Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Calculating Learning Units

“Structured” LUs -
These activities include structured courses, meetings, seminars and workshops that are either provided by CIP, MPPI, or by an external provider or group. For activities endorsed in advance by CIP or MPPI, the number of LUs will be indicated when you log the LUs.

Calculate LU hours for learning activities by reporting the number of hours spent (to the nearest quarter hour) in direct planning-related learning with a minimum of 1/2 hour or .5 LUs of learning activity.

“Unstructured” LUs -
Individual self-reported activities are generally not organized or structured activities, and are largely independent. These are activities in which members independently engage. Activities often provide support to the profession or society, as well as providing education to members. Examples are civic or professional committees. Additional activities include teaching, research or self-designed learning experiences including reading articles and publications, which may be supported with self-tests, written reviews, informal sharing of knowledge activities.

To be eligible for credit, individual self-reported activities must be in some way planned, must be educational, yield new knowledge for the individual member, and apply to the practice of planning.

Calculate LU hours for Individual/Unstructured activities by reporting the number of hours spent (to the nearest quarter hour) with a minimum of 1/2 hour or .5 LUs of activity. There are also some limits to how many Learning Units (LUs) can be reported and claimed for certain individual ‘Unstructured’ learning activities, based on the guidelines provided in the MPPI CPL Program Guide (table below or link?). In addition, there is a total maximum limit of 9.0 ‘Unstructured’ LUs that may count towards the required 18.0 total LUs for each reporting period (calendar year).