Wow! This is a tough question! Or should I say question(s)!! There's like 4 in this one prompt! Ok well I guess I'd better get them answered! First of all, continuing my academic and professional development is what I'm doing at this very moment. Continuing in classes, surrounding myself with people in the same field, and learning with them and from them furthers my development. These actions further my development as a student, as well as a future professional in the field. I think it's extremely important to never stop learning. Sure, here in a few years I'll be out of school (hopefully)! Just because I'm out of school does not mean that my learning should cease. I will continue to learn whether I want to or not! By simply being a practicing SLP, I will be learning every day and perhaps relearning things that I'll have forgotten by that time. The important thing is to keep researching, looking for new information, keep on top of things. It's like if I hadn't watched the news since 1995, look at everything that I would have no idea even occurred! It's the same way in learning; if we as professionals don't keep on top of new information, we'll have no idea what's going on. This is very dangerous!

Right now, our main outlet for learning is class. However, we become more resposible for our own learning with each passing day. In the 2 weeks that we've been in this CD class, it has become apparent to me that no longer is learning about going to class, listening to a teacher, and taking notes on what he/she says. Learning is about finding things out on your own, using all the resources available, asking questions, and reaching out for assistance in order to further learning. How do I meet my learning needs? Well, honestly, I probably don't meet all my learning needs. I don't always take advantage of the resources at my fingertips, and sometimes I'm just too lazy to go after something in order to learn. So, those are areas where I need to improve in order to meet my learning needs. Now that I'm becoming more and more responsible for my own learning, I need to take that responsibility seriously and run with it. I need to embrace knowledge, learning, research, and information!