INTEL COLLEGE

PERSONAL
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT FILE

AN ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULLFILMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF CERTIFICATE IN HIGHER NATIONAL
DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS.

PPD
ANTONY MWANJALA NGUTA

Antony Mwanjala Nguta

DECLARATION
I Antony Mwanjala Nguta, declare that this assignment is mine and has not been plagiarized.
References have been duly provided to acknowledge the source and authors of the information
extracted for this assignment.
Am aware that if any or all parts of this assignment are found to be a replica of another, will be
subject to nullification of this module.
Student name: Antony Mwanjala

Sign______________

Date________________

This assignment has been submitted for assessment with approval as the Tutor.

Tutors name: Ms. Hellen Gechanga

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Sign_______________ Date_______________

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Antony Mwanjala Nguta

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to thank Ms. Hellen Gechanga; she supported me by giving some information about
the task and assignment. She also explained to me how to go about it.
I would also like to thank my friends who also guided me to complete the assignment.

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Personal Professional Development

Personal Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities
including credentials such as academic degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal
learning opportunities situated in practice. It has been described as intensive and collaborative,
ideally incorporating an evaluative stage. There are a variety of approaches to professional
development, including consultation, coaching, and communities of practice, lesson study,
mentoring, reflective supervision and technical assistance. The above approaches are going to be
discussed in detail in the document.

Self-managed learning (SML)

In its broadest meaning, self-directed learning describes a process by which individuals take the
initiative, with our without the assistance of others, in diagnosing their learning needs,
formulating learning goals, identify human and material resources for learning, choosing and
implement appropriate learning strategies, and evaluating learning outcomes. In distinguishing
SML from other learning methods, the power of the approach lies in the combination of the
following elements:
The curriculum is not separate from the learner who is responsible for its design according to
perceived needs
Adequate time must be given to the crucial diagnostic phase where individuals decide and
clarify their learning needs
This is done by working through the five SML questions: Where have I been? Where am I
now? Where do I want to get to? How will I get there and how will I know I have arrived?
Support is required during a transition period where the individual is becoming familiar with
the approach
learning experiences are identified to satisfy needs by a mapping process
learning contracts are an essential feature and are totally personal documents that can
subsequently be used to evaluate and measure the outcomes of the programme.

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Approaches to self-managed learning are as follow:
Being ready to learn
For a leaner to be able to give in all his efforts in learning he must be willing to do what is
required. Signs of readiness for self-directed learning include being: autonomous, organised,
self-disciplined, able to communicate effectively, and able to accept constructive feedback and
engage in self-evaluation and self-reflection. Though he may be affected by situations such as
family issues and other situation at home and also at school this must not demotivate him from
learning.
Setting learning goals
Personal learning goals are the behaviors, knowledge or understandings that students identify as
important to their own learning. They may relate to general work habits, specific subjects,
domains of learning, or a combination of these. Communicating your goals to your mentor or
coach may boost the morale of the learner to do even better.
The process of setting goals allows students to choose where they want to go in school and what
they want to achieve. By knowing what they want to achieve, they know what they have to
concentrate on and improve. Goal setting gives students long-term vision and short-term
motivation.
By setting goals students can:
1. Improve their academic performance
2. Increase their motivation to achieve
3. Increase pride and satisfaction in performance
4. Improve their self-confidence
Basics of Effective Goal Setting
Express goals positively: To improve my spelling is a much better goal than Dont spell with so
many mistakes.

