PDO study plan
PDO · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Professional Development Foundations and Adult Learning Theory
Define adult learning theory terms (andragogy, self-directed learning, transformative learning, experiential learning) in your own words without consulting notes
Compare at least three adult learning theories and list two instructional implications of each for professional development programming
Explain how learner motivation, prior experience, and readiness to learn shape facilitation choices for adult professionals
Build a personal glossary of 25 foundational terms with one workplace example per term
Your checkpoint
A 3-5 page personal glossary and theory comparison table covering Domain 1 foundations
Professional Development Foundations and Adult Learning Theory & Needs Assessment and Program Design
Analyze how organizational strategy, performance gaps, and learner characteristics drive professional development priorities
Distinguish needs assessment approaches (gap analysis, task analysis, learner analysis, organizational analysis) and select the appropriate one for three given scenarios
Draft interview and survey questions that uncover true performance gaps rather than stated training requests
Connect adult learning principles from Week 1 to at least four needs assessment design decisions
Your checkpoint
A needs assessment toolkit containing a scenario-to-method decision guide and a 10-question stakeholder interview protocol
Needs Assessment and Program Design & Instructional Design and Curriculum Development
Translate needs assessment findings into measurable program-level learning objectives using action verbs and clear conditions and criteria
Sequence objectives into a curriculum map that shows prerequisite relationships and cumulative skill building
Select instructional strategies that align with each objective's cognitive level
Identify at least three risks of misalignment between assessed needs and designed curriculum
Your checkpoint
A one-page curriculum map with 8-12 measurable objectives mapped to instructional strategies and assessment methods
Instructional Design and Curriculum Development
Apply a recognized instructional design model end to end to a short module, documenting each phase's inputs and outputs
Write learner-facing content, practice activities, and job aids that reflect adult learning principles
Design formative checkpoints and transfer activities that connect learning to on-the-job performance
Critique two sample lesson plans against design standards and document specific revisions
Your checkpoint
A complete 60-minute instructional design blueprint including objectives, activities, materials, and transfer plan
Facilitation, Delivery, and Learner Engagement
Demonstrate three questioning techniques and two engagement structures in a recorded 10-minute micro-teaching segment
Adapt facilitation style for resistant, expert, and novice learner profiles
Design a session opening and closing that establish relevance, psychological safety, and commitment to action
Develop a plan for managing common facilitation challenges such as dominant participants and time overruns
Your checkpoint
A recorded 10-minute micro-teaching segment with a self-assessment rubric and a facilitation challenge response plan
Assessment, Evaluation, and Learning Outcomes Measurement
Construct assessment items at multiple cognitive levels and verify alignment with stated objectives
Design a multi-level evaluation plan covering reaction, learning, behavior, and results
Select metrics, data sources, and reporting formats appropriate to each evaluation level
Interpret sample evaluation data and recommend specific program improvements
Your checkpoint
A program evaluation plan with a measurement matrix linking objectives, assessment methods, metrics, and reporting cadence
Technology-Enabled and Online Learning & Ethics, Accessibility, and Professional Standards
Evaluate at least three learning technologies against accessibility, engagement, and cost criteria for a defined learner population
Apply accessibility standards to course materials and identify common barriers in digital content
Analyze ethical scenarios involving confidentiality, bias, intellectual property, and learner data
Map professional standards and codes of conduct to concrete facilitation and design decisions
Your checkpoint
An accessibility and ethics checklist applied to a draft module, with documented findings and remediation steps
Professional Development Foundations and Adult Learning Theory & Needs Assessment and Program Design & Instructional Design and Curriculum Development & Facilitation, Delivery, and Learner Engagement & Assessment, Evaluation, and Learning Outcomes Measurement & Technology-Enabled and Online Learning & Ethics, Accessibility, and Professional Standards
Synthesize all seven domains into a single integrated program design case study
Complete two timed practice exams and analyze error patterns by domain
Review weak domains using targeted notes and flashcards, prioritizing the two lowest-scoring areas
Write a personal exam-day strategy covering pacing, question triage, and flagging for review
Your checkpoint
An integrated capstone program design document plus a scored practice exam log with a remediation summary
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 80% on a self-made 20-question quiz covering Domains 1 and 2 fundamentals, and explain each missed item in writing
Week 4: Complete a design blueprint that passes a self-review checklist for objective measurability, strategy alignment, and adult learning principles
Week 6: Score at least 75% on a mixed 40-question practice set spanning Domains 1 through 5, with error patterns categorized by domain
Week 8: Score at least 80% on a full-length timed practice exam and document a remediation plan for any domain below 70%