#Professional Development Program

[skillengg]

5 Key Benefits of Enrolling in a Professional Development Course Today

In an ever-evolving career landscape, staying current and continually upskilling are not just beneficial; they're essential. Professional development courses are a strategic tool in this endeavor, offering a range of benefits that can lead to enhanced job performance, higher satisfaction, and significant advancement in one's career. Here are five key benefits of enrolling in a professional development course today.

1. Enhanced Skill Set

The primary advantage of professional development is the enhancement of one’s skills. Whether it's learning new technologies, methodologies, or frameworks, professional development courses are designed to keep you at the forefront of your field. For instance, a digital marketer might take a course in data analytics to better understand consumer behavior and improve campaign effectiveness. By staying updated with industry standards and new tools, professionals can maintain a competitive edge in their job market.

2. Increased Job Performance

With the acquisition of updated and relevant skills comes the natural improvement in job performance. Courses tailored towards specific industry needs allow professionals to apply what they have learned directly to their roles. This application can lead to more efficient workflows, innovative problem-solving techniques, and ultimately, a more profound impact on the company’s bottom line. For example, a project manager taking a course in Agile methodologies could enhance their team’s productivity by implementing streamlined processes.

3. Networking Opportunities

Professional development courses also serve as a platform for networking. They bring together like-minded individuals who are actively seeking to advance their skills and careers. This environment fosters collaboration and the exchange of ideas among peers across different industries or sectors. Networking in such contexts can lead to new job opportunities, partnerships, or collaborations that might not have been available through one’s immediate professional circle.

4. Career Advancement

Investing in your professional growth can significantly influence your career trajectory. Employers often look favorably on the commitment to self-improvement and lifelong learning signified by completing professional development courses. This can be particularly advantageous during promotions or when transitioning into roles that demand a higher qualification or expertise. Moreover, in some professions, continuing education is not just encouraged but required for license renewals and certifications, making professional development crucial for career longevity.

5. Personal Growth and Confidence

Beyond the professional scope, these courses significantly impact personal development and confidence. Learning new skills and mastering complex concepts can boost self-esteem and promote a growth mindset. This personal development is crucial as it affects how professionals tackle challenges and seize opportunities within and outside their work environment. Additionally, the satisfaction that comes from achieving goals and expanding one’s capabilities can lead to increased job satisfaction and a more fulfilling career.

Conclusion

The benefits of enrolling in a professional development course are manifold and impactful. From sharpening skills and enhancing job performance to fostering valuable networking connections and accelerating career advancement, the advantages speak for themselves. In a world where change is the only constant, the role of continuous learning and development in personal and professional growth cannot be overstated. Thus, enrolling in a professional development course today is not just an option but a necessity for those looking to thrive in their careers and beyond.

[myladybirdd]

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[rohirric-hunter]

I hope a lot of people who work in corporate IT learned a valuable lesson this weekend about why it's not more okay for a corporate computer to have programs that fuck around with your system than it is for an individual computer

[effervescent-fool]

i think one of my biggest (and only) gripes with procreate is that they dont have like. a masterlist of features their app has to offer. a full thorough ui navigation. because ive been using procreate for a couple years now and im still discovering preexisting features because they just. dont mention it anywhere

[sorcerous-caress]

The most niche game I have ever played was this one game on Steam. I am the only reviewer of the game, and the developer even responded to me, and I emailed them a bug report. There is only a recorded second player of the game in all of its history, I'm willing to bet it's the dev.

You posers can't even compete! Go waddle to the flock of sheep feasting on the mass-produced grass fields of main media while I thrive in my wet hollow cave of niche fungus.

[galaxywhale]

there is SO much on this term and they keep just telling us more and more things that are happening and it’s like can you just stop planning things please I’m begging you 😭

It’s halfway through the third week and we’ve already had an excursion, two performances, a jump rope for heart skipping afternoon, an athletics carnival, a house meeting for the athletics carnival and our bush play day out of school

next week, we have a performance, a science week assembly, a mini athletics at some point, and they just emailed us with two extra activities for bully no way day we need to somehow fit in and also we need to start doing this singing thing at 2:30 on Friday too and it’s like do you want us to still teach anything or??

