Create a Learning Plan

A learning plan is a simple way to be intentional about your development. It helps you create a purposeful path by identifying the skills you want to build, learning opportunities that support your role, and how to space learning over time.

Personal development is the belief that you are worth the effort, time and energy needed to develop yourself.

Denis Waitley

While training may be part of your plan, the focus is on learning that supports your growth. Now and in the future.

Explore Skills & Opportunities

Before you start, take a moment to reflect on what you want to learn.

Think about skills that would help you feel more confident or effective in your work, areas that feel new or challenging, or topics you’re simply curious to explore. Reflection helps ensure your learning plan is personal, relevant, and motivating.

As you explore training options, focus on relevance.

Look for learning opportunities that connect to your goals, interests, or day-to-day responsibilities. Consider which options feel most useful right now and which formats support how you learn best. Choosing learning that fits you makes it easier to stay engaged and follow through.

When planning your learning, aim for balance.

Learning is most effective when it feels manageable and sustainable over time, alongside your other responsibilities. A learning plan doesn’t need to be complicated or so big that it becomes daunting. It should create momentum without adding pressure.

With these reflections in mind, you’re ready to create your learning plan. The steps below can help you turn your ideas into a simple, actionable plan.

Shape Your Learning Plan

  1. Identify your learning goals based on your role, interests, and the skills you want to build
  2. Explore training and learning opportunities that support those goals
  3. Prioritize and pace your learning so it feels realistic
  4. Set a simple timeline and revisit your plan as goals evolve
Sample Plan: Excel Pivot Tables in 8 Weeks using Percipio Labs
Sample Plan: Pivot Tables in 8 Weeks using Excel & Free Online Resources

Use These Tools to Support Your Learning Plan

As you build your learning plan, explore tools that support reflection, practice, and follow-through. Percipio provides several options that can help assess skills, practice new approaches, and stay on track over time.

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CAISY Conversation Practice

Practice workplace conversations in a low-pressure environment using guided scenarios and feedback.
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Skill Benchmarks

Assess current skills and identify focus areas to help prioritize learning.
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Playlists

Organize and save learning content in one place, making it easier to stay focused on your goals.
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Schedule Time for Learning

Add learning time to your calendar to help protect time you’ve set aside for development.

Want help finding or tailoring learning content?

Visit Tools to Help You Grow to access these and more

Put Your Plan into Action

Creating a learning plan is an important first step, but progress happens when you build small habits and use available support to keep learning visible and manageable over time.

Regular check-ins with a supervisor or mentor can provide accountability, encouragement, and an opportunity to reflect on what’s working and what may need to shift. These conversations help keep development aligned with role priorities and supported by leadership.

Setting aside time on your calendar, whether weekly or in short recurring blocks, helps you schedule around your learning, protecting your investment in yourself.

Flexibility is key. Your learning plan is a living document, and revisiting it as your schedule, commitments, and goals change is part of the process.

Celebrate your progress. Steady, intentional effort, no matter how small, can make a meaningful difference over time, turning good intentions into lasting growth. Simple incremental tracking of what you learned, and one thing you can now do faster or better, is a great way to stay motivated.

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Start Learning

Now you’ve created your learning plan and made time for learning, the next step is to go to Percipio and start learning.

Percipio Help

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Self-guided Help and Resources

Learners can get self-guided help from two sources:

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Who to Contact if You Need More Help

Learning Administrators support employees across the university by helping connect learners to required and optional training in Percipio. Assigned by area, college, or campus, they provide guidance on training access, completion, and compliance to support employee learning and development.

Contact your assigned Learning Administrator when you have questions about required training, assignments, or access to learning content in Percipio. They can also help if you encounter issues with enrollment, completion records, or need guidance on training requirements specific to your area, college, or campus.

If you know who your area’s Learning Administrator is, they’re your best first point of contact for questions about training, assignments, and learning support within your area. Learning Administrators work closely with Learning & Organizational Development (LOD) and can often help quickly resolve questions or guide you to the right next step.

You can contact LOD directly if you’re unsure who your Learning Administrator is, your question spans multiple areas or campuses, or you need additional support beyond what your Learning Administrator can provide.

Email the Training team
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Quick Links

Return to the Employee Training section page, or open the panel below for more pages.