Tuesday, July 22, 2014

How Not to Fail CPLP Work Product - Part II: Find What's Hidden in the Handbook

In a previous blog post I emphasized that the key to preparing a successful CPLP® Work Product submission is to make sure you thoroughly read, understand, and can meet all of the ASTD Certification Institute's requirements. 

How do you do that?

In my previous post, I suggested you start by reading:

  • CPLP® Certification Handbook, Part 1, Program Overview
  • CPLP® Certification Handbook, Part 1, Appendix A - Program Agreements, Policies, and Fees 
These documents give a high-level overview of the Work Product submission phase and provide context for how this phase fits in the overall CPLP® certification process. 

However, these are not the only Handbook documents relevant to CPLP® Work Product.

You MUST also read the following documents in the CPLP® Certification Handbook, Part 3:
  • Introduction: The Work Product
  • Appendix specific to your AOE (Appendix I, J, K or L - Instructions and Forms)

Many candidates know to read the Appendix (Instructions and Forms) specific to their Area of Expertise (AOE), but then completely miss reading Appendices M, P, and Q:
  • Appendix M: Work Product Scoring
  • Appendix P: AOE Key Action List
  • Appendix Q: Scoring Rubrics

Why should you read Appendices M, P, and Q?

That's how you find out what's "hidden in the Handbook" - meaning, clues about what specific "additional evidence" you need to include in your submission and what level of quality is required for work samples in your Area of Expertise (AOE).


For example, Instructional Design requires you to write about and show evidence of how you applied learning theory to your training program design and development. 

What learning theories did you use? Can the Raters easily see those learning theories demonstrated in your work?

(See the Handbook screenshot below.)


Watch for footnotes and endnotes near the Key Action Categories table for your AOE (then refer to Appendices M, P & Q for details)

In Training Delivery, you must demonstrate evidence of informal learning in addition to formal learning.

Yes, much of your Training Delivery work sample is captured in your 3-part recording - where you demonstrate formal learning through facilitation - but how does your submission also demonstrate the informal learning methods you used to help participants transfer their learning to their jobs?

In Managing Learning Programs, the often overlooked developing others consists of a set of key competencies where you must demonstrate how you coached or mentored other team members (or your staff) and helped them to develop key skills.

What types of tools do you use to assess, communicate, and track developmental needs?

In Performance Improvement, you are required to show evidence that at least one of your selected interventions is effective in closing the performance gap

What do you have in your submission that demonstrates that at least one of your interventions is producing the desired results?

Go from Hidden to Unhidden - Making the Invisible Visible

Now that you have a small sampling of some of the "hidden" competencies to look for, the next step is then figuring out what the expectations are and how to make sure you demonstrate them in your submission - both in your words and work samples.

That involves reading multiple documents in the Handbook (all the ones above, plus I also suggest revisiting Appendix F, Part 2) so you can put together a complete picture of what's required for your AOE and, therefore, must be demonstrated in your submission. 

"You Only Have to Brush the Ones You Want to Keep"

That's what I tell young nieces and nephews when they ask if they have to brush *all* their teeth, *all* the time.

Same here with which documents to read in the Handbook.

You only have to read the ones that instruct you on how to pass CPLP® Work Product.

You've come this far. 

It's an awful lot of time and effort to waste if you fail this phase of CPLP® certification - the last step! - simply because you didn't follow *all* requirements outlined in the CPLP® Certification Handbook.

Need HELP?
 

Here at Owl's Ledge, we've developed a suite of products & services to help CPLP® Work Product candidates to be successful in this process - everything from Checklists, to an Online Course, to CPLP Work Product examples, to step-by-step guidance in how to respond to essay questions!

Owl's Ledge CPLP Work Product Schedule - How to Make it Manageable with Major Milestones
  
CLICK HERE to contact one of our team members for details on how we can assist you in finding the right tool to help you tackle your most challenging task!

To your success!

~ trish 

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