New regulations require all teachers and trainers in colleges and other LSC-funded institutions to register as members of the Institute for Learning (IfL) and demonstrate that they remain in good standing through an annual commitment to continuing professional development (CPD).

IfL members will be given a free and flexible online tool, developed by teachers for teachers, to help them manage their CPD. The Reflect tool, developed by Pebble Learning, is a highly flexible learning tool already used in its PebblePad form by learners in a number of further and higher education institutions.

Reflect provides a personalised learning space where members can reflect on their professional practice and record the many and varied CPD activities undertaken to enhance their teaching. Members can choose to keep all records private if they wish, or can selectively share them with peers, mentors and managers. CPD activity records can be linked quickly and easily to an annual CPD record for submission to IfL if desired.

When records or assets are shared, the user may give others permission to view, comment, copy or collaborate. Permission to share may be time-limited, or rescinded at any time. Comments may be added to shared assets in the form of a professional conversation.

Reflect can be set up so that entries automatically populate the CPD record. As more entries are added throughout the year, the system will automatically recalculate the number of hours' CPD completed.

Reflect also gives IfL members a number of easy-to-use utilities that can be used to support teaching and learning, such as a simple blogging tool, web page builder and the facility to create multiple e-portfolios. It complements a provider's virtual learning environment (VLE), and individual members may use Reflect however they choose, at any time and from any computer with Internet access.

For further information, visit the ifl website.