extension Organization and
Administration
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.
Information and
Communication
Technologies
External Linkages
Current technologies and how they are used to reach mass audiences.
Volunteer Development
Interpersonal Leadership
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

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 amharder@ufl.edu
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:
Goal Statement:
Date:
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?