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Creating your IDP

intersecting triangles representing personal wellbeing, professional and career, and academic goals and activities

An IDP incorporates all three domains of life as a graduate student: your academic goals and activities, your personal wellbeing, and your professional and career development. Your IDP can take a variety of forms. Some students prefer to use an app, planner or template designed for this purpose, while others choose to use a notebook or journal for writing down their plan. myPath has create tools specifically for Â鶹AV graduate students to help you reflect, envision, plan and engage with your goals and aspirations.

Continue reading to learn more about myPath's steps to creating the IDP or skip ahead --->Download a planner or templateÌýorÌýwatch our video series

myPath's steps for writing an IDP:

There are many ways to make an Individual Development Plan. Below is a brief overview of myPath's approach.

  1. Sign-upÌýfor anÌýintroductory workshop on how to use anÌýÌýthe IDP.
  2. Download a myPath workbook or template, open the myPath module on ,Ìýlogin to the myPath WebApp or grab simply grab a notebook and pen and watch the myPath video series.
  3. Set aside 2-3 hours to write your IDP. An IDP contains 4 phases. You can do as many or as few of the exercises as you want. AimÌýto complete at least 1 exercise from each of the following phases:

    Reflect

    Spend some time thinking about who you are and where you've been, the skills you want to develop, and the values that drive your behaviour and priorities.

    Try out the exercises in "Module 1: Reflect and Assess" of the myPath workbookÌýor watch the following videos: "Reflect on Last Year"; "Create Your Skills Matrix"; "Understand Your Values".

    Envision

    Visualize and imagineÌýyour future self:Ìýwhere do you want to be in the future?ÌýCreate a vision statement to identify the priorities that will help you get there.

    Try out the exercises in "Module 2: Envision Your Future" of the myPath workbook or watch the following videos: "Alternate Paths"; "Establish Your Vision and Priorities."

    Plan

    Create a meaningful plan for the next semester based on your vision by choosing specific goals and activities you want to pursue over the next year. Break your goals down into specific activities that will enable you to realize them. Remember to consider not only your academic life, but also your personal wellbeing and professional and career development.

    Try outÌýthe exercises in "Module 3: Make a Plan" of the myPath workbook and fill out the IDP template,Ìýor watch the following videos: "Set Your Goals," "Create Your IDP."

    Engage

    Break down your goals into monthly and weekly tasks, and stay on top of your goals by revising your plans often.

    Try out the exercises in "Module 4: Engage" of the myPath workbook, or watch the following videos: "Stay on Track," "Review Your Progress," "Sustain Your IDP."

  4. Take a look at the resources available at Â鶹AV that can help you achieve your academic, personal and professional goals.
  5. Review your IDP every 6-12 months and make changes when necessary.Ìý
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