[twinkle-media-hub-pvt-ltd]

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[edulloyd]

Discover the essentials of our B.Ed. program, designed to shape future educators with comprehensive training in pedagogy, curriculum development, and educational psychology. Our program combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience, preparing graduates to be competent, caring, creative, and ethical leaders in education.

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[orane23]

The world of makeup artistry is not just about applying lipstick and eyeshadow. It’s an art form that requires skill, dedication, and passion. For those who have a natural flair for makeup and a love for transforming faces, a career in makeup artistry can be the perfect blend of passion and profession. Dive into the myriad opportunities that makeup artistry courses offer and carve a niche for yourself in this booming industry.

Read More: https://www.oranehyderabad.in/makeup-artistry-courses/

[skillengg]

Measuring the Impact of Professional Development on Organizational Performance

Organizations often invest in professional development programs to enhance the skills and capabilities of their employees but measuring the exact impact of these programs on organizational performance can be challenging. Despite this it is essential for organizations to assess whether these initiatives contribute to their strategic goals and overall success.

The first step in measuring the impact of professional development is to define clear measurable objectives that align with the organization's strategic goals. These objectives should be specific and tailored to the needs of the organization. For instance if a company aims to improve its customer service ratings the professional development program should focus on enhancing customer interaction skills and problem resolution.

Next it is vital to establish baseline metrics before the professional development interventions are implemented. This could include employee performance data, customer satisfaction scores and financial performance indicators. Establishing a baseline allows organizations to make pre and post-intervention comparisons providing a clear picture of any improvements or changes that can be directly attributed to the training provided.

The use of control groups is another effective method to measure the impact of professional development. By comparing a group of employees who receive the training to a similar group who does not, organizations can more accurately gauge the effectiveness of the development programs. This method helps to isolate the effects of the training from other variables that could influence performance.

Surveys and feedback forms are also valuable tools for assessing the impact of professional development. Employees can provide insights into how the training has affected their work processes and attitudes. Additionally customer feedback obtained before and after the training can offer indications of improvements in service quality.

It is also important to track long-term performance indicators. While some effects of professional development may be immediate, others may take time to manifest. For instance an increase in employee productivity or a reduction in turnover rates may only become apparent after several months. Monitoring these long-term outcomes helps organizations understand the enduring value of their investment in employee development.

Furthermore, incorporating analytics and data visualization tools can greatly enhance the evaluation process. These tools can help in tracking multiple variables and performance metrics over time providing a dynamic view of how professional development impacts organizational performance. Advanced analytics can also help identify patterns and trends that may not be immediately obvious through traditional analysis methods.

To effectively measure the impact of professional development organizations must also consider the intangible benefits such as improved employee morale and a stronger organizational culture. These aspects though harder to quantify can significantly influence overall performance and competitive advantage. Qualitative assessments such as employee interviews or focus groups can be used to gather data on these less tangible outcomes.

Organizational support and leadership commitment are crucial in maximizing the benefits of professional development. Leaders must be actively involved in the planning and execution of these programs and should continually reinforce their importance. This helps in ensuring that professional development is not seen as just another training program but as a vital part of the organizational strategy.

Ultimately the effectiveness of professional development programs should be continuously reviewed and adapted based on performance outcomes. This iterative process ensures that the programs remain relevant and aligned with the evolving needs of the organization and its workforce.

conclusion 

measuring the impact of professional development on organizational performance requires a comprehensive and strategic approach. By setting clear objectives using control groups employing feedback mechanisms tracking long-term outcomes and leveraging analytics organizations can gain a deeper understanding of how these programs enhance performance. Such evaluations not only justify the investments in professional development but also guide future training initiatives ensuring that they are impactful and aligned with the organization's long-term goals.

