Standard 9
Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
Critical Disposition
9(o) The teacher understands the expectations of the profession including codes of ethics, professional standards of practice, and relevant law and policy.
In the 8th grade students take the Smarter Balanced Assessment. In 2016, it was the first year that this test would be taken at the Middle School. Prior to that, students had taken the SBAC and HSA. Because the testing was new, I attended team and department meetings to familiarize with the new testing procedures. As proctors of the test, we were given possible scripts and expectations to read over. One of the expectations included facilitating a language arts activity to pair with the language arts performance test. We were also informed that during this facilitation we could not "add" any of the concepts to our lessons, nor expand further during the activities. The activity was to be student driven and teachers were only to read from their script. During the meeting we were also given an online database that could provide us with supplementary lessons and activities that were approved by the same people who created the test. Although we were not required to use any of the lessons or activities provided on the site, it was available for us to use. After the department meeting, my CT and I shared our notes and information with the team. We discussed what testing would mean for our class schedules as well as student objectives. We also provided them with copies of the handouts we were given at the meeting.
Performance
9(b) The teacher engages in meaningful and appropriate professional learning experiences aligned with his/her own needs and the needs of the learners, school, and system.
During my studies in the education field I came across the Smartboard. I had read how it created an interactive and engaging classroom. I have since wanted to use the smart board in my own lessons. When I arrived at Mililani Middle I asked my CT if she used the SmartBoard in her class. She informed me that she was not familiar with it. I also learned that Mililani Middle used the Promethean rather than the SmartBoard. Although it made no difference as I was not familiar with how to use either and neither did my CT.
In January I learned, in a team meeting, that the school was offering professional training. Some of the training available included: google docs, edline and standards-based grading. When I heard they were also offering Promethean 101, I quickly signed up to attend.
The training itself occurred February 12th in room G105. It was conducted by Mr. Marshall Sharpe. Mr. Sharpe guided us through the basics of the Promethean, such as how to turn it on, to check if the basic cables were plugged in (if it did not turn on). He went over how to scroll, use basic templates, and insert different media, shapes, and documents. I plan to take another promethean course again when courses are offered. I want to stay up to date on the new uses of the technology we have available to us. The more I learn, the better I can utilize that technology for my students.