7.1 Meet professional ethics and responsibilities
Understand and apply the key principles described in codes of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession
As a teacher entering the profession, I am fully aware of and understand the key principles described in the code of ethics and conduct in the teaching profession. The DECD Code of ethics for South Australia state that teachers must adhere to certain ethical standards. These standards obtained from the DECD website include a focus on; Professional and Courteous Behaviour, Acceptance of Gifts, Public Comments, The use of Government and Public Resources, Conflicts of Interest and Outside Employment. It is important that in our role of teachers that we adhere to these ethics as our actions reflect the image of the school and the government within the local community.
References
DECD SA. (2014). Code of Ethics retrieved 5th July 2017 from https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/sites/g/files/net691/f/exploring-ethics-series.pdf?v=1465437879
References
DECD SA. (2014). Code of Ethics retrieved 5th July 2017 from https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/sites/g/files/net691/f/exploring-ethics-series.pdf?v=1465437879
7.2 Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements
Understand the relevant legislative, administrative and organisational policies and processes required for teachers according to school stage
As a Teacher in South Australia it is mandatory by law to first complete a 'Responding to Abuse and Neglect' training course, then complete a renewal every 3 years. In our role as a teacher, we see the state of a child's welfare daily. It is legislation that as a teacher we look to protect the interests of the children at school, by reporting to the Department of Child Protection any student who presents at school or says something to suggest that their safety and welfare is potentially at risk. 'A mandated notifier is required by law to notify the Department for Child Protection if they suspect on reasonable grounds that a child has been or is being abused or neglected.' (Department of Child Protection, 2017). All teachers in South Australia must hold a current first aid certificate (Fig.1) as well as a mandatory Child Related Screening.
As a prospective teacher at university, it was a requirement for me to adhere to the policies of the university when it comes to placement (fig.2) along with being aware and understanding the policies of my placement school and DECD in relation to the duty of care of students. Many schools have their own procedures that would need to be followed.
References
Department of Child Protection (2017) Retrieved 6th July, 2017, From https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/reporting-child-abuse/mandated-notifiers-and-their-role
Department of Education and Child Development (2017) Retrieved 6th July, 2017, From https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/working-decd/working-teacher/teacher-employment-requirements-and-registration
As a prospective teacher at university, it was a requirement for me to adhere to the policies of the university when it comes to placement (fig.2) along with being aware and understanding the policies of my placement school and DECD in relation to the duty of care of students. Many schools have their own procedures that would need to be followed.
References
Department of Child Protection (2017) Retrieved 6th July, 2017, From https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/reporting-child-abuse/mandated-notifiers-and-their-role
Department of Education and Child Development (2017) Retrieved 6th July, 2017, From https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/working-decd/working-teacher/teacher-employment-requirements-and-registration
7.3 Engage with the parents/carers
Understand strategies for working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers
Parents and Caregivers
It is important for parent's and caregivers to have an active role in their child's education. Inclusive strategies that help foster and maintain teacher-parent/caregiver relationships include; having an open class that is inviting and accepting to parents/caregivers. This may include having open mornings or invitations to special events or invitations to excursions. Keeping parent's and caregivers constantly informed on their child's learning progress via informal and formal meetings along with student mid and end of year reports is crucial to maintain good relationships. Involving parent's and caregivers in the education process can also include sending readers home, or encouraging families to assist with homework . It is also important to provide parent's and caregivers with constant communication of wider school events and programs via class & school newsletters. It may also include adapting communication strategies to involve new technology such as using the Skoolbag app. 'This School Mobile App provides schools with an easy way to tell parents and carers everything they need to know about school news, newsletters, events calendar, cancellations, school notices, school information, school timetables, parent sick note forms and school documents.' (skoolbag.com.au)
It is important for parent's and caregivers to have an active role in their child's education. Inclusive strategies that help foster and maintain teacher-parent/caregiver relationships include; having an open class that is inviting and accepting to parents/caregivers. This may include having open mornings or invitations to special events or invitations to excursions. Keeping parent's and caregivers constantly informed on their child's learning progress via informal and formal meetings along with student mid and end of year reports is crucial to maintain good relationships. Involving parent's and caregivers in the education process can also include sending readers home, or encouraging families to assist with homework . It is also important to provide parent's and caregivers with constant communication of wider school events and programs via class & school newsletters. It may also include adapting communication strategies to involve new technology such as using the Skoolbag app. 'This School Mobile App provides schools with an easy way to tell parents and carers everything they need to know about school news, newsletters, events calendar, cancellations, school notices, school information, school timetables, parent sick note forms and school documents.' (skoolbag.com.au)
7.4 Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities
Understand the role of external professionals and community representatives in broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice.
Teachers need to continue to broaden their professional knowledge to continue to increase their skills and further the quality of the education process for both schools and the students. As part of my final placement, I undertook partnership training at another school to discuss the benefits of using ORIGOSlate Thinking Caps which is a mathematical 'critical thinking' program that can be introduced into the classroom. This session was designed for teachers who attended to then go back to their school and discuss it with their peers. It was very enlightening and I can see how consistent and regular training sessions collaborating with peers from other schools would allow all teachers to continually grow.
During my final placement, a partnership school liaison conducted a training session on strategies to maintain a portfolio to help assist with the assessment and moderation process as well as examining the achievement standards for mathematics across all grades. The focus for the training was also transforming potentially mundane tasks into rich learning opportunities. Fig.1 and Fig.2 below are sheets from this day.
Overall, I believe it is important to have continued external training and collaboration with peers and community representatives to help broaden my professional pedagogical knowledge and provide awareness to available resources.
During my final placement, a partnership school liaison conducted a training session on strategies to maintain a portfolio to help assist with the assessment and moderation process as well as examining the achievement standards for mathematics across all grades. The focus for the training was also transforming potentially mundane tasks into rich learning opportunities. Fig.1 and Fig.2 below are sheets from this day.
Overall, I believe it is important to have continued external training and collaboration with peers and community representatives to help broaden my professional pedagogical knowledge and provide awareness to available resources.