[doctorwhoisadhd]

btw please always read my opinions re: public school as the opinions of a music educator aka The One Subject Area Where Teachers Would Just Simply Not Grade Anything Ever If Not For The School Administration

[anarcho-sin-dicalist]

what they dont tell you about programming is that you clap like a monkey when your program finally does what you want it to

[kaushikmahapatra]

https://www.kaushikmahapatra.com/leadership-programs/

Best Leadership Programs, Coaches, and Trainers in India

Kaushik Mahapatra can help. Our Program for Leadership Development is a one-of-a-kind certification program specifically designed to help individuals develop their personal leadership capacity. We offer a full range of workshops and online resources that build on one another over time, including Corporate Skills Training,

[howtological]

5 Must-Visit Websites for Upgrading Your Skills and Boosting Your Career

Are you looking to upgrade your skills and boost your career? Look no further! Check out our latest blog post on the top 5 websites for learning new skills. From programming and web development to personal development and business, these online platforms

In today’s digital age, learning new skills has never been easier. With the internet at our fingertips, we have access to a wealth of knowledge and resources to help us expand our skill set. Whether you’re looking to learn a new language, improve your coding skills, or pick up a new hobby, there’s a website out there for you. In this article, we’ll explore the top 5 websites for learning new…

[tofupixel]

⭐ So you want to learn pixel art? ⭐

🔹 Part 1 of ??? - The Basics!

Hello, my name is Tofu and I'm a professional pixel artist. I have been supporting myself with freelance pixel art since 2020, when I was let go from my job during the pandemic.

My progress, from 2017 to 2024. IMO the only thing that really matters is time and effort, not some kind of natural talent for art.

This guide will not be comprehensive, as nobody should be expected to read allat. Instead I will lean heavily on my own experience, and share what worked for me, so take everything with a grain of salt. This is a guide, not a tutorial. Cheers!

🔹 Do I need money?

NO!!! Pixel art is one of the most accessible mediums out there.

I still use a mouse because I prefer it to a tablet! You won't be at any disadvantage here if you can't afford the best hardware or software.

Because our canvases are typically very small, you don't need a good PC to run a good brush engine or anything like that.

✨Did you know? One of the most skilled and beloved pixel artists uses MS PAINT! Wow!!

🔹 What software should I use?

Here are some of the most popular programs I see my friends and peers using. Stars show how much I recommend the software for beginners! ⭐

💰 Paid options:

⭐⭐⭐ Aseprite (for PC) - $19.99

This is what I and many other pixel artists use. You may find when applying to jobs that they require some knowledge of Aseprite. Since it has become so popular, companies like that you can swap raw files between artists.

Aseprite is amazingly customizable, with custom skins, scripts and extensions on Itch.io, both free and paid.

If you have ever used any art software before, it has most of the same features and should feel fairly familiar to use. It features a robust animation suite and a tilemap feature, which have saved me thousands of hours of labour in my work. The software is also being updated all the time, and the developers listen to the users. I really recommend Aseprite!

⭐ Photoshop (for PC) - Monthly $$

A decent option for those who already are used to the PS interface. Requires some setup to get it ready for pixel-perfect art, but there are plenty of tutorials for doing so.

Animation is also much more tedious on PS which you may want to consider before investing time!

⭐⭐ ProMotion NG (for PC) - $19.00

An advanced and powerful software which has many features Aseprite does not, including Colour Cycling and animated tiles.

⭐⭐⭐ Pixquare (for iOS) - $7.99 - $19.99 (30% off with code 'tofu'!!)

Probably the best app available for iPad users, in active development, with new features added all the time.

Look! My buddy Jon recommends it highly, and uses it often.

One cool thing about Pixquare is that it takes Aseprite raw files! Many of my friends use it to work on the same project, both in their office and on the go.

⭐ Procreate (for iOS) - $12.99

If you have access to Procreate already, it's a decent option to get used to doing pixel art. It does however require some setup. Artist Pixebo is famously using Procreate, and they have tutorials of their own if you want to learn.

⭐⭐ ReSprite iOS and Android. (free trial, but:) $19.99 premium or $$ monthly

ReSprite is VERY similar in terms of UI to Aseprite, so I can recommend it. They just launched their Android release!