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Be accurate: If students set an accurate goal, putting in dates, times and amounts so that
achievement can be measured and can be satisfied at achieving it.
Set Priorities: When students have several goals, give each a priority. This helps them avoid
feeling overwhelmed and helps their attention to the more important ones. Write goals down to
make them more meaningful.
Keep Goals Small: Urge students to keep their immediate goals small and achievable.
Set Goals Students Have Control Over: There is nothing worse than failing to achieve a
personal goal for reasons beyond the students control.
Set specific measurable goals: If students consistently fail to meet a measurable goal, then they
can adjust it or analyze the reason for failure and take appropriate action.
SMART Goals
A useful way of making goals more powerful is to use the SMART mnemonic. While there are
plenty of variants (some of which we've included in parenthesis), SMART usually stands for:
S Specific (or Significant).
M Measurable (or Meaningful).
A Attainable (or Action-Oriented).
R Relevant (or Rewarding).
T Time-bound (or Trackable).
Evaluating learning
Evaluation is the process of reviewing and analyzing something in order to make informed
decisions about the effectiveness of it.
For example, how do you know the staff development you design is getting the results you
intended? In the previous step, you learned about SMART objectives. The designer must be
proactive in determining how specific objectives will be measured to assure that staff
development really makes a difference.
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Students should be able to engage in self-validation of achievements, but should have the
motivation to seek feedback on progress and ideas from the advising faculty member or other
available resources.
Learning through Seminars and conferences
Seminars and conferences are an effective tool as they give people the opportunity to present
their knowledge about something to other people who end up learning new things. Further,
seminars and conferences help people to become more confident in speaking in public and may
also develop their presentation skills: transferrable skills that can be useful in a range of
organisational settings thereby empowering both the organisational and the individual.
Social networks
There are a range of different social networks including Facebook, Twitter, My Space, and so on,
where people spend an increasing proportion of their time. Whilst logged onto such sites, people
can be chatting with friends or learning new things. This is particularly the case if people share
information and knowledge through bulletin boards and forums. People can also learn how social
network owners such as Mark Zuckerberg he became successful; and using the information that
they obtain, people can apply this knowledge to their own lives thereby find the means of
succeeding in their own careers.
Internet
The internet is home to a vast amount of data. Specialist search sites such as Google Scholar are
particularly useful for accessing academic journals and articles which are written by experts on a
diverse range of subjects. . At a more basic level, a general search of the internet allows people to
access information written by different authors concerning subjects such as management studies,
business, and risk management. Through accessing such data people can acquire the knowledge
they need to be successful in the work place. Through self-managed learning, an individual such
as I can obtain experience on a range of divergent topics that can inform the way we think about
the world and, as future sections note, this has enabled personal development to occur in both
private and professional contexts.

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Life Long Learning
Lifelong learning may be broadly defined as learning that is pursued throughout life: learning
that is flexible, diverse and available at different times and in different places. Lifelong learning
involves both formal and informal learning.
The distinction between formal and non-formal learning environments is about where learning
takes place. Formal learning occurs within institutions established primarily to deliver education
and training, often leading to recognized outcomes and qualifications.
Non-formal learning has intended education and training outcomes; however, the setting is
outside dedicated learning institutions, most often in places where learning is not the primary
business.
Informal learning is distinguishable by intent. It can occur almost anywhere, but as a by-product
of other activities. It is often unplanned and without explicit emphasis on learning, yet may still
lead to the acquisition of valuable skills, knowledge and attitudes.
Importance of lifelong learning
i.

We live in the Knowledge Age, which means that the ability to apply the right knowledge
effectively is an important skill and the cornerstone of our success. If you ever doubt the
strength of knowledge and learning, just ask someone who hasn't used a computer in 10

ii.

years to find an article on the Internet.

Learning makes us more interesting. Knowledge enables a different perspective,
fascinating conversation and a deeper understanding. It makes us better people; allows us
to make better, informed decisions; and assists us in becoming more successful in our

iii.

careers.
Lifelong learning can be socially invigorating while also improving memory and
cognitive abilities. Activities such as volunteering can be a learning experience while
making the life of the volunteer meaningful and at the same time offering benefits to
society. Lifelong learning allows us to continue to use our minds, one of our most
important muscles we often forget to exercise as we age.

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iv.

