The Case for Utilizing Web 2.0 Professional Development Tools
By Ric Kositzke
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Remember when professional development consisted of an out-of-town workshop with nary a strong coffee or delicious snack in sight? To quote Dylan: The times they are a-changing. Smart professionals, whether you’re an entry-level scientist or a seasoned procurement manager, can discover trends, thought leadership and best practices in your industry without leaving the office.
Finding useful information can be a very time-consuming process, however, because for every thought-provoking webinar there is a webinar that is nothing more than a thinly veiled sales pitch. To help you weave through this maze, here are recommendations on four professional development vehicles:
Webinars
This tool has steadily grown in popularity over the last decade as on-demand education and training technology has improved. Keep tabs on your favorite publication’s website – very often these websites will give you free access to a webinar in exchange for contact information. Warning: Expect a salesperson to follow up with a phone call or e-mail shortly after you've registered. Still, it’s a small price to pay to hear an industry expert espouse actionable best practices for your discipline.
Podcasts
This underutilized technology is fast becoming an alternative means to gain access to thought leaders in your field. Podcasts, which are streaming audio or video files, can be downloaded directly onto your MP3 player or iTunes player (You can download iTunes here: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/). Need pointers for an upcoming presentation? Subscribe to Speakeasy Inc.’s Podcast series on delivering effective business presentations. What’s the secret behind Dell and Wal-Mart’s supply chain efficiency? The Harvard Business Review has a Podcast dedicated to organizational effectiveness. In short, if there is a topic that interests you, there’s a good chance there’s a Podcast on the subject matter.
Video-Hosting Websites
It can be daunting searching for meaningful content on video sites that boast skateboarding bulldogs and piano-playing cats. However, the breadth of videos that extend across every industry should force you to rethink the value of YouTube and its brethren. Search “chromatography” on YouTube, for example, and you’ll see real-world applications for this scientific technique. Likewise, type in “presentation skills” and you’ll see a cacophony of videos outlining best practices in this art. As demand increases for niche video-hosting websites, expect to see bigger and better selections in the future.
Blogs
Blogs have become as commonplace as the morning newspaper and can be a valuable tool to gain insight on an important topic or keep track of trends. To the uninitiated: A blog provides an expert in your field, or anybody for that matter, with a forum to provide commentary on any issue at any time. This autonomy is ideal for professionals who yearn for honest dialogue about a particular subject. Plus, as you read a blog you may be inspired to start your own.
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