🆓 Free options:

⭐⭐⭐ Libresprite (for PC)

Libresprite is an alternative to Aseprite. It is very, very similar, to the point where documentation for Aseprite will be helpful to Libresprite users.

⭐⭐ Pixilart (for PC and mobile)

A free in-browser app, and also a mobile app! It is tied to the website Pixilart, where artists upload and share their work. A good option for those also looking to get involved in a community.

⭐⭐ Dotpict (for mobile)

Dotpict is similar to Pixilart, with a mobile app tied to a website, but it's a Japanese service. Did you know that in Japanese, pixel art is called 'Dot Art'? Dotpict can be a great way to connect with a different community of pixel artists! They also have prompts and challenges often.

🔹 So I got my software, now what?

◽Nice! Now it's time for the basics of pixel art.

❗ WAIT ❗ Before this section, I want to add a little disclaimer. All of these rules/guidelines can be broken at will, and some 'no-nos' can look amazing when done intentionally.

The pixel-art fundamentals can be exceedingly helpful to new artists, who may feel lost or overwhelmed by choice. But if you feel they restrict you too harshly, don't force yourself! At the end of the day it's your art, and you shouldn't try to contort yourself into what people think a pixel artist 'should be'. What matters is your own artistic expression. 💕👍

◽Phew! With that out of the way...

🔸"The Rules"

There are few hard 'rules' of pixel art, mostly about scaling and exporting. Some of these things will frequently trip up newbies if they aren't aware, and are easy to overlook.

🔹Scaling method

There are a couple ways of scaling your art. The default in most art programs, and the entire internet, is Bi-linear scaling, which usually works out fine for most purposes. But as pixel artists, we need a different method.

Both are scaled up x10. See the difference?

On the left is scaled using Bilinear, and on the right is using Nearest-Neighbor. We love seeing those pixels stay crisp and clean, so we use nearest-neighbor. 

(Most pixel-art programs have nearest-neighbor enabled by default! So this may not apply to you, but it's important to know.)

🔹Mixels

Mixels are when there are different (mixed) pixel sizes in the same image.

Here I have scaled up my art- the left is 200%, and the right is 150%. Yuck!

As we can see, the "pixel" sizes end up different. We generally try to scale our work by multiples of 100 - 200%, 300% etc. rather than 150%. At larger scales however, the minute differences in pixel sizes are hardly noticeable!

Mixels are also sometimes seen when an artist scales up their work, then continues drawing on it with a 1 pixel brush.

Many would say that this is not great looking! This type of pixels can be indicative of a beginner artist. But there are plenty of creative pixel artists out there who mixels intentionally, making something modern and cool.

🔹Saving Your Files

We usually save our still images as .PNGs as they don’t create any JPEG artifacts or loss of quality. It's a little hard to see here, but there are some artifacts, and it looks a little blurry. It also makes the art very hard to work with if we are importing a JPEG.

For animations .GIF is good, but be careful of the 256 colour limit. Try to avoid using too many blending mode layers or gradients when working with animations. If you aren’t careful, your animation could flash afterwards, as the .GIF tries to reduce colours wherever it can. It doesn’t look great!

Here's an old piece from 2021 where I experienced .GIF lossiness, because I used gradients and transparency, resulting in way too many colours.

🔹Pixel Art Fundamentals - Techniques and Jargon

❗❗Confused about Jaggies? Anti-Aliasing? Banding? Dithering? THIS THREAD is for you❗❗ << it's a link, click it!!

As far as I'm concerned, this is THE tutorial of all time for understanding pixel art. These are techniques created and named by the community of people who actually put the list together, some of the best pixel artists alive currently. Please read it!!

🔸How To Learn

Okay, so you have your software, and you're all ready to start. But maybe you need some more guidance? Try these tutorials and resources! It can be helpful to work along with a tutorial until you build your confidence up.

⭐⭐ Pixel Logic (A Digital Book) - $10 A very comprehensive visual guide book by a very skilled and established artist in the industry. I own a copy myself.