To develop your abilities: Were all born with natural talents and abilities, but that doesnt
mean were masters of those talents the first time we try. Lifelong learners are always

v.

honing their skills and learning new ones.

Lifelong learning helps us make new friends and establish valuable relationships. No one
enjoys loneliness. And through lifelong learning, older adults are meeting new people,
forging friendships and relationships with others, and enjoying an active social life.
Lifelong learning is a brilliant way to keep in touch with people, meet new friends, and
enjoy life surrounded by the company of folks who are truly embracing the excitement of
our later years.

Ways in which lifelong learning could be encouraged

Self-directed learning
SDL recognizes the significant role of motivation and volition in initiating and maintaining
learners' efforts. Motivation drives the decision to participate, and volition sustains the will to see
a task through to the end so that goals are achieved. In SDL, control gradually shifts from
teachers to learners. Learners exercise a great deal of independence in setting learning goals and
deciding what is worthwhile learning as well as how to approach the learning task within a given
framework.
The benefits of SDL are best described in terms of the type of learners it develops. The literature
on SDL asserts that self-directed learners demonstrate a greater awareness of their responsibility
in making learning meaningful and monitoring themselves (Garrison, 1997). They are curious
and willing to try new things (Lyman, 1997), view problems as challenges, desire change, and
enjoy teach (Taylor, 1995). Taylor also found them to be motivated and persistent, independent,
self-disciplined, self-confident and goal-oriented.
The lack of knowledge prevents personal and professional growth, so it's important to commit to
lifelong learning as a practice for eternal self-improvement.

Continuing professional development

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It refers to the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and experience that
you gain both formally and informally as you work, beyond any initial training. It's a record of
what you experience, learn and then apply. The CPD process helps you manage your own
development on an ongoing basis. It's function is to help you record, review and reflect on what
you learn.
Benefits of self-managed learning to Melrose

Makes a superior workplace because of employees will figure out how to function
adequately with others and consequently leads to low staff turnover. The staff will feel
motivated and would like to work effectively in the organisation and makes them feel

wanted in the organisation so it leads to low staff turnover.

It helps staff or representatives to concentrate on their occupation furthermore to
guarantee expanded benefit. If the staffs want extra benefits or promotions they have to

stay focused on the work they are performing.

It helps the workers get on track they could call their own learning and thats the main
key to their survival. If the workers decide to learn on their own with the experience they
have higher chances of developing their own skills and becoming better and better and
they have higher chances of surviving in any type of organisation.

Benefits of SML to an individual

People feel more motivated and committed to their work

Morale is high
People work harder and perform better increasing their earning power
People feel that they are part of a team and the decision-making process, so accept
change better
Relationships with managers and within teams are better
People are happy in their work and dont want to leave
Line managers can outwardly show their duty of care
Line Managers can demonstrate good management skills that could help them promote
ability and career development.

SWOT ANALYSIS
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Strengths
Weaknesses
Am good at playing Am lazy

Opportunities
Threats
I have an opportunity Feeling

football

to

Am

good

communication

join

to have friends around

me
Am good at learning I have a weakness in I have an opportunity
new things
presentation skills
to finish my studies
Am good at serving I have a weakness in I have an opportunity
others

keeping time

to study abroad.

Personal and Professional Development Plan

Table 1: My Personal and Professional Development Plan
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am

football competing against my

academy abroad.
friends
at I have a weakness in I have an opportunity
following instructions

like

Antony Mwanjala Nguta

No.

