In this article we will walk through the process of creating a Personal Self Directed Learning ( SDL PDU ) Plan.

Under PMI’s® new guidelines the limit on Category C SDL PDUs has increased to a maximum of 30 PDUs in a 3 Year Cycle (half of the 60 needed for recertification). One hour of Self Directed Learning is worth 1 PDU.

How Can A Mind Map Be Used As A PRIMER for Self Directed Learning?

To learn more about Mind Maps click here to find out what a Mind Map is and how they can be useful.

Mind maps are an excellent tool to assist you in earning Category C PDUs for any topic. This example uses Mind Maps to create a straw model (example) of a PDU Learning Primer© to explore leadership qualities.

In order to plan and record self directed learning with PMI® as a PDU opportunity you need to review these 3 questions:

• What am I going to learn…..? With PMI® it is necessary to have a topic that relates to Project Management.
  • Choose your topic – Phrase it as a Smart Goal
  • What Knowledge Areas or KPAs in the PMBOK® does the topic refer to?
  • Are there specific sections of the PMBOK® that the topic references?
  • An excellent cross reference tool is the Project Management Matrix (click here) by PMChampion.com This is a great tool and is available as an app on many different mobile platforms.
  • This information will be needed to record the information in CCRS.

• How am I going to learn about…? In this case the question represents what resources and methods will be used to learn about this topic.
  • Find terrific resources to explore!
  • For PMI® subject matter resources and experts should be documented in your PMI® audit folder (every PMP should have one). Document the information and its location used to explore the subject.
  • NOW LEARN!
  • Keep track of your time
• How am I going to demonstrate my learning about …….?
  • Can you talk more intelligently about the subject….great …. but ensure that for your audit folder you have something a bit more substantial.
  • Write down a few sentences that has relevance to the learning or answer some questions that you discovered in the learning process.
  • Focus comments on how the learning relates to a project you have done or about how you might have try a different technique to get better results. In other words relate this learning to your practice!

LETS BEGIN! – Leadership Qualities

Lets learn about 8 qualities of leadership. Human Resources and soft skills are a very important part of project management.

Create a Smart Goal – Writing a Smart Goal – Here is our example.

Lets look at a “Leadership Qualities Mind Map” on ILLUMINES site

& Eight Leadership Qualities.

A leadership map can serve as a tool for exploring the Qualities of Leadership by providing a structure for exploring the vast wealth of Leadership material on the Internet.

For each of the Leadership Qualities, to help you start your personal Leadership PDU Primer© I will suggest a few resources from pduOTD.com and elsewhere.

Use our resources or choose your own.

• Humble
  • PDUs2Go has a 5:00 minute podcast “Humble Leaders” by Edward D. Hess $0.99
• Integrity
  • Leadership 101: Integrity – Website Blog 15 minutes 0.25 Category C PDU
  • Leadership Demands Integrity By Example – Website Blog 15 minutes 0.25 Category C PDU
• Priorities
  • Manage Multiple Priorities…Without Losing Your Mind! 1 Hour 1 Category A PDU
• Passion
  • The Purpose Linked Organization: How Passionate Leaders Inspire Winning Teams and Great Results Podcast – Article – Book Earn up to 10 Cat C PDUs. Purchase From Amazon.com Hardcover on sale now fore $14.00 USD + Shipping
• Develops People
  • Pam Stanton has written a book “The Project Whisperer: Understanding the Human Part of the Gantt Chart” $8.95 for PDF instantly or $11.95+ Shipping for the paperback. This Book is packed with ideas and information – Earn up to 8 Category C PDUs.
• Goal Orientated
  • Creating Competitive Advantage through Goal Alignment 0.5 PDU Category A
• Committed
  • Are Your Staff As Committed To Results As You? – A 4 page article with links – Up to 0.5 Category C PDU.
• Courage
  • MyProjectAdvisor (REP 1819) has a DVD “Get More Out of Your PMP” which describes Courage as a key personal competency. This Qualifies for 2 Category PDUs $24.oo USD

Finishing Up ….

Don’t Forget to document how you met your Smart Goal for your PMI® Audit Folder.

This Learning Plan Qualifies for up to

19 Category C PDUs and 3 Category A PDUs.

Please leave comments on this article to share information with others on the resources and information you discovered and found useful when you explored this subject. Thank You.

Online Webinar
Offered by ESI International (REP 1038)
Duration 1 hour 1 PDU or 1 CDU – 1 Category A Free

In this dynamic Webinar, Glenn Brule will present the six key elements of strategic enterprise analysis activities and how they can translate your business goals and objectives into solutions.

They include:

• Establishing or maintaining a business architecture
• Conducting feasibility studies
• Project and product scope development
• Preparation of the business case
• Organizational risk assessment
• How to prepare the decision package

*Note: There is a typo on slide #8 of the presentation. 18 million represents 1/16 of the U.S. population

Click here to view this opportunity.

Click here for our article on the connection between:
Pirates and Project Management.

Online Webinar
Duration: 30 Min Credits: 0.5 PDU Cat A
Presented by: PmCentersUSA (REP 1016)

Goal alignment is the process for aligning team and individual goals with business strategies and enterprise-wide goals.

Organizations that learn to mobilize their workforce through goal alignment have the best opportunity for creating competitive advantage in their markets of choice.

Attend this webinar and learn how your company can use goal alignment to increase throughput and beat your competition

Registration to the PMCentersUSA site is required.

Click here to view this opportunity.

Online Webinar by Journyx
Presenter: James Brawner
Duration: 30 Minutes 0.5 CAT B FREE

How do successful project managers take projects from abstract plans to concrete results?

This webinar focuses on the ways in which PMs can build a bridge between project planning and resource management to ensure successful project execution every time.

Click here to view this recorded presentation.

Online Webinar by Journyx
Presenter: James Brawner
Duration: 30 Minutes 0.5 CAT B FREE

IT organizations are being required to align with organizational goals and strategies and thus need to be more proactive. Explore how to bridge the gap and transform your IT organization.

Click here to view this previously recorded opportunity.

What is a Mind Map?

A mind map is a diagram with a central key word or idea. Lines and links are drawn to words or pictures and are used to represent ideas, tasks, or other items that generate a thought idea stream from the previous item. The Mind Map, arranged around a central key word then visualizes a thought process to lead to other ideas or topics. Mind Maps are very helpful in idea generation, creating pathways to resolve issues or to diagram brainstorming sessions.

The mind map differs from an outline of the topic in two aspects.

1. First, it illustrates an elaboration from major (general) points to minor (more specific) points by the thickness of the line and the size of the font and the distance from the keyword.
2. Second, it eliminates the prioritization of the major points that is implicit in an outline.

Mind Maps are excellent tools for learning, brainstorming and problem solving. We have featured mind maps of the PMBOK and other subjects.

Mind Maps of PMBOK Process Groups and Knowledge Areas

Conflict Management Mind Map
Career Development Framework Mind Map

Wikipedia has a List of concept mapping and mind mapping software

I’ve used Freemind for several years and been very pleased with the ability to create a mind map quickly and easily. I’ve used mind maps for project planning, vacation planning and knowledge management and organization. With the changes to the Self-Directed Learning Category for PDUs, I’ve created an SDL Primer for my 2011 PDUs.

– EdmontonPM