Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Professional Learning and Development can have a profound impact on student learning
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 5/8/2020)
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RATIONALE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Professional learning is the key aspects to any good teacher, as a teacher who has not
undertaken any professional learning is not able to teach using research proven affective
pedagogies. The Australian Institute for Teaching and Leadership standards [AISTL]
graduate teachers to meet (Australian Professional Standards for Teachers [AITSL], 2017).
AISTL focuses on professional learning in standard 6 through the focus areas of 6.1, 6.2 and
6.4 these see that graduate teachers’ “identify and plan”, “engage” in professional learning in
order to “apply” and “improve practice” and “student learning” (AITSL,2017). The AITSL
pedagogical practice, and for principals to lead, design and manage quality teaching and
learning’. AISTL standards aim to regulate all leaves of the education system ensuring cohesive
practice holding teachers and leaders accountable for their practice of education, ensuring that
students around Australia are provided with modern education strategies and teachers have
regulations to meet (Australian Professional Standards for Teachers [AITSL], 2019, p.4).
Although AISTL regulates professional learning, teachers begin their professional learning
journey within their degree to become a teacher, this although is only the beginning of
professional learning. Professional learning should be practiced on a regular basis to ensure that
teachers are using relevant and modern teaching pedagogies, this also ensures that the teaching
acknowledged that this can be a challenge due to “issues with accountability, compliance and
Educational research supports the importance of professional learning as quality teaching has a
major effect on student achievement (Darling-Hammond, 2000). Further research also supports
that high calibre professional learning is effective method to enhance teachers practice
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 5/8/2020)
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(Greenwald, Hedges & Laine 1995; Guskey & Huberman 1995; Elmore & Burney 1997;
Hawley & Valli 1999; Elmore 2002 as cited in Department of Education and Training, 2005).
For teachers to create and maintain robust and healthy learning environments for their students,
Education & Training, 2004b as cited in Department of Education and Training, 2005). Just as
educators know that students learn in multiple ways, come from different backgrounds with a
diverse and meet the specific needs of those who are learning. Based on this professional
learning can come in many forms from reading peer-review articles, to attending conferences
opinion that for something to be considered professional learning, a new insight must be
provided that resonates deeply with the individual. For professional learning effects of
professional learning to be seen within the classroom teachers needs to take the new insights
and adjust their practice and pedagogies, it is important to note although a strategy may be
theoretically sounds and valid, does not necessarily mean it will work in practice for a
particular class or teacher this is completely valid. All pedagogies can and should be adaptable
to meet the needs of a particular class. Professional learning can be a challenge as there are
instances where school policies and practices don’t align with modern professional research,
this can be confronting for teacher especially new educators to implement modern practice and
Educators need professional learning to act as agents of change, improving educational practice
for students using established expertise and research (Wood & Bennett, 2000). Professional
learning is also further improved when paired with professional development, this is when the
teacher is also developing “who [they] are and what [they] can do” (Fullan & Hargreaves,
2016, p.3). This means that improvement of practice as a teacher is not isolated with
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 5/8/2020)
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improvement in “knowledge, skills, data and interventions” (Fullan & Hargreaves, 2016, p.3).
Like teachers should take a holistic approach to education so should profession learning and
identity, commitment, resilience, moral/ethical purposes, and willingness and ability to teach to
their best” (Day, n.d as cited in Fullan & Hargreaves, 2016, p.4).Hargreaves (2003) further
supports this view in addition to building character, maturity and virtues noting that this
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 5/8/2020)
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SKILLS/COMPETENCIES NEEDED TO BECOME A HIGH FUNCTIONING TEACHING PRACTITIONER
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 5/8/2020)
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PROPOSED STRATEGIES TO REFINE AND DEVELOP THESE PERSONAL SKILLS
Briefly describe how you will develop the above personal skills
Organisation/Balance your life: To help me in preparing, planning for, and scheduling I will be
getting a personalised diary from Personalised Planner. This Diary allows me to visually see and
plan out my weeks. As it is personalised, I can add list sections into the weekly overviews, this
will allow me to start prioritising what I need to be doing.
https://www.personalplanner.com/AU/
Conflict resolution skills/Articulate issues and problems: To improve my conflict resolutions
skills, I will actively aim to address and raise my concerns as they arise. I will also do some
research into strategies to trial, this will not only improve conflicts in my own life as well as how
to resolve student conflicts. I aim to use positive energy and optimism when addressing conflicts
following Dorothy Walker’s 3 steps to conflict resolution.