⭐⭐⭐ StudioMiniBoss - free A collection of visual tutorials, by the artist that worked on Celeste! When starting out, if I got stuck, I would go and scour his tutorials and see how he did it.

⭐ Lospec Tutorials - free A very large collection of various tutorials from all over the internet. There is a lot to sift through here if you have the time.

⭐⭐⭐ Cyangmou's Tutorials - free (tipping optional) Cyangmou is one of the most respected and accomplished modern pixel artists, and he has amassed a HUGE collection of free and incredibly well-educated visual tutorials. He also hosts an educational stream every week on Twitch called 'pixelart for beginners'.

⭐⭐⭐ Youtube Tutorials - free There are hundreds, if not thousands of tutorials on YouTube, but it can be tricky to find the good ones. My personal recommendations are MortMort, Brandon, and AdamCYounis- these guys really know what they're talking about!

🔸 How to choose a canvas size

When looking at pixel art turorials, we may see people suggest things like 16x16, 32x32 and 64x64. These are standard sizes for pixel art games with tiles. However, if you're just making a drawing, you don't necessarily need to use a standard canvas size like that.

What I like to think about when choosing a canvas size for my illustrations is 'what features do I think it is important to represent?' And make my canvas as small as possible, while still leaving room for my most important elements.

Imagine I have characters in a scene like this:

I made my canvas as small as possible (232 x 314), but just big enough to represent the features and have them be recognizable (it's Good Omens fanart 😤)!! If I had made it any bigger, I would be working on it for ever, due to how much more foliage I would have to render.

If you want to do an illustration and you're not sure, just start at somewhere around 100x100 - 200x200 and go from there.

It's perfectly okay to crop your canvas, or scale it up, or crunch your art down at any point if you think you need a different size. I do it all the time! It only takes a bit of cleanup to get you back to where you were.

🔸Where To Post

Outside of just regular socials, Twitter, Tumblr, Deviantart, Instagram etc, there are a few places that lean more towards pixel art that you might not have heard of.

⭐ Lospec Lospec is a low-res focused art website. Some pieces get given a 'monthly masterpiece' award. Not incredibly active, but I believe there are more features being added often.

⭐⭐ Pixilart Pixilart is a very popular pixel art community, with an app tied to it. The community tends to lean on the young side, so this is a low-pressure place to post with an relaxed vibe.

⭐⭐ Pixeljoint Pixeljoint is one of the big, old-school pixel art websites. You can only upload your art unscaled (1x) because there is a built-in zoom viewer. It has a bit of a reputation for being elitist (back in the 00s it was), but in my experience it's not like that any more. This is a fine place for a pixel artist to post if they are really interested in learning, and the history. The Hall of Fame has some of the most famous / impressive pixel art pieces that paved the way for the work we are doing today.

⭐⭐⭐ Cafe Dot Cafe Dot is my art server so I'm a little biased here. 🍵 It was created during the recent social media turbulence. We wanted a place to post art with no algorithms, and no NFT or AI chuds. We have a heavy no-self-promotion rule, and are more interested in community than skill or exclusivity. The other thing is that we have some kind of verification system- you must apply to be a Creator before you can post in the Art feed, or use voice. This helps combat the people who just want to self-promo and dip, or cause trouble, as well as weed out AI/NFT people. Until then, you are still welcome to post in any of the threads or channels. There is a lot to do in Cafe Dot. I host events weekly, so check the threads!

⭐⭐/r/pixelart The pixel art subreddit is pretty active! I've also heard some of my friends found work through posting here, so it's worth a try if you're looking. However, it is still Reddit- so if you're sensitive to rude people, or criticism you didn't ask for, you may want to avoid this one. Lol

🔸 Where To Find Work

You need money? I got you! As someone who mostly gets scouted on social media, I can share a few tips with you:

Put your email / portfolio in your bio Recruiters don't have all that much time to find artists, make it as easy as possible for someone to find your important information!

Clean up your profile If your profile feed is all full of memes, most people will just tab out rather than sift through. Doesn't apply as much to Tumblr if you have an art tag people can look at.

