Graduate Attributes

Communication

There are many facets of communication required for an effective teacher. These are reflected in the professional standards and include; reporting constructively on student learning, contributing effectively to professional teams and fostering positive and productive relationships with families and the community.

I have developed sound communications skills throughout my experience at university and school placements. I have enjoyed opportunities to communicate with peers, lecturers, school staff, students and community members.

 

 

 



Problem solving

Marzano & Pickering et al. (2009) states that problem solving is the process of overcoming constraints or limiting conditions that are in the way of pursuing goals. Problems present themselves in two different forms, unstructured and structured problems. Unstructured problems typically have more than one solution, these are often the problems faced within a workplace. Structured problems are those that are found in textbooks, games and puzzles, they have clear goals and solutions.

Educating children requires problem solving every day. Students require lessons to be delivered in align with their learning styles and abilities. I have refined my problem solving skills by adjusting curriculum, assessment and learning sequences for my cohort. There are many areas where issues can arise including planning, availability of resources, staff relationships and behaviour management issues. In order to resolve issues I have assessed the situation, examined each solution for advantages and disadvantages, tested solutions and then evaluated solutions to make improvements. 

Critical thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to look at different solutions objectively and through fact rather than emotionally. Critical thinkers actively look at information, asking questions, and examining the facts, consciously using strategies to examine meaning to assure their understanding. Critical thinkers are open to new ideas and perspectives and are willing to challenge their own believes based on evidence.

Teachers are required to think critically everyday as each decision they make must be based on facts and ethical practice. I have developed my critical thinking skills through higher order thinking by completing university assignments. My time in the classroom has also enabled me to develop critical thinking as I assessed each learning experience and activity with students in order to improve. When evaluating learning experiences it is important to look at the facts, things that were said and done and analyse them in relation to improvements without bias or emotion.

Team work

The ability to work as part of a team is essential for a successful teacher. A teacher is part of a professional learning community alongside other staff members, a classroom team with learners and a support team for learners alongside support staff, parents and community members. A teacher cannot expect to work alone or make decisions alone as the future of students must be considered first and foremost. Working as part of a team includes listening to other’s ideas and sharing the work load. I believe that I have developed this skill well, I have worked with professional teams to organise school and extracurricular events learning experiences for learners.

I have engaged in professional teams to achieve a common goal, developed myself professionally through professional development courses, and engaged in team teaching with peers and mentors I have observed my mentor teacher deliver learning experiences and manage behaviour and worked alongside my mentor to continue behaviour management strategies and develop my own learning experiences and unit plans. I have the ability to evaluate my own strengths and weaknesses and work autonomously or part of a team.

 

Information literacy

Information literacy is the skill of knowing how to learn. This is a skill essential for 21^st Century learners and a skill all teachers should possess and pass onto their learners. Information literate people know how to find and use information to help themselves and others learn.

 

Information literacy is important because in today’s society we are surrounded by an increasing volume of information in various formats. This vast amount of information needs to be accessed, evaluated and manipulated to communicate knowledge, information literacy skills are required to achieve this.

I have become an information literate person through my university courses and classroom experience. These skills have been gained through locating and using information from credible sources to communicate my learning to lecturers through academic writing. This includes evaluating sources critically.

 

Information technology competence

ICT’s are not a means to learning but a tool to assist and enhance learning. Students still need the ability to know how to learn.

Figure 1 Student's research task presented in digital format.

In order to develop my information technology competence skills I have completed a Managing e-learning course with a result of Distinction. http://chelle1979.blogspot.com.au/ My university studies have enhanced my information technology skills through the use of online learning sites such as Moodle and blackboard. Online readings, information, student forums communication with lectures and peers and course outlines have all developed my skills in this area as well as presenting assessment tasks in digital format and the use of social communication sites within university and outside university to work collaboratively with peers. 

I have embedded ICT into learning experiences for specific purposes to enhance and support learning for students including the design and use of wiki’s, web quests and blogs. Interactive white boards have been used throughout many learning experiences. ICT’s can also be used to enable the learner to present their work and research in a professional format through the use of programs such as excel, word, publisher, power point, photo story and others. The ability to use these programs is paramount for learners of the 21^st century as there are so many professions that require these skills. Once again these programs do not replace learning but instead they enhance it. When students can see their work presented in a professional format they can take pride in their achievements. Students still require the teacher to present the knowledge and skills required for students to reach this point.

 

Cross cultural competence

 

Cross cultural competence includes the ability to embed cultural diversity into the curriculum through the use of planning and the C2C. Students come from a range of cultures including students’ who come from a non English speaking background, known as English as a Second Language (ESL) students.

 

University study developed my skills through courses such as managing diversity as I learnt how to cater for the needs of ESL students, students from different cultural backgrounds and to include these students in all learning experiences being sensitive to their cultural beliefs at all times.

In the classroom I view each learner individually and select and manage activities and learning experience that value the cultural diversity of all learners. Through the use of The Art and Science of Teaching teachers know individual needs and ensure students are engaged by holding their attention through a variety of activities.

Ethical practice

“A code of ethics is a statement of a set of principles outlining the way an individual or group should behave in order to uphold the professional values of that group” (Newman & Pollnitz, 2002). The code of ethics (Queensland College of Teachers) ensures that teachers act in a professional, ethical way to ensure decisions are made without personal bias.

When working through dilemmas and decisions it is a good idea for teachers to refer to the code of ethics to ensure ethical decisions lead to ethical practice for all. There are a variety of different tools teachers can use to ensure ethical decisions are made. One tool is the ethical response cycle, this cycle provides a framework on which to base decisions.

 
As a practicum student I have not been required to make any decisions that require an ethical decision, however I have witnessed other professionals engage in decisions where an ethical framework was required to guide decisions.