Week 32 - A key change in my professional practice

Week 32

Key change in my professional practice

This week I reflect on my 32 week learning journey in which I critically evaluate one key change in my professional practice in relation to a theme from the Hack education research. I have documented and discussed this journey using Rolfe’s (2001) reflective model.

What?

My Mindlab journey has been a life-absorbing, life-changing, exciting and fast-paced ride, but a ride I have thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to next in line. It’s hard to pinpoint one key change in my professional practice as there have been so many. Really. However, the one key change that stands out from the rest would be collaboration, and the many platforms and mediums used to collaborate with both my learners, peers and colleagues.

Using the Hack education starting statement ‘In the future education will be…’, as a prompt, I reflected on the changes I had made in my classroom that had really made a difference for not only myself in my professional practice, but my learners and what I will continue to promote in my classroom now and in the future. For me collaboration has been a platform that engaged and motivated all my learners. It gave the leaders a chance to lead, and the more shy and reluctant learners the extra support to guide them. I believe the future education will be collaborative, innovative and individualised to our learners needs.

So What?

Collaboration for me, has taken on many forms. First and foremost with my learners in the classroom. I have a class with various learning needs, and for them, being able to work collaboratively has given these students the extra support and guidance to enable success in their learning. Secondly with my peers and colleagues as I actively encourage collaborative planning, sharing of resources and knowledge. I am the only teacher in my year level to study with Mindlab and this allows me to regularly impart and share my newfound knowledge and digital innovations with my colleagues. Reflecting ‘out loud’ online has given me the perspective to actually see what I am doing right and things I need to work and improve on, as personal ‘awareness is essential for behavioural change’ (Osterman & Kottkamp, 2015).

Another platform for collaborating and a big part of my learning journey and key change has been participating in online forums such as Google+, blogging and my weekly online and face-to-face CoP’s. These have given me the confidence to ask questions, master new knowledge and see what others are doing in their classrooms, with their learners and colleagues. This is definitely something I feel I need to continue on with in order to sustain my lifelong learning.

Now What?

...Good question. I know I want to and need to continue on my lifelong learning journey. Personal reflections have pushed me in new directions that I wouldn’t normally go in, taken me out of my comfort zone and given me strong motivation (Osterman & Kottkamp, 2015) to research and find new information and new areas of interest. Collaboration has been a future focused platform for me to pursue this and find new solutions and innovations that I can take into the classroom to equip my learners with the 21st century skills. I’m lining up for my next ‘ride’ as my journey continues - I have signed up with Mindlab to complete the Digital Passport and I intend to become a Level 1 & 2 Google certified Educator. I am preparing and up-skilling myself for a future focused education so that I can prepare and equip my learners for their future. Wish me luck!!

References

Osterman, K. F., & Kottkamp, R. B. (2015). Reflective practice for educators: professional development to improve student learning.(2nd ed.) New York: Skyhorse Publishing.

Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., Jasper, M. (2001) Critical reflection in nursing and the helping professions: a user’s guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.