Looking back. . .
The past 32 weeks have included many ups and downs, times when I have felt really positive and excited about the new learning happening and other times when I have wanted to give up. The learning that has occurred has been exponential. Connecting my learning journey to the PCTs, there are two stand out areas of my practice that have been changed.
- The first refers to criteria 6- conceptualise, plan and implement an appropriate learning program and criteria 12- use critical inquiry and problem solving effectively in their professional practice. Through the completion of the literature review, inquiry plan and the 8 reflective blog entries, I have become a much more reflective practitioner. It has allowed me to link concepts and theories to the students in my class and how to better support these students. I have identified areas I am doing well, areas I need to work harder at to improve and areas I need to change completely. I have always been reflective, but through weekly blog entries I have seen the benefit of putting my thinking down in words. It has helped to clarify my own thinking and a way to make links with media and research.
- The second is more along the lines of criteria 1- establish and maintain effective professional relationships focused on the learning and well-being of all akonga. Through this course, I have made some fantastic professional connections with other educators within our region, sharing ideas and opinions, asking questions and participating in discussions and at times debates. Participating in Google+ forums and reading and commenting on blogs has also allowed me to see things from different perspectives, to understand how others schools run. This has been awesome as we don't often get the chance to get into other schools to see what they are doing, however I know have a better understanding of our contributing schools and new connections within these schools.
Looking forward. . .
Therefore my next step in my professional development journey would be to spend time in the classrooms within these schools, to observe and ask questions, to really experience what they are doing so I can find new ideas and ways of teaching. We always tell our students to collaborate and share their ideas, however we only seem to do this within our schools, which is a shame when every school is doing many amazing things. We also try to give our students experiences to consolidate their learning, therefore it is one thing to hear about what other educators are doing, but to actually watch and participate and experience these things would be so much more valuable to my practice and the practice of my colleagues.
Ministry of Education (nd). Practising teacher Criteria and e-learning . Retrieved from http://elearning.tki.org.nz/Professional-learning/Registered-Teacher-Criteria-and-e-learning
I certainly tautoko your comments Aimee about actually spending time in different classrooms. There is tremendous learning in visiting other schools and other classes. In the last few months it has been my privilege to spend time across a wider range of schools than usual and I have been so impressed with the way teachers are getting to grips with innovative learning environments, new ways of teaching collaboration, using a band system to NAPE students as self managing learners ie students earn the privilege to independently move around the school on their personalised learning paths. They start off as supported learners needed adult help to stay on task and manage their learning and then move along the NAPE. At the experienced end they are able to mentor and support A level students who are advancing towards independence. One of the lovely things I notice in one BYOD class was the scheduled energiser system run by students for a screen break, the whole class stopped to join in a ghostbuster dance they put up from utube on the class data projector. Alls students are part of a team to organise the morning screen breaks /energisers. The privilege in my job of being able to visit a range of classrooms teaches me SO much. Hope you get to go visiting too!
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