Standard V
Engage in professional growth and leadership
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.
a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
b. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others
c. Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning
d. Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community
a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
b. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others
c. Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning
d. Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community
Reflection
Teachers have to constantly search for new opportunities to improve themselves professionally. It is common for teachers to remain stagnant and by doing so, they quickly fall behind. With the rate that technology advances teachers have to keep up-to-date. It is important for students to see that the teacher is changing with the times. By keeping abreast of changing technologies, teachers will be able to serve their peers by informing them on what is available on the technological landscape. In order for teachers to stay relevant they have to seek out opportunities to learn and grow.
Artifact 1: Teachers are professionals and need to present themselves as such. In addition to a course website, I feel that teachers should also have a website that highlights their professional accomplishments, their work history, and their research interests. As teachers grow in their career, they should record their achievements on a website and constantly update their resume. By creating a professional website teachers can demonstrate how they are improving themselves on a professional level. I created a website where I outlined my work and education history, my relevant computer skills, and I provided my philosophy of education. This website is a living document that I will continually update with information regarding my career.
Artifact 2: One way that teachers can grow professionally is to consult with others in their field to share ideas and learn from each other. No one person has all of the answers and it shows a great deal of professional maturity to accept that fact. This standard calls for teachers to be lifelong learners and constantly strive to improve themselves professionally. Teachers should regularly seek out training opportunities and colleagues with whom they can communicate and collaborate. The artifact that best represents this aspect of Standard V is an interview that I conducted with a educational technology professional. Through my interview I was able to learn about common problems that are encountered in this field and the duties and responsibilities of technology specialists. This interview gave me some insight on the profession that I was able to, in turn, share with my colleagues.
Artifact 3: I conducted research on the efficacy of E-textbooks in the college classroom. Through this research I was able to look at the issue through eyes of both students and teachers. In conducting this research I learned about technology use on the college level which I was able to compare to the high school level. As an artifact I have chosen the survey that was given to college instructors to gain their perspective on the use of E-textbooks in the classroom. Teachers need to consult recent research in order to ensure that they are effectively implementing technology with the goal of improving learning.
Artifact 1: Teachers are professionals and need to present themselves as such. In addition to a course website, I feel that teachers should also have a website that highlights their professional accomplishments, their work history, and their research interests. As teachers grow in their career, they should record their achievements on a website and constantly update their resume. By creating a professional website teachers can demonstrate how they are improving themselves on a professional level. I created a website where I outlined my work and education history, my relevant computer skills, and I provided my philosophy of education. This website is a living document that I will continually update with information regarding my career.
Artifact 2: One way that teachers can grow professionally is to consult with others in their field to share ideas and learn from each other. No one person has all of the answers and it shows a great deal of professional maturity to accept that fact. This standard calls for teachers to be lifelong learners and constantly strive to improve themselves professionally. Teachers should regularly seek out training opportunities and colleagues with whom they can communicate and collaborate. The artifact that best represents this aspect of Standard V is an interview that I conducted with a educational technology professional. Through my interview I was able to learn about common problems that are encountered in this field and the duties and responsibilities of technology specialists. This interview gave me some insight on the profession that I was able to, in turn, share with my colleagues.
Artifact 3: I conducted research on the efficacy of E-textbooks in the college classroom. Through this research I was able to look at the issue through eyes of both students and teachers. In conducting this research I learned about technology use on the college level which I was able to compare to the high school level. As an artifact I have chosen the survey that was given to college instructors to gain their perspective on the use of E-textbooks in the classroom. Teachers need to consult recent research in order to ensure that they are effectively implementing technology with the goal of improving learning.
Educators should always seek out professional development in order to stay informed about new trends in technology. There should be a place where teachers can share their knowledge and skills with their peers. By maintaining a professional website I would be able to create a forum among other educators to discuss what technology is working in the classroom. Also, it is important to show others that I am always looking for more innovative ways to teach and learn. By conducting an interview with an educational technology professional, I realized the importance of reaching out to peers in the same field in order to create a dialogue which can lead to collaboration and learning. Conducting or evaluating research is vital for educators to stay current. Without the desire to stay abreast of what's actually taking place with technology, educators risk being left behind and becoming ineffective in the classroom.
Copyright © 2015 Barrett Taylor. Last updated November 6, 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Barrett Taylor is prohibited.