Post regularly, and repost Activity beats everything in the social media game. It's like rolling the dice, and the more you post the more chances you have. You have to have no shame, it's all business baby

Outside of just posting regularly and hoping people reach out to you, it can be hard to know where to look. Here are a few places you can sign up to and post around on.

/r/INAT INAT (I Need A Team) is a subreddit for finding a team to work with. You can post your portfolio here, or browse for people who need artists.

/r/GameDevClassifieds Same as above, but specifically for game-related projects.

Remote Game Jobs / Work With Indies Like Indeed but for game jobs. Browse them often, or get email notifications.

VGen VGen is a website specifically for commissions. You need a code from another verified artist before you can upgrade your account and sell, so ask around on social media or ask your friends. Once your account is upgraded, you can make a 'menu' of services people can purchase, and they send you an offer which you are able to accept, decline, or counter.

The evil websites of doom: Fiverr and Upwork I don't recommend them!! They take a big cut of your profit, and the sites are teeming with NFT and AI people hoping to make a quick buck. The site is also extremely oversaturated and competitive, resulting in a race to the bottom (the cheapest, the fastest, doing the most for the least). Imagine the kind of clients who go to these websites, looking for the cheapest option. But if you're really desperate...

🔸 Community

I do really recommend getting involved in a community. Finding like-minded friends can help you stay motivated to keep drawing. One day, those friends you met when you were just starting out may become your peers in the industry. Making friends is a game changer!

Discord servers Nowadays, the forums of old are mostly abandoned, and people split off into many different servers. Cafe Dot, Pixel Art Discord (PAD), and if you can stomach scrolling past all the AI slop, you can browse Discord servers here.

Twitch Streams Twitch has kind of a bad reputation for being home to some of the more edgy gamers online, but the pixel art community is extremely welcoming and inclusive. Some of the people I met on Twitch are my friends to this day, and we've even worked together on different projects! Browse pixel art streams here, or follow some I recommend: NickWoz, JDZombi, CupOhJoe, GrayLure, LumpyTouch, FrankiePixelShow, MortMort, Sodor, NateyCakes, NyuraKim, ShinySeabass, I could go on for ever really... There are a lot of good eggs on Pixel Art Twitch.

🔸 Other Helpful Websites

Palettes Lospec has a huge collection of user-made palettes, for any artist who has trouble choosing their colours, or just wants to try something fun. Rejected Palettes is full of palettes that didn't quite make it onto Lospec, ran by people who believe there are no bad colours.

The Spriters Resource TSR is an incredible website where users can upload spritesheets and tilesets from games. You can browse for your favourite childhood game, and see how they made it! This website has helped me so much in understanding how game assets come together in a scene.

VGMaps Similar to the above, except there are entire maps laid out how they would be played. This is incredible if you have to do level design, or for mocking up a scene for fun.

Game UI Database Not pixel-art specific, but UI is a very challenging part of graphics, so this site can be a game-changer for finding good references!

Retronator A digital newspaper for pixel-art lovers! New game releases, tutorials, and artworks!

Itch.io A website where people can upload, games, assets, tools... An amazing hub for game devs and game fans alike. A few of my favourite tools: Tiled, PICO-8, Pixel Composer, Juice FX, Magic Pencil for Aseprite

🔸 The End?

This is just part 1 for now, so please drop me a follow to see any more guides I release in the future. I plan on doing some writeups on how I choose colours, how to practise, and more!

I'm not an expert by any means, but everything I did to get to where I am is outlined in this guide. Pixel art is my passion, my job and my hobby! I want pixel art to be recognized everywhere as an art-form, a medium of its own outside of game-art or computer graphics!

This guide took me a long time, and took a lot of research and experience. Consider following me or supporting me if you are feeling generous.

And good luck to all the fledgling pixel artists, I hope you'll continue and have fun. I hope my guide helped you, and don't hesitate to send me an ask if you have any questions! 💕

My other tutorials (so far): How to draw Simple Grass for a game Hue Shifting