What does this descriptor look like at different levels?
Engage in professional learning and improve practice is the second descriptor of the sixth standard of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
See more: Australian Professional Standards for Teachers Terminology Explained
Graduate
What does it look like?
At the Graduate level, teachers are expected to develop foundational skills in engaging in professional learning and actively seeking opportunities to improve their teaching practice.
As a Graduate teacher, you understand the importance of continuous professional development to enhance your teaching skills. Your focus should be on actively seeking out learning opportunities, such as workshops, seminars, webinars, or courses, to deepen your understanding of effective teaching strategies. While you may have limited teaching experience, you must demonstrate your commitment to ongoing learning and improving your practice.
What evidence can I collect?
To provide evidence for this descriptor, you can showcase:
- Participation in professional development activities: Document your attendance and engagement in various professional learning opportunities.
- Reflections on learning experiences: Write reflective notes on what you have learned and how you plan to apply it in your teaching practice.
- Professional growth goals: Develop goals related to improving specific aspects of your teaching practice and outline the steps you will take to achieve them.
See more: 7 Ways to Build a Strong Relationship with Your Mentor Teacher on your Teaching Placement.
Proficient
What does it look like?
At the Proficient level, teachers are expected to actively engage in professional learning and consistently apply new knowledge and skills to improve their teaching practice.
As a Proficient teacher, you have developed the ability to apply the knowledge and skills gained from professional learning to enhance your teaching practice. You demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement by integrating new approaches and strategies into your lessons and assessments.
What evidence can I collect?
To demonstrate proficiency in engaging in professional learning and improving practice, you can present evidence such as:
- Evidence of application: Provide examples of how you have applied concepts or strategies learned in professional development sessions to your teaching practice.
- Student outcomes: Present data or evidence showing how your professional learning efforts have positively impacted student learning and achievement.
- Peer feedback: Include feedback from colleagues or mentors on how your professional learning efforts have influenced your teaching practice.
See more: Student Work as Evidence – How Teachers can Delve Deeper.
Highly Accomplished
What does it look like?
At the Highly Accomplished level, teachers are expected to lead and drive a whole-school approach to professional learning, collaborating with colleagues to improve teaching practices collectively.
As a Highly Accomplished teacher, you go beyond individual professional development to lead efforts in creating a school-wide culture of continuous improvement. You actively collaborate with colleagues to share your knowledge and expertise, contributing to the growth and development of the entire school community.
What evidence can I collect?
To showcase your highly accomplished level of engaging in professional learning and improving practice, consider the following evidence:
- Professional development leadership: Provide documentation of your involvement in leading professional development workshops or initiatives for colleagues.
- Collaborative projects: Showcase initiatives or projects where you worked with colleagues to improve teaching practices across the school.
- Evidence of mentoring: Demonstrate how you have mentored or supported other teachers in their professional learning journey.
See more: Is it Worth Becoming a Highly Accomplished Teacher?
Lead
What does it look like?
At the Lead level, teachers are expected to drive systemic approaches to professional learning, collaborating with school leaders to ensure comprehensive and targeted professional development opportunities.
As a Lead Teacher, your focus is on systemic change and creating a cohesive approach to professional learning that involves all stakeholders. You actively collaborate with school leaders and colleagues to develop comprehensive professional development frameworks that align with educational goals and support teacher excellence.
What evidence can I collect?
To demonstrate your leadership in engaging in professional learning and improving practice, gather the following evidence:
- School-wide professional development policy: Provide documentation of your contributions to the development and implementation of a school-wide professional development policy or framework.
- Collaborative partnerships: Showcase instances where you collaborated with school leaders and colleagues to ensure comprehensive and targeted professional development opportunities for all staff.
- Impact assessment: Present evidence of how your efforts have positively influenced teacher learning outcomes and contributed to a culture of continuous improvement through effective professional development.
