ISTE-E Standard 2.1: Learner
From the ISTE website (2024):
Educators continually improve their practice by learning from and with others, and exploring proven and promising practices that leverage technology to boost student learning.
2.1.a - Set Professional Goals - Educators set professional learning goals to apply teaching practices made possible by technology, explore promising innovations, and reflect on their effectiveness.
2.1.b - Participate in PLNs - Pursue professional interests by creating and actively participating in local and global learning networks.
2.1.c - Keep Current on Research - Stay current with research that supports improved student learning outcomes, including findings from the learning sciences.
Reflection:
Effective teaching depends upon ongoing learning. We continue to add to our subject-matter knowledge, we brush up on new methods and curricula, and we increase our knowledge of the latest technology that can help us in our profession. Teachers should always seek out professional development (PD) opportunities to stay current with the best practices. The best PD sessions are ones that are hands-on, collaborative, and more than just a single session. Besides the content being covered, these workshops give us a chance to work with each other and just observe another teacher's practices and strategies. Sometimes, the best takeaways from a PD session come from the informal interactions between the participants.
A large part of how I am addressing this standard currently is that I am taking these graduate classes and working towards a Master's Degree in Educational Technology. Each class that I take is essentially a Professional Learning Network (PLN), through the posts and responses on the discussion boards. All of the classes also rely on keeping current on research, such as through the readings and videos assigned by the professors, and the research assignments that we complete.
Featured Artifact:
Click here to view my Tech Leaps goals.
The Tech Leaps screencast summarizes two goals I am working on: Exploring the use of social media to find educational materials and Expanding my knowledge of livestreaming for school events. I am also learning how to use several new curriculum materials this year and learning how to coach a robotics team for the FIRST Lego League competition.
Secondary Artifact:
Another example of learning is that I have attended several ISTE conferences over the years. Here are my notes from the sessions I attended during ISTE Live 2023 in Philadelphia.
Sources:
Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E., Gardner, M. (2017). Effective Teacher Professional Development. Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute.
International Society for Technology in Education. (2024). ISTE standards: For educators. https://iste.org/standards/educators