Summary:

• What does this standard mean?
• What does meeting this standard look like?
• What evidence can I collect to show that I’m meeting this standard?

The first of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers is to Know Students and How They Learn. This is the foundation of teaching practice in Australia and the first thing that teachers are expected to be able to do. This standard flows on into every other standard and will inform everything that you do as a teacher.

See more: Australian Professional Standards for Teachers Terminology Explained

What does this standard mean?

Knowing students and how they learn has two major components: knowing students in general and knowing your specific students as individuals. This standard is split into six descriptors:

• Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students.
• Understand how students learn.
• Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Strategies for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
• Differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities.
• Strategies to support full participation of students with disability.

These descriptors are designed to ensure that teachers have the skills and knowledge to teach any student who enters their classroom.

What does meeting this standard look like?

This standard is in the Professional Knowledge domain and is all about having the skills and knowledge to teach a wide range of students. If a teacher is reaching the higher levels of this standard, they will be able to easily cater for any and every student in their classroom through well-structured programs, as well as through improvisation on the fly.

The descriptors for this standard cover the breadth of students in Australian classrooms. This includes different ability levels, first languages, cultures and backgrounds. This standard requires teachers to ensure that they stay up-to-date with current research about learning differences and disabilities as well as general inclusion strategies. They need to make sure that they are familiar with the cultural and religious demographics of the students at their school and know the best strategies to engage with students and their families. They will also need to make sure that they are up-to-date with relevant policies, guidelines, and legal requirements around inclusion in their classrooms.

What evidence can I collect to show that I’m meeting this standard?

At the Graduate level, most of these descriptors require teachers to be able to articulate their understanding of each of these different demographics of students. At the higher levels, teachers will be required to show that they are including their understanding in their plans and programs to inform their practice. At the highest levels, teachers will need to show that they are working with colleagues to implement more systemic change based on their understanding.

Evidence for this standard will come from:

• What professional development you have done on differentiating for different students. Evidence includes certificates, but especially your own notes on your learning and how you can apply the learning to benefit your students.
• Unit and lesson plans that have considerations for students of different backgrounds and ability levels.
• Assessment tasks that cater to different entry points and provide meaningful extension opportunities.
• Notes from lesson observations demonstrating your ability to cater to the range of students in your class.

See more: Lesson Observations – Common Questions and Concerns for Teachers

Learn more about the other Australian Professional Standards for Teachers:

1. Know students and how they learn.
2. Know the content and how to teach it.
3. Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning.
4. Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments.
5. Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning.
6. Engage in professional learning.
7. Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community.