6.1 Identify and plan professional learning needs

Brief description of evidence 

The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers is an important organisation that gives teachers guidelines and goals to become better and more proficient teachers.

For my last practicum, I planned to meet more of my professional learning needs by addressing Aitsl standards.

 

Analysis of what I learned

The Aitsl standards are important to increase the standard of teachers and set industry standard benchmarks

I still have a lot to learn and do to become proficient in the eyes of Aitsl 

 

Evidence 

The professional development I have undertaken. 

 

6.2 Engage in professional learning and improve practice

Brief description of evidence

I attended a professional development session on formative assessment on the 23/2/2015.

From this session, the two main systems/ideas I took on board were name sticks/cards and traffic light indicators.

 

The name sticks/cards encourage student participation and engagement. Students’ names can be written on paddle pop sticks and drawn out for questions. They are used to replace ‘hands up’ behaviour in the classroom where there is a trend of the same students raising their hands, usually only when they are sure of the answer, and the rest of the class stays silent regardless of whether they know or not. Because this is a random system, students won’t feel like they are being picked on to provide an answer, or like a teacher’s pet for always raising their hand. Because it’s the luck of the draw, students are able to answer the question with less pressure about being wrong or right.

 

Traffic light indicators are coloured card sets of red, yellow and green that can be used by students to show their level of understanding throughout the lesson. These should be placed on the front of the student’s desk so that with a quick glance of the room, the teacher can see if students are understanding the content, not quite getting it or really struggling.

 

Both these systems can be used as formative assessment as they allow the teacher to get a broader sense of where the class is at and adjust their teaching pace or method appropriately. 

  

Analysis of what I learned

Name sticks work well, however in High school with multiple classes, one would have to carry around several different class sets. Alternatively, 2 sets of paint colour cards from a hard ware store work just as well - the teacher hands students’ cards from one set as they come in the door and uses the other to call out the names of the colours. Below is a SWOT of the different systems. 

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Evidence

My work at Bishop Druitt College

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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6.3 Engage with colleagues and improve practice

Brief description of evidence 

Through my work as a teacher's aid, I have often talked with colleagues about how I could improve my practices and often during staff meetings, how we as support staff could improve as a whole. 

During my practicum at Normanhurst Boys High School, I engaged with my colleagues to improve my teaching by asking questions and discussing lessons and teaching methods, reading feedback comments and applying this knowledge to my pedagogy and future lessons.

 

Analysis of what I learned

Learning and developing teaching practices will never stop, there are always new ways and methods to approch the facilitation of student learning.  

 

Evidence 

My work at Bishop Druitt College 

 

6.4 Apply professional learning and imrpove student learning

Brief description of evidence 

During my time as a Teacher's Aide, I was involved in whole staff professional development day, specifically relating to teaching methods and behaviour management. The importance of different types of assessment and when they should be conducted. Diagnostic assessment should be done before a new unit of work to identify weak points in student learning so that the unit of work can be tailored to address them. formative assessments should be used throughout the unit to gauge student learning and summative assessment done at the end of the unit. What should be done with the results of summative assessment was also discussed. I took this on board and applied it to my future teaching in order to improve student learning. 

 

Analysis of what I learned

Professional development is important for all teachers to upskill once they have graduated and more importantly remain current with new research and teaching methods.  Continued professional development has enabled me to improve student learning because the more I learn, the better I become and the better teacher I can be for students.

 

Evidence 

My work at Bishop Druitt College and my practicum at Normanhurst Boys High School.