6.

FOCUS AREA,
(with
descriptor)
Identify and
plan
professional
learning
needs
(Demonstrate
an
understanding
of the role of
the National
Professional
Standards for
Teachers in
identifying
professional
learning
needs.)

ELABORATION

AITSL Standard: Teachers should recognise the

important role they have in moulding and influencing their
students. As such the quality and level of professionalism
they maintain is crucial. To ensure maintained standards
and continual improvement, teachers should strive to
undertake regular professional development, within the
framework of the National Professional Standards for
Teaching.
ICT Elaboration: The Internet and ICT can prove very
useful in enabling teachers to take full responsibility of
their professional development. Self-directed learning and
meaningful activities provided by online resources can be
most helpful in this regard.
Pedagogical Justification: Research and practical
resources have been made readily available by the
Internet, making professional development easily
accessible for teachers.
Examples: In order to prevent teachers me utilising one
style of teaching alone, it is important for professional
development to emphasise different learning styles and the
way in which these can be integrated into the teaching
environment. With confidence growing from more years in
the practice, it can be possible for teachers to take on
unfamiliar teaching styles and embed them into their
routine, thus providing depth and flexibility to their career.
For instance, interactive games involving Shakespeare are
easily available on the net (eg.
http://www.modernlibrary.com/shakespeare/shakespearegames/) and can be very useful in involving more visual
and kinaesthetic learners in the lesson.
Rationale: Professional learning is an ongoing and
continual reflection that works through collecting, adapting
and applying the learning and resources of others. It is a
constant process that teachers should strive to maintain, in
order to develop their self-confidence, flexibility and
awareness of the various learning styles and their
manifestations.

6.2

6.3

6.4

Engage in
professional
learning and
improve
practice
(Understand
the relevant
and
appropriate
sources of
professional
learning for
teachers.)

The online facebook page of teachers in general, and South

Australian English teachers more specifically, are useful
tools to allow teachers to network and connect with those
who operate on a similar level of understanding and
awareness. Sharing resources, advice and ideas for
teaching strategies is an incredibly useful tool to be able to
tap into. They are digital manifestations of groups like
SAETA.

Engage with
colleagues
and improve
practice (Seek
and apply
constructive
feedback from
supervisors
and teachers to
improve
teaching
practices.)

AITSL: Feedback is useful not just for students but for

teachers also. We should strive for constant improvement,
and this can't happen unless we are reviewed and given
feedback on our performance on at least a semi-regular
basis.

Apply
professional
learning and
improve
student
learning
(Demonstrate
an
understanding
of the rationale
for continued
professional
learning and
the
implications for
improved
student
learning.)

Example: Reflecting on your teaching ability and the

strategies you put into place in the classroom can be a
very important self-evaluative tool. It is surprising how
poor most students are at self-evaluating their own work,
and it really limits their ability to reach the higher
thresholds of learning, which generally only come about
with stringent standards for oneself and an ability to
critically self-analyse. In terms of ICT, there are a number
of useful self-evaluative resources online that teachers
should be accessing, in order to review their own teaching
methods and in doing so improve themselves both
professionally and personally.

Example: I found my mentor teacher to be incredibly

useful in this regard on my practicuum. Not technology per
se, although she did provide me with digital feedback at
the end of my prac. But just the ability to hear a
professional evaluation of how I did, the strengths and
weaknesses of my teaching style, and pointers for things
to look out for/aim to do in the future, was incredibly
useful.