Recently I forgot my password for my Password Keeper in my Blackberry. How useless is that? So I found this article very helpful as I try to piece that part of my life back together again – a trick for remembering!

If you live in one of the provinces contemplating HST, we will be required to adjust our tax rates to accommodate these changes. This includes membership dues as of July 1st. 

News from All Over
Peter Barrett, CTDP, is currently Head of Corporate Training at RasGas in Doha Qatar. If you happen to be in Qatar on May 26th or 27th, he invites all CSTD members to join the RasGas Training Café. The theme is ‘learning happens' and includes the following topic areas:

Lynn Johnston, CAE 

1. Coaching as a learning tool
2. Business of LNG
3. People...who are they and what do they want?
4. Innovation and strategic planning
5. 10 x 90 second presentations (topics tba)
6. FISH: implementing in the workplace

We continue to see many articles around the multitasking debate – should learners in the classroom also have access to their laptops for ‘note-taking’ or should they be banned. This seems to be less of an issue in the workplace than it is in academia, but is our attention to our electronic devices a loss of civility or can we really accommodate 2 things at once?

Barbara Moses, PhD, had a wonderful article in the Globe and Mail this past week on rewarding employees. Developing skills, it seems, is a win-win for both employee and employer!

“Employers, if you want to get it right for everyone, here’s the best gift you can give: Equip people with skills. Opportunities to learn and be stretched are among the top motivators employees cite. It also ensures workers’ employability so that, if the worst happens and they lose their job, their qualifications are up to date and can be sold to someone else.”

Chief Economist, Don Drummond from TD Bank, has released a special report entitled The Changing Canadian Workplace, March 8, 2010 found here. This is a big picture look at what is to come from a very credible source.

Thanks to Shaun Belding who sent me this link to a YouTube video about a university professor using Twitter in the classroom. An interesting take on ‘if you can't beat ‘em, join ‘em.'

Facebook is determined to get your participation. An interesting New York Times article.

As always, if you have questions or comments about CSTD, e-mail me at ljohnston@cstd.ca.

Lynn Johnston, CAE
President, CSTD

Meet Ajay M. Pangarkar, CTDP, CMA (in progress)
Chief Executive Officer, Lead Performance Strategist
Central Knowledge Inc.                                                                                                            

 
To those with a wealth of experience in the “training” field, I would encourage you to apply for the CTDP under this method. Whether one considers gaining it through the portfolio assessment route or examination process it is something that is worth the effort. Those that hold the CTDP or CTP are leading the way for a new standard for Canadian, and the world, workplace learning and performance. 

What has obtaining the CTDP or CTP done for you as a training and development professional?
For me personally, I am blessed to be in a prominent and recognized position in the workplace learning space. That, however, does not discount the value of the CTDP. Having the CTDP provokes many questions. The first question asked by many is “what is CTDP?” This offers me the opportunity to explain the value and endorsement of being a recognized training professional; further reinforcing their decision to hire me or my company. For our company, it set a standard for us when hiring training professionals. One of our top questions during our hiring process, whether for employees or sub-contractors, is, “what professional certifications do you hold?” The response we expect to hear is, “CTDP or CTP”.  At our company we are all proud to say that we deliver certified professionals. Now, how many other professional performance and learning companies can state this confidently?

What was the best resource you discovered or used to help you prepare for the knowledge exam?
As mentioned earlier, I did not pass through the examination process or do the knowledge exam. There are, however, many valued resources available to those preparing for the exam. Even post-exam, if you are a considered learning professional and hold a CTDP, it is expected that one maintains their professional knowledge in the field. CSTD provide an excellent list of resources to prepare for the exam, however, I would always recommend that a candidate seek out other valued and credible resources available to them. The certification is about learning.

What advice would you give to certification candidates?
Those that hire people from our company have an expectation to receiving advice and guidance from “learning professionals”. This why they are doing business with us. More importantly, “training” professionals, including our people, are expected to be continually learning themselves. If we in the workplace learning space are not doing this then who? We, as a sector group, are expected to challenge the status quo and learn new methodologies and techniques to deliver results to our organizations. So, be a professional learner, beyond the CSTD exam, and ensure your CTDP/CTP is recognized for what it represents…learning professionalism.

Find out more information about the CSTD professional designations CTP or CTDP.

Recognizing Excellence in Learning, Innovation and Performance!

Did you produce an innovative learning program or product in the past year that deserves recognition? Were you an integral part of a learning and development team whose efforts produced exceptional results? If you can answer yes, then the CSTD Awards program has a category for you!

CSTD is looking to honour innovative, Canadian-developed learning products and programs through its annual awards program.
 

The CSTD Awards program seeks to validate submissions which meet "best practice" learning principles. These awards also provide comprehensive feedback outlining merit and areas for improvement. Open to all organizations with at least one CSTD member, CATE recognizes programs in several categories and awards the winners with prestige and credibility.

“Use of the CSTD awards logo on our promotional materials including our catalogue and website draws attention and accolades from our clients. Knowledge of the award win has also stimulated interest from potential clients to find out more about Canadian Management Centre’s offerings and our award-winning team!” - Canadian Management Centre

Awards Informational Webinar
Previously hosted by Calvin McKnight, CSTD Awards Judge, this online information session on the ins and outs of the CSTD Awards program. View the Informational Webinar today!

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OAAPT 

Various Programs and Events