Changes in Practice

Changes in Practice

Mindlab - Week 32

Reflections:

The last activity and I thought it would be the easiest one, but sitting down to try and write this final blog has been a little like the roller-coaster ride I have been on to get myself to this point. It has been a mixture of demanding, intimidating, at times frustrating but always challenging. At times over the last 32 weeks I have felt a little like a hamster on a wheel. If the momentum stopped I would find myself falling off the wheel. Somehow I managed to keep myself going and now here I am at the end? Not really. This is just the beginning and I am really excited about what the future holds. The Mindlab course never failed to continually push me out of my comfort zone. The lectures and group activities in the first 16 weeks provided an opportunity to engage with other professionals, share experiences and ideas and work together on new projects. Early in the course I remember reading a statement by Maxwell (2009) that on reflection sums up the journey we have been on and highlights the journey we are about to embark upon; “It’s not necessarily the experience that is valuable; it’s the insight you get because of it. Reflective thinking turns experience into insights!” As a result of the course I feel I have a deeper level of self-awareness and that I am able to look more critically at my own practice.

Two key changes in my professional practice as a result of my Mindlab journey are: 

Criteria 5. Show leadership that contributes to effective teaching and learning. Professional knowledge in practice.

My school has adopted a democratic style of learning where leadership roles fluctuate depending on individual strengths and skills. My own practice has changed and I have become more collaborative in my approach to all curriculum areas. In the past where I have been reluctant to put myself forward I now take an active part in leadership roles. I understand the benefits of a more distributed form of leadership and am aware that having good communication skills and empathy towards my colleagues means there are times where I naturally step into a leadership role. I know that the Mindlab course has given me the confidence to do this. I have also developed more cultural awareness of my school community and have pushed for better inclusivity within the school.

Criteria 7: Promote a collaborative, inclusive and supportive learning environment.

During the research component of the course I chose to focus on student voice. The literature review I performed indicated that the majority of successful outcomes in the use of student voice within schools were the result of a partnership between teachers and students. As a result of this research I have increased the opportunities in which students have an opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas. I have tried to create opportunities for more choice and as much as possible to engage students by making their learning more personalised. I have become more sensitive to the complications and intricacies of our multicultural society and how my actions might impact on and influence students from Maori and other cultures.

My Future Plans

I think my main goal for the future is continue to develop professionally through reading, questioning, debating and collaborating with others.  I can see that critical reflection is the key to this development. I hope to continue to take an active part in online forums and now that I have more time on my hands to utilise some of the digital tools we have explored through the course.

Maxwell, J. C. (2009). How successful people think: Change your thinking, change your life. Hachette UK

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Ministry of Education (nd). Practising teacher Criteria and e-learning . Retrieved from http://elearning.tki.org.nz/Professional-learning/