See Dorothy Walkers Ted Talk – 3 ways to resolve a conflict
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4xPwhcnS-Q&ab_channel=TEDInstitute
Actively Listening: I don’t want to come across as rude or impolite in any aspect of my life.
Learning to actively listen will improve my communication skills. To assist me in developing this
skill I will follow The University of Adelaide’s guide to active listening. This guide follows 5 steps
“Pay attention, show that you are listening, provide feedback, respond appropriately and defer
judgement” (University of Adelaide, 2014, p.2). I will also try to ensure that I wait until someone
has finished speaking before I start to think about my response, this will prevent me cutting
people off when they are speaking.
https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/sites/default/files/docs/learningguide-
activelistening.pdf
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 5/8/2020)
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Graduate Teacher Professional Learning Action Plan
PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE: Standard 1 and 2
Standard 1: Know students and how they learn
Action you will take and identification of relevant support networks and resources
To develop teaching strategies to that will meet Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander educational
needs I will explore the eight ways of aboriginal learning. The website 8 ways provides possible
resources and information that I can learn and develop from. They also offer a 10-hour registered
aboriginal pedagogy course that I would love to be able to attend to deepen and extend my
knowledge on aboriginal education.
https://www.8ways.online/
To continually develop updated understanding of aboriginal education needs and issues I will also
read relevant articles from the Australian Journal of Indigenous Education.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/australian-journal-of-indigenous-education
Action you will take and identification of relevant support networks and resources
I will become a member of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association, by getting their ‘Student
and retired membership - basic’, I will have access to a large bank of resources, professional
learning events and have journals emailed to me 3 times a year. This is a wealth of information that I
will be able to delve into developing my knowledge and pedagogies in this area further.
https://www.alea.edu.au/
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 20/2/2022) 7
Critical reflection (Professional Knowledge)
As educators’ teachers must be able to draw from a wealth of knowledge, The Professional Knowledge domain
rightfully is the first domain, as graduate teachers need to have the background knowledge to know how and
what to teach. Standard 1 Know students and how they learn, is also rightfully the initial standard. It is well
known that educators should, and learning should begin understanding who the students are, what knowledge,
cultural contexts, experience the students bring with them (Churchill et al., 2019). I have experienced that
starting to write any learning sequences the easiest way to begin is by understanding and having context of who
being taught. This will influence how a unit of work or lesson is structured and taught. The second standard is
also vital as you can know the students but not know the content or how to teach it. During my placements I had
this experience where I had an overview of the students and the educational needs but was asked to teach
phonemic awareness. I was quite unfamiliar with this content and the specific teaching strategies that support
phonemic awareness development. After one lesson of uncertainty and major support from my placement
teacher I went home and researched the program that the school was using to ensure I had the knowledge so I
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 20/2/2022) 8
Action you will take and identification of relevant support networks and resources
Listen to the Continuing Educator podcast season 2 episode 8 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/
on Student Goal Setting. This 59-minute podcast has a focus podcast/student-goal-setting-
on developing student agency over their learning. The podcast with-chase-nordengren-and/
is hosted by Chase Nordengren and Amanda Thornton. id1564089166?i=1000543522052
Nordengren is a senior research scientist at NWEA. The
episode provides tips to help students set better goals, “with
clear learning intentions and plenty of scaffolded support by
teachers, can lead to high learning growth”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Watch interview of John Hattie discussing Learning Intentions v=OGyvDvOegXE
and Success Criteria, their importance. I will also look further https://visible-learning.org/
into Hattie’s research, reading ‘Visible Learning for Teachers” 2013/01/visible-learning-for-
by John Hattie and explore Hattie’s website Visible Learning. teachers-book-review/
https://visible-learning.org/
This video and website is one way I can adopt non-verbal https://www.youtube.com/watch?
communication strategies in the classroom. Michael Grinder is v=YGxN4aiYKMg&ab_channel=Mi
an expert in the field of non-verbal communication. chaelGrinder%26Associates
Educational Nonverbal Yardsticks [ENVoY] program uses
nonverbal communication for behaviour management and https://michaelgrinder.com/
verbal communication for classroom instruction. Grinder’s envoy/
website also has a range of resources that I could develop
strategies from. I have also signed up to Grinder’s mail list so I
receive monthly newsletters about non-verbal communication
tips.
