Foundations of Professional Practice

The Ontario College of Teachers has outlined the principles of ethical behaviour, professional practice and ongoing learning for the teaching profession in Ontario. The 'Foundations of Professional Practice' document can be found here.

Ethical Standards

• Care
  • Educators should always express their commitment to students well-being and developing students’ potential
  • Educators should always take care in including their students interests and insights when developing lessons and assessments.
  • Students will be able to use their own interests and abilities for the STSE unit task
  • Incorporating checks for understanding & formative assessment shows commitment to developing students’ potential. For example: exit slips, questioning, myth vs. reality statements

Figure B.36: Ethical Standards

Standards of Practice

• Commitment to Students and Student Learning
  • Educators should be aware of individual student learning
  • Lessons are taught using various strategies so that students with various learning styles will benefit.
  • Such strategies include: PowerPoint, Prezi, orally, videos, simulations, online tutorials, collaborative group work, activities, laboratory work
• Leadership in Learning Communities
  • Educators should provide students with opportunities to work in collaborative groups.
  • Educators can create homogeneous or heterogeneous groups in order for students to support one another and create a safe learning community.
  • Collaborative learning can be done using the Zodiac Periodic Table activity, various laboratory investigations and the STSE unit task

Figure B.37: Standards of Practice

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