Objective

Developmen

Identify the Duration

Weakness

t needed e.g. actions

or

responsibilit

the skills you required to deadline

need

to help

develop

What is your Review

y to ensure

you needed to that

meet

the complete

date (S)

the

action

is

developmen

the

completed

t needed

actions)

within

the

given
1

timeline
April Attend

To improve Presentation

Taking

1st

my

online

to

classes

April

skills

presentation

all 21st May,

16th classes and be 2015

skills

willing

and

practice a lot
to

improve

my
presentation
skills.
2

Be confident
a 18th April Following the May 22,

To improve Time

Making

on my time management

personal

managemen

timetable

t
Setting
goals
priorities

Focus skills
and

to 30th

timetable
strictly

Identify my May 1st to Knowing the June 1st

goals

and 20th May

most

priorities and

important

know

goal

goal

what
to

achieve first

confident
achieve it

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and

being
enough

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2015

to

Antony Mwanjala Nguta

To: Mr. Dean

From: Antony Mwanjala Nguta
Date: 26/03/2015
Subject: Processes and activities required to implement my development plan
2.1 Reflection of my own Personal Professional Development Plan
Taking online classes
Due to my ICDL lessons that I have been undertaking for some time, it has helped me perform
my eLearning lessons online. Availability of internet in school as well as home has been very
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helpful to me. Taking online classes has helped me improve on my presentation skills as well as
to gain confidence due to attending all classes on time.
Making a personal timetable
When I realized I had a problem with managing my time due to time wastage and playing a lot I
decided to create a personal timetable that has been helping me a lot in managing my time thus
managing to do my work or rather my assignment on time and also have time to play without
interfering with the timetable.
Although it was hard trying at first to follow it I managed and got used to following it. Clearly it
has been so helpful thanks to PPD module that opened my eyes on what learning is all about.
My personal time table helped me to be more efficient and effective. A schedule is a written
record of considered decisions made on the allocation of 'time to tasks.' It will serve as an aidememoire for carrying out necessary activities, listing 'when and what' needs to be done. Unless a
specific time/day/date is allocated to a particular task, especially if it is an unpleasant or difficult
thing to tackle, the likelihood of it getting done is very close to zero.
Identify my goals and priorities and know what goal to achieve first
Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about my ideal future, and for motivating me to
turn my vision of this future into reality.
The process of setting goals helps me choose where I want to go in life. By knowing precisely
what I want to achieve, I know where I have to concentrate my efforts. Setting goals gives me
long-term vision and short-term motivation. It focuses my acquisition of knowledge, and helps
me to organize my time and my resources so that I can make the very most of my life.
By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, I can measure and take pride in the achievement of those
goals, and I will see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless
grind. I will also raise my self-confidence, as I recognize my own ability and competence in
achieving the goals that I have set.
2.3 Reflection on the progress in my development activities

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To better my presentation skills
I've been doing a lot of presenting recently, and I have no problem admitting that it's tough. For
those not born with natural eloquence, public speaking can be remarkably nerve-racking. But Im
getting a lot better!
One of the biggest lessons Ive learned over the last few years is that to be a great speaker, its
key to develop a personal speaking style. Since I know Im not the most eloquent speaker in the
world, I make up for it by packing my presentations with enthusiasm, unique/proprietary data,
and tons of useful content as well as plenty of dumb jokes.
I have also attended other presentations and learnt on how others do it. This shows respect for
my fellow presenters while also giving me a chance to feel out the audience. What's the mood of
the crowd? Are folks in the mood to laugh or are they a bit stiffer? Are the presentations more
strategic or tactical in nature? Another speaker may also say something that I can play off of later
in my own presentation.
When someone asks me how he can build effective communication skills and improve his public
speaking, I quote to him the words of Elbert Hubbard, who said, The only way to learn to speak
is to speak and speak, and speak and speak, and speak and speak and speak.