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 20/2/2022) 9
Action you will take and identification of relevant support networks and resources
Be You is a national resource that has multiple modules these are professional learning
opportunities for me to achieve. These modules address how to support young people mental health
and wellbeing, they also provide certification for completion of the modules. In addition to the
modules Be You also provides various resources to support mental health.
https://beyou.edu.au/learn
Be Internet Awesome is an internet safety curriculum and program developed by google to teach
children how to be safe online. Not only are their resources for teaching but also for parents at
home. To increase my understanding of internet safety and what students should know, I will
undertake the student program of ‘Interland’. I will also explore the curriculum to understand what
are the key issues that should be addressed when teaching internet safety.
https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/en_us/
Action you will take and identification of relevant support networks and resources
The AISTL website contains lots of information about effective feedback, by exploring this resource I
will be provided with research led effective feedback strategies. Videos, factsheets, and case
studies can all be found on the website.
https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/improve-practice/feedback
Explore the resources found on the Ministry of Educations Assessment page, this website provides
information on how to progress through all stages of assessment. Including a whole section on
gathering evidence, how to work with, read and analyse data.
https://assessment.tki.org.nz/
that you see the circle of learning, firstly planning for learning, maintain and enacting a safe supportive learning
environment, and finally assessment, feedback and reporting on the learning that has taken place. Most of my
studies at ACU have focused on this domain. Although I personally feel as though I have still not had enough
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 20/2/2022) 10
experience to gain confidence in some of the focus areas. I do understand that this is something that will be
continually developed over my final placement and continually once I’m in the workforce. Interpretation of
student data I feel is an area that I have had the least amount of experience in, although I have conducted
assessment on placements my placement teachers have taken control of accessing the work themselves, and
therefore interpreting the data. This is something I really want to focus on whilst on my next placement, to
increase my confidence.
- ACER
https://soundcloud.com/teacher-acer
- Sue Larkey
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/sue-larkey-podcast/id1437728907?mt=2
Standard 7.
Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community
Action you will take and identification of relevant support networks and resources
I will become familiar with a range of parent teacher communication applications, to increase my
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 20/2/2022) 11
confidence with communication once I’m in the classroom. Some common applications include
classdojo, seesaw, compass etc.
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/documents/school/teachers/health/parentpartnerprodev.pdf
focus on professional learning and engagement with other stakeholders such as colleagues, parents/carers and
the wider community. During my studies this is the area I have had the both the least and most experience. I
have been continually engaged in professional learning throughout my whole degree, my studies themselves is
professional learning. This is because I am and have gained new insights, learning, and adapting my teaching
practice. Professionally engaging with colleagues, I have had much experience with also whilst on placement,
both schools I have attended used group whole year level planning, this meant that I collaborated with other
teachers and subject leaders in developing lessons and units. Engagement with parents is one where I would
love more experience in, due to COVID 19 has meant that I haven’t had much chance to interact with parents,
other than of hand conversations my placement teacher would have with a parent as we watched the school
gates. This is something I would love more of an opportunity to develop as I have been told throughout most of
Updated AT1 Professional Learning Plan March 2020. Elke Gunn ACU FEA Ballarat (adapted by J le Noury 20/2/2022) 12
References
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https://www.aitsl.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/aitsl-strategic-plan.pdf?
sfvrsn=4e30e93c_42
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers [AITSL]. (2017). Graduate Standards. Australian Institute for
Teaching and School Leadership. https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/standards
Bambaeeroo, F., & Shokrpour, N. (2017). The impact of the teachers’ non-verbal communication on success in
teaching. Journal of Advances in Medical Education & Professionalism, 5(2), 51–59.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5346168/
Call, K. (2018). Professional Teaching Standards: A Comparative Analysis of Their History, Implementation
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https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2018v43n3.6
Churchill, R., Godinho, S., Johnson, N. F., Keddie, A., Letts, W., Lowe, K., Mackay, J., Mcgill, M., Moss, J.,
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https://leo.acu.edu.au/pluginfile.php/5245170/mod_resource/content/1/Effective%20Professional
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University of Adelaide. (2014). Active Listening Writing Centre Learning Guide. University of Adelaide.
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https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/sites/default/files/docs/learningguide-activelistening.pdf
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