NETS Standard 5
Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.
a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning.
This is, perhaps, my favorite part of being involved with instructional technology. I am a part of a global learning community – my personal learning network (PLN). The world is full of excited educators with a desire to learn and share, and it is the connected educator’s job to keep him or herself involved in that process. I write about that idea a lot, but one of my favorite reflections on that topic is here.
As a participant in a global learning community I get more ideas for creative ways to improve student learning than I give, but one of my recent favorite technology applications to improve learning that I have shared is the idea that YouTube videos of popular music can be used to teach skills necessary to prepare students for standardized tests.
b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others.
I try to be an education technology leader by posting both technology integration ideas and technology lesson plans free to the web via my blog. For example, I posted a blog about how to use Prezi as a classroom tool, and have also posted many presentations to the website that are free and customizable to anyone who wishes to use them.
c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning.
While I am a proponent of technology use in the classroom, I think it can be easy to push forward full steam ahead without taking time to pause and reflect on how the professional practice of teaching is being affected by technology implementation. It is important to look back, even as we move forward. One way I like to reflect is to share my thoughts on my professional blog to see what other professionals are thinking on the same issues. I even sometimes focus on my own children in these reflections.
d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community.
I am proud to be a teacher. It is a calling for me, and it is also an extremely difficult job. By sharing positive ideas and thoughts on teaching on my blog I hope I am reaching my community of teachers and increasing their vitality and self-renewal.
Even more than the personal pride I have in being a teacher, I am proud of my students. Not only for their quality academic work, but because I get to see them grow into responsible citizens of our school and community.