Manage my time properly

Each morning I try to think about the most important thing I need to get done that day. I ask
myself If this is the only thing I accomplish, will I feel good about how I spent my day?
Set end goals of any activity I undertake
Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about my ideal future, and for motivating me to
turn my vision of this future into reality.
The process of setting goals helps me choose where I want to go in life. By knowing precisely
what I want to achieve, knowing where I have to concentrate my efforts.
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Setting goals gives a long-term vision and short-term motivation. It focuses my acquisition of
knowledge, and helps me to organize my time and my resources so that I can make the very most
of my life.
By setting sharp, clearly defined goals, I can measure and take pride in the achievement of those
goals, and I'll see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless grind.
I will also raise my self-confidence, as I recognize my own ability and competence in achieving
the goals that I've set.
2.3 Objectives of learning
Due to reading Elbert Hubbard articles online and practicing more on my presentation skills I
have learnt my weaknesses and improved on them. I can confidently stand in front of people and
make a presentation. I have gained my confidence due to a lot of practice and a lot of taking as
Elbert Hubbard suggest.
Another objective of learning is to realize the importance of time management and thus creating
a personal time table has been so helpful to me. Managing is important because I no longer waste
time. I know when and how to do each and every activity e.g. finishing my assignments on time
is one of the most important improvement have achieved this semester.
I have also gained experience and gained more knowledge due to frequent reading.

2.4 Problems faced at the work and solutions for them

Communication barriers
Effective communication in the workplace plays a prominent role in developing long lasting
employee motivation. One of many positive benefits gained from well-established
organizational communication is improved relationships. Improving relationships between
management and staff is quite important and is often overlooked. Things will go smoothly when
everyone is on the same page, understanding of goals and the direction a company is going. The
best process of communicating here is well thought out emails that follow the chain of command
and face to face interactions. One of the most common barriers to communication is poor
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listening skills. So why does not listening happen? Well there are a few reasons. You may have
no involvement or concern with the topic. You will then have no desire to take part in the
conversation. There also may be distractions. For example working in an area that is loud and
noisy.
Being Heard
It takes time to gain the trust of coworkers to get them on board with your ideas. Listen and
observe before suggesting changes. Bring solutions to the table. Engage your coworkers by
knowing what you are talking about. Build a reputation of being clear-headed, objective, and
reasonable.
Making Mistakes
They happen to everyone at some point. Admit them and apologize. Don't offer excuses or try to
cover them up. Instead, offer solutions as soon as possible and fix the problem on your own time.
Forgive yourself, and move on.
Time Management
It can be difficult when you're settling into a new job and adjusting to your new responsibilities.
Create a daily "to do" or goals list. Breaking down your tasks will make them seem more
manageable, keep you organized, and help you to be more productive and efficient. If you are
still having difficulty managing your workload, ask a coworker for advice, or speak with your
supervisor to prioritize your work.
Getting Along with Your Boss
Problems with a boss are emotionally and physically draining. They can often stem from work
style or personality differences. The first step is to figure out what specifically they are doing that
is upsetting you. Then ask yourself why. It helps to look at the problem from both your
perspective and your supervisor's. Next, decide how best to discuss it with them. Avoid blaming,
accusing, or venting.
Solutions to the problems

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Transparent Communication
Problem solving requires transparent communication where everyones concerns and points of
view are freely expressed. Ive seen one too many times how difficult it is to get to the root of the
matter in a timely manner when people do not speak-up.
Yes, communication is a fundamental necessity. That is why when those involved in the problem
would rather not express themselves fearing they may threaten their job and/or expose their
own or someone elses wrong-doing the problem solving process becomes a treasure hunt.
Effective communication towards problem solving happens because of a leaders ability to
facilitate an open dialogue between people who trust her intentions and feel that they are in a
safe environment to share why they believe the problem happened as well as specific solutions.
A Solid Foundational Strategy
Without strategy, change is merely substitution, not evolution. A solid strategy must be
implemented in order to solve any problem. Many leaders attempt to dissect a problem rather
than identify the strategy for change that lies within the problem itself.
Effective leaders that are comfortable with problem solving always know how to gather the right
people, resources, budget and knowledge from past experiences. They inspire people to lift their
game by making the problem solving process highly collaborative; for them, its an opportunity
to bring people closer together. Ive always believed that you dont know the true potential and
character of a person until you see the way they solve problems.
Effective leaders connect the dots and map-out a realistic plan of action in advance. They have a
strategy that serves as the foundation for how the problem will be approached and managed.
They anticipate the unexpected and utilize the strengths of their people to assure the strategy
leads to a sustainable solution.
Identify and share effective and ineffective behaviors.
This approach focuses on the behavior of individual managers and maybe even team members.
Identify the behaviors that are working, not working, or missing on all levels. If you can identify
them, step up to the conversation lead with an observation and a question. For example, Ive
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noticed that when one of the team members approaches you with a concern about the status of
the project, you often brush it off until you feel you have time to address the problem. By then,
its often too late and the project is far off course. Can we talk about this and see what can be
done to make some improvements?
Its always best to start with yourself and then move to the next person. If you run into resistance,
share your intention you are trying to improve communication so the team can be more effective.
2.5 Time management
Time management refers to the way that you organize and plan how long you spend on specific
activities.
It may seem counter-intuitive to dedicate precious time to learning about time management,
instead of using it to get on with your work, but the benefits are enormous:

