Standard 6 - Engage in Professional Learning
6.1 - Use the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and advice from colleagues to identify and plan professional learning needs.
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AITSL Teacher Self-Assessment Tool
The AITSL Teacher Self-Assessment Tool poses a number of questions about professional practice based on the Standards and gives a report of strengths and areas for improvements. As part of my current school's new PD program, we were asked to use this questionnaire and discuss the results with our PD mentors. It is planned that the self-assessment tool will be used every six months to help identify PD needs. 
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PD Mentor Meetings
The PD program at my current school has provided each of us with a mentor to help identify and monitor our PD needs. At the start of Term 3, I met with my mentor to discuss what I see as my areas for improvements and how each aligns with the AITSL standards. We also discussed the best PD to seek out to help me achieve my goals. | ||
6.2 - Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
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South Australian Science Teachers Association
As a Science teacher, it is important to be aware or Science based professional development. SASTA is an excellent location for resources, but also for professional development. SASTA has two upcoming conferences for which I have registered. The first, to take place in October, is an Early-Career Teachers conference. I will be attending workshops on using the AITSL Standards, building positive relationships, engaging students with inquiry based activities, flipping classrooms, and using Science By Doing. It will also give the opportunity to network with other early career Science teachers.
The second conference, which I will be attending in November, is a dedicated STEM conference. The workshop details of this conference have yet to be finalised, however, this conference will further my understanding of teaching in the STEM area, and expose me to new ideas and teaching strategies.
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Behaviour Zen
I have recently signed up to two courses on positive behaviour strategies for supporting students with anxiety, and oppositional and defiant students. These courses are designed for educators and I have chosen them to improve my skills in supporting a number of students who currently fall into these categories. https://behaviourzen.com/ | ||||
6.3 - Contribute to collegial discussions and apply constructive feedback from colleagues to improve professional knowledge and practice.
School PD Framework
The school at which I currently work has recently implemented a PD framework for all staff. We have been provided with mentors to help up identify areas in need of PD and track our progress in addressing those areas.
The school at which I currently work has recently implemented a PD framework for all staff. We have been provided with mentors to help up identify areas in need of PD and track our progress in addressing those areas.
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6.4 - Undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs.
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Professional Development for Early Career Teachers
While professional development is important at all stages of teaching, it is particularly important for early career teachers. At his stage of our career, we are still becoming accustomed to the teaching environment, settling into our teaching styles, and gathering resources and strategies to use in our classrooms. As this time is a very steep learning curve, it is imperative that we maintain the momentum we gain at university and carry it through our continued learning. Continued professional development will also expose early career teachers to strategies and resources they may not have seen at university, and are very valuable. It also allows us to network with other professionals in our area with whom we can exchange ideas, and grow as teachers. To this end, I have registered for an Early Career Teacher conference run by SASTA. This will encompass various workshops on teaching strategies in the Science area, and give me the change to meet other professionals in my teaching area.
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Online Professional Development
There are a number of special needs I have identified in my students as well are areas of my own teaching which require improvement. To this end, I am currently undertaking two online courses. One on positive behaviour strategies for supporting students with anxiety, and one on supporting and managing oppositional and defiant students.
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