Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an essential part of being a paramedic. But let’s be honest, CPD can sometimes feel like a tick-the-box requirement rather than a meaningful learning experience. One of the best ways to make CPD more engaging and effective is by matching your study approach to your learning style.
When you know how you learn best—whether it’s by watching, listening, reading, or doing—you can stop wasting time on study methods that don’t stick and start using ones that actually work.
➡️ Why Your Learning Style Matters
Not everyone learns the same way. Understanding your preferred learning style helps you:
-
Stay focused for longer.
-
Retain information more effectively.
-
Reduce the stress and time it takes to prepare for assessments or recertification.
-
Make CPD a more rewarding part of your career journey.
➡️ How to Tailor CPD to Your Learning Style
Here’s how to personalise your CPD using the four main learning styles from the VARK model:
🔹 Visual Learners
You learn best through diagrams, charts, and visual aids.
Study Tips:
-
Use infographics or mind maps to summarise protocols.
-
Watch video tutorials or animations (e.g., airway management techniques).
-
Colour-code your notes or use symbols to help organise information.
🔹 Auditory Learners
You retain information better by hearing it or talking it through.
Study Tips:
-
Join peer discussion groups or listen to CPD podcasts.
-
Read key content aloud or use voice notes.
-
Teach a colleague what you’ve just learned—it helps cement the information.
🔹 Reading/Writing Learners
You learn best through written material and note-taking.
Study Tips:
-
Write your own summaries or bullet-point notes from CPD modules.
-
Use lists, headings, and outlines to structure information.
-
Create your own written quiz questions or flashcards.
🔹 Kinesthetic Learners
You need to physically engage with the material to retain it.
Study Tips:
-
Practise clinical skills in simulations or hands-on workshops.
-
Use case studies or scenario walk-throughs.
-
Link theoretical learning to real-world calls you've been on.
🧠 Try This:
For your next CPD task, choose one strategy above that matches your dominant learning style. Notice how much more confident and engaged you feel after adapting your approach.
➡️ Final Thought
CPD shouldn’t be about ticking boxes—it’s about building confidence, sharpening your skills, and progressing your career. When you tailor your learning to suit your style, you make each hour of study count.
Next time you sit down to learn, do it your way. You’ll retain more, stress less, and grow stronger in your role.
