Standard 6 - Engage in professional learning
6.1 - Identify and plan professional learning needs
It is important that whilst teachers are passing on information to students, teachers are learning as well, both in the classroom and around the school. Many schools have opportunities for staff members to attend professional development days, and every school has staff meetings that can be attended. These staff meetings are important to attend because they give teachers an idea of what is going on in other departments around the school, and they also can provide feedback on certain events happening in the school, be it curricular or co-curricular. Faculty meetings are also great for discussion with direct colleagues what is occurring in the classrooms and what needs to change/stay. When attending a faculty meeting, these are the topics that were discussed between the staff members:
It is important that whilst teachers are passing on information to students, teachers are learning as well, both in the classroom and around the school. Many schools have opportunities for staff members to attend professional development days, and every school has staff meetings that can be attended. These staff meetings are important to attend because they give teachers an idea of what is going on in other departments around the school, and they also can provide feedback on certain events happening in the school, be it curricular or co-curricular. Faculty meetings are also great for discussion with direct colleagues what is occurring in the classrooms and what needs to change/stay. When attending a faculty meeting, these are the topics that were discussed between the staff members:
- Plans for 2013/calendar events
- Staffing
- Curriculum
- Co-curricular
- Special programs
- Australian curriculum and its impact on the school
6.3 - Engage with colleagues and improve practice
This is as simple as getting to know your colleagues and discussing the goings on of the classrooms. Even discussions with colleagues that are not within your subject area can benefit you greatly, and it is always great to get more involved in the school community. There are some strategies, tips and tricks that can be effective from classroom to classroom, whether it be music, P.E, maths, science or any subject. Many of these tips can be learned simply by engaging with colleagues, and therefore this will IMPROVE THE PRACTICE of one's own subject. For example, whilst on my second practicum I was put into a house group with one of my mentor teachers, which led to me attending house meetings and meeting other staff members. This led to me getting to know teachers from the humanities department, with whom I discussed numerous classroom topics.
This is as simple as getting to know your colleagues and discussing the goings on of the classrooms. Even discussions with colleagues that are not within your subject area can benefit you greatly, and it is always great to get more involved in the school community. There are some strategies, tips and tricks that can be effective from classroom to classroom, whether it be music, P.E, maths, science or any subject. Many of these tips can be learned simply by engaging with colleagues, and therefore this will IMPROVE THE PRACTICE of one's own subject. For example, whilst on my second practicum I was put into a house group with one of my mentor teachers, which led to me attending house meetings and meeting other staff members. This led to me getting to know teachers from the humanities department, with whom I discussed numerous classroom topics.
6.4 - Teaching year 10 theory
6.4 - Apply professional learning and improve student learning
This goes hand in hand with planning professional learning needs and engaging with colleagues to improve practice. All the things that are learned from the professional learning plans, the colleague discussions and even professional development days can and should be applied in day to day classrooms. This professional development will then impact positively on student learning, and will generally help the classroom learning environment to thrive. The photo on the left displays myself teaching a year 10 theory class in which we were learning about piano writing. Following the class, myself and my mentor got together and just discussed what could have been better so that I can apply this professional learning to my next class.
This goes hand in hand with planning professional learning needs and engaging with colleagues to improve practice. All the things that are learned from the professional learning plans, the colleague discussions and even professional development days can and should be applied in day to day classrooms. This professional development will then impact positively on student learning, and will generally help the classroom learning environment to thrive. The photo on the left displays myself teaching a year 10 theory class in which we were learning about piano writing. Following the class, myself and my mentor got together and just discussed what could have been better so that I can apply this professional learning to my next class.