Greater productivity and efficiency.

A better professional reputation.
Less stress.
Increased opportunities for advancement.
Greater opportunities to achieve important life and career goals.

Failing to manage your time effectively can have some very undesirable consequences:
o
o
o
o
o

Missed deadlines.
Inefficient work flow.
Poor work quality.
A poor professional reputation and a stalled career.
Higher stress levels.

Ways I which time can be managed

Prioritize Work:
But before you can manage your time, you need to know what it is you must manage. A list of
tasks, from the mundane to the critical, will help you get a handle on what needs to get done.
Assign realistic priorities to each task:

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Priority 1: due today by 6pm

Priority 2: due tomorrow by 6pm
Priority 3: due by the end of the week
Priority 4: due during next week

Before the start of the day, make a list of tasks that need your immediate attention as unimportant
tasks can consume much of your precious time. Some tasks need to be completed on that day
only while other unimportant tasks could be carried forward to next day. In short, prioritize your
tasks to focus on those that are more important.
Avoid Procrastination:
Procrastination is one of the things that badly affect the productivity. It can result is wasting
essential time and energy. It should be avoided at all costs. It could be a major problem in both
your career and your personal life.
Schedule Tasks:
Carry a planner or notebook with you and list all the tasks that come to your mind. Make a
simple To Do list before the start of the day, prioritize the tasks, and make sure that they are
attainable. To better manage your time management skills, you may think of making 3 lists:
work, home, and personal.
Avoid Stress:
Stress often occurs when we accept more work than our ability. The result is that our body starts
feeling tired which can affect our productivity. Instead, delegate tasks to your juniors and make
sure to leave some time for relaxation.

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References
BusinessDictionary.com,. 'What Is Competence? Definition And Meaning'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26
Mar. 2015.
BusinessDictionary.com,. 'What Is Skill? Definition And Meaning'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Mar.
2015.
Cipd.co.uk,. 'Continuing Professional Development (CPD) - Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) - CIPD'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Mar. 2015.
Employee-motivation-skills.com,. 'Effective Communication In The Workplace For Motivation,
Solutions And Success'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Mar. 2015.
Jobs.ac.uk,. 'What Is Continuing Professional Development (CPD)? - Careers Advice Jobs.Ac.Uk'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Mar. 2015.
Lifehack.org,. '10 Ways To Improve Your Time Management Skills'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Mar.
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2015.
Sdlearning.pbworks.com,. 'Self-Directed Learning (SDL) / Definitions'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26
Mar. 2015.
TheFreeDictionary.com,. 'Learning'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Mar. 2015.
Translation, 10, and David Kasteler. '10 Easy Steps For Successful Elearning Course Translation
- Elearning Industry'. eLearning Industry. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Mar. 2015.
Wikipedia,. 'Lifelong Learning'. N.p., 2015. Web. 26 Mar. 2015.

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