Changes in Practice

A good educator will change and adapt their practice to suit the needs of their individual learners. They will also keep up with changes in the educational sector at a global level. They will continue their professional development actively, knowing that they need themselves to be life-long learners, in order to teach this to their students. They know that their students need to be 21st century learners in order to succeed in the world beyond school, therefore they adapted their teaching before 21st century skills even came up for debate. Most importantly, good educators reflect upon their teaching and their learning and they are self-aware. Self-awareness is the key to being a good educator, a great educator in fact. 

Over the last 8 weeks, I have reflected over different topics within the educational sector and I have found that it has not only consolidated my ideas and opinions but given me the keys to being able to describe my thoughts and views in a clearer way. It has made me far more aware of things I can do better in the classroom and what needs to change entirely in my classroom. 

Now, armed with the research I have done over the last 32 weeks, I am not afraid to really push my ideas about how we can educate 21st century learners. Gone are the days, where we impart knowledge. We now need to be thinking about skills and competencies as the forefront of what we are teaching. 

In NZ, we need to meet the Practising Teacher Criteria. Much of my growth as educator ticks off the practising teacher criteria. If I am to pick some, that show key changes in my practice, then Criteria 1, 3 and 6 have shown the biggest changes.   

Criteria 1 is establishing and maintaining effective professional relationships focused on the learning and well-being of all ākonga (learners). This course has given me the nudge I needed to engage in online professional communities. These 'connect' us as educators in order to be able to keep abreast of changes but also use best practice within our classrooms through the use of fresh opinions, resources and ideas from other like-minded educators. 

Criteria 3 is demonstrating commitment to the bicultural partnership in Aoteroa/New Zealand. Although I have always been passionate in this area, using research using a kaupapa Maori lens has now become more important to me. There are also changes I am making as an educator to uphold this partnership in a better way, through much more inclusive learning programmes and language.

Criteria 6 is to conceptualise, plan and implement an appropriate learning plan. Educating 21st century learners is at the forefront of my mind now. I consistently adapt what we teach to include critical thinking skills and always seek to utilise technology the most effective way possible. I am always trying to use interdisciplinary approaches to whatever we learn in the classroom. 

Probably one of the hardest things about team teaching in an innovative learning environment, is getting everyone onto the same page, but armed with my research informed opinions and ideas and now with a far more eloquent way of being able to express these opinions through the reflection and practise of blogging, I feel like I can finally make a difference to our team practice. 

References:

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