Recording professional development activities can easily slip down the priority list. Most people plan to do it “later”… and before you know it, later turns into a rush. Details get forgotten, reflections are rushed, and what should be a simple task starts to feel like a burden.
That’s exactly the problem PD able helps employers solve.
For organisations using PD able to manage and monitor professional development, there are smart, time-saving tools designed to make recording activities quick, accurate, and stress-free, for both staff and PD managers. One feature employers are finding especially useful is In-House Activities, paired with our built-in QR code creator.
What are In-House Activities?
In-House Activities are professional development activities that you create and manage internally. They’re perfect for events you want full control over and clear visibility of attendance.
These might include:
- Internal seminars or workshops
- Guest speaker sessions
- Training days
- Networking events
- Team learning sessions
Once created in PD able, these activities can be shared with staff using a direct link or QR code, making attendance recording incredibly simple.
How QR codes make it even easier
Instead of asking staff to remember how to find an activity later, you can generate a QR code that links directly to the PD able activity.
Staff simply:
- Scan the QR code
- Confirm their attendance
- Complete any required reflection or notes
That's it! The activity is recorded accurately while it’s still fresh in their mind.
QR codes can be:
- Included in a PDF and emailed to staff
- Printed and displayed at the event
- Added to a presentation slide
- Shared digitally in advance
All that’s needed is a device capable of scanning a QR code.
A better experience for staff and managers
For organisations using Single Sign-On (SSO), the experience is even smoother, with fewer login steps and faster access.
The result?
- Staff find it easy and quick to record their PD
- Attendance is accurate and consistent
- PD managers have clear visibility of who attended, what was completed, and when
A feature we didn’t expect to be this popular
When we first built PD able, QR code creation was included as a practical extra. What we didn’t anticipate was just how popular — and useful — it would become for employers.
Today, it’s one of those small features that makes a big difference to how smoothly professional development is managed across an organisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are In-System Activities the same as In-House Activities?
Not quite.
In-System Activities are created by the PD System Administrator (the system owner). They work in a similar way to In-House Activities, but they are available across the entire PD system, rather than being limited to a single employer’s organisation.
In-House Activities are created by employers for their own staff only.
QR codes can be generated for activities created using either method.
Can I scan a QR code more than once?
Yes, you can.
The QR code is simply a quick link to the activity. You might scan it again to:
- Write a reflection later
- Update or rewrite a reflection
- Review the activity details
Scanning the QR code again won’t cause any issues.
Can employers add an In-House Activity to the 'Recommended' list?
Absolutely... and it’s a great idea.
When setting up an In-House Activity, go to the final “Recommended” tab and assign it to the Recommended list. This helps make the activity more visible to staff.
Do staff need to be logged in to use a QR code?
Yes. Staff will need to be logged into PD able to record their attendance.
For organisations using Single Sign-On (SSO), this process is even faster, with fewer login steps required.
Can QR codes be shared before the event?
Yes.
QR codes can be shared before, during, or after an activity. Many employers include them:
- In calendar invites
- On presentation slides
- In follow-up emails or PDFs
This gives staff flexibility to complete reflections at a time that suits them.
What happens if a staff member forgets to scan the QR code at the event?
No problem.
Staff can still access the activity manually in PD able and complete their attendance and reflection later. The QR code simply makes the process faster and easier.
Is there a limit to how many QR codes we can create?
No — there’s no limit. Employers can create as many QR codes as they need for their PD activities.