Engage in Professional Learning Standard #6 Summary of Standard #6: Engaging in professional learning does not merely mean attending professional development, according to the AITSL Standards it is a process of before, during and after. Before registering for professional learning it is recommended that you "6.1 Identify and plan professional learning needs" (AITSL, 2014). In planning professional development is it useful to examine the AISTL Standards to see if there are any areas you could improve on - use the standards as a checklist (AITSL, 2014). Also, ensure that the professional learning is relevant to your school and/or classroom context. For example, I attended a workshop on teaching writing prior when my class of pre-primary students started doing a lot of writing. in order to gain and share ideas on the best way to teach this year level. Upon participating I was more confident in knowing how to do so. Before term 4 begins I will be going to school-based professional learning on the Paths Curriculum. The school is providing this as it is a program that the school has recently embraced so the staff need to know what they are implementing thoroughly. Both of these examples involved identifying and planning my professional learning needs; this is planning with purpose. As in the focus area "6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice" the purpose for professional learning is always to improve practice (AITSL, 2014). For most of the professional learning I have participated in this year I have also invited or joined with a fellow intern or two so that we can reflect and consolidate together. Being from the same school has helped to see how we can implement ideas in our particular context. This is achieving Focus area "6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice" (AITSL, 2014). The last step in the process of engaging in professional learning is to apply the learning. "6.4 Apply professional learning and improve student learning" (AITSL, 2014)
Evidence & Explanation of how I have accomplished this Standard: "6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice" (AITSL, 2014): During my four years of studying Early Childhood and Primary Education I have been committed to my studies and have also worked collaboratively with fellow education students in various university pursuits. An example of this includes exam study groups which I have coordinated since second year. Both of my mentor teachers in third year practicum (years 5/6) and my mentor this year during internship always mentioned that seeking and applying their constructive feedback is one of my strong points. "6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice" (AISTL, 2014): In third year I started to invest in professional development outside of university. I attended the following seminars, workshops and conferences: 1. SPEC & AIME - Introduction to Aboriginal Culture, History and Working with Aboriginal Children 2. AIME - Online training: Cultural Engagement, Mentoring Processes & Child Protection 3. SPEC - Teaching Journeys 4. SPEC - Cooperative Teaching & Learning (Kagan Strategies) 5. SPEC - Gifted & Talented Education 6. SSTUWA - New Educators Conference 7. ALEA - Positive Professional Engagement Evidence: Click here to see PDF of certificates from the above
Throughout 2015 I have participated in the following seminars, workshops, training sessions, and conferences: 1. SSTUWA - Beginning Teachers Conference 2. Dr Paul Swan - Maths: Number 3. SPEC - Country & Rural Teaching 4. AIME - Online Mentor Training: Cultural Engagement, Mentoring Processes & Child Protection 5. Lego Conference 6 ALEA - Effective Strategies for Teaching Writing 7. One World Centre - Global Citizenship Unpacked 8. SPEC -Tools for Teaching 9. Department of Education - Positive Schools and Classroom Engagement CMS 10. Dr Alison Davies - Explicit Teaching of Reading Comprehension 11. Letchme Paul - Teaching EAL/D Students 12. Kids Matter - The Paths Curriculum 13. State Library of WA - Lynley Dodd Story Professional Learning Afternoon - Teachers 14. TeachMeet WA - ICT by the Sea Evidence: Please see PDF of certificates from the above
Action Plan Upon reflection I realise that I have attended many workshops, seminars and conferences. For a lot of them I registered because they were either cheap or free and I wanted to learn as much as I could before officially entering the teaching profession. Now that I am having consistent involvement in a pre-primary class and I have certain ideas about learning and teaching (my philosophy) I will choose more professional learning in accordance to this as well as areas of the standards that I could improve on. I have registered for a PD on using story in teaching which is a huge part of my learning and teaching philosophy. To keep myself more accountable in "6.4 Apply professional learning and improve student learning" I will start a professional learning journal in which I will set practical teaching goals in response to what I have learnt at the professional development.
Evidence: Ticket for Story PD
Did I mention that I really like the Hairy Maclary books?!