Week 32 - Activity 8: Reflective Practice - Putting It All Together

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So much to say, so few words to do it in!

Our 32 week Mind Lab journey is almost at an end.  I have had so many “Aha!” moments along the way that I should have written them down as I went!

Although the new apps/tools we have learned about are extremely useful, these are the pedagogical shifts that have changed my practice forever!

• Student agency and more personalised learning:  Such a simple idea - of course our students will be more engaged and motivated in their learning if the topic/issue relates in a meaningful way to the context of their own lives.  More input, more co-planning with students, so exciting. http://elearning.tki.org.nz/Professional-learning/Practising-Teacher-Criteria-and-e-learning/Criteria-6 - Key change:  Effective pedagogy and e-learning come together here and I need to really work at implementing an appropriate learning programme for each individual as this is quite daunting.  I need to do much more evidence based research here going forward, ie. what does it look like.

• Growth Mindset:  I can’t imagine my class without this.  The change in thinking, the language of learning used by the students, the attitude and self-expectations are already starting to show a difference.  Mistakes are ok (in their own minds now) and they love the symbolism of synapses firing!  

• Collaboration:  Whether between students, teacher and students, or colleagues (both local and global), I recognise that more collaboration is essential. I group the students differently in class, made more ‘collaboration friendly’ areas, created more choice on topics for them, changed the way I think about planning to incorporate more collaboration - all scaffolded to ensure students that adapt quickly get to keep challenging themselves whilst the scaffolding remains for those that can’t….YET.  There is so much more I want to do, but I need to make sure that my students are ready. http://elearning.tki.org.nz/Professional-learning/Practising-Teacher-Criteria-and-e-learning/Criteria-7 - Key change:  I know I cannot hold back my self-managing, self-motivated learners simply because others aren’t ready, so effective management of the learning setting is vital.  I have introduced a three tier system in class that takes into account all learners, learning at their own pace.

• Leadership:  As team leader, feeding back to my team about things I have learned at Mind Lab has been crucial so that all students in the team benefit.  Making sure scaffolding is in place for my teachers is just as important.  I have shared at staff meetings, Teacher Only Days, and ran a workshop at the local Literacy Association IT evening (on Makey Makey). The more we share our learning, along with the valuable discussions that inevitably follow, the more children we will reach.  I wonder whether the teacher training providers are giving their students an insight into the topics that we talk about?  My own team have mentioned that my leadership has changed (I love that), and I know that I now see more of the big picture now than I ever have before.

• Reflective Practice:  Osterman and Kottkamp (1993) state “...reflective practice is viewed as a means by which practitioners can develop a greater level of self-awareness about the nature and impact of their performance, an awareness that creates opportunities for professional growth and development.“  They go on to say that awareness is essential for behavioural change.  I think that reflective practice is constant, it has to be, and can say that I am more aware of my own actions and their effects.

Future Professional Development

I’d like to learn more about Growth Mindset so will be looking at finding some more professional development as I go forward.   Working out how we can manage teacher workload around individual learning programmes is also on my list.

Jackie (over and out!)

Reference List

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

Osterman, K. & Kottkamp, R.(1993). Reflective Practice for Educators. California. Cornwin Press, Inc. Retrieved on 7th May, 2015 from http://www.itslifejimbutnotasweknowit.org.uk/files/RefPract/Osterman_Kottkamp_extract.pdf