Activity 5 : Professional Connection Map

Activity 5

Professional Connection Map

Choose two professional connections you have in your map. Evaluate their impact on your practice and professional community.

Connection 1

The first professional connection is my assistant HOD in Mathematics. This person is a true motivator and a great mentor. She has a wealth of knowledge and always thinks creatively and critically. She has used transformational leadership skills to entice me into teaching Growth Mind-set to this year’s year nine students. She offered to team teach Growth Mind-set with my class. 

When not teaching, she mentors us one to one, in the use of ICT related queries and classroom pedagogy. Moreover, she has been working with me in writing some project based learning lessons for my year nine class. At present, we have been looking at different ideas that we could use for the project based learning.

She has read widely and has deep understanding of the digital and collaborative nature of teaching required for the 21^St century learners. I am lucky to collaborate with her in regards to pedagogy and use of digital technologies with her. My professional community of Mathematics, is privileged to have her as our mentor.

Her ability to run meaningful Professional Development has helped us to learn and grow in our own area of specialisation.

Connection 2

 My second professional connections are some Physics teachers whom I met at the Physics day at Auckland University last year.  Since I am, all by myself teaching year 13 Physics, I have to be in touch with some of these people. These are expert teachers in their discipline of teaching Physics and have a great deal of ideas, resources and advice.

One of the teachers was kind enough to share their scheme for year 12 and 13 physics. This helped me to write my own scheme for the department.

I need to collaborate with these physics teachers on a regular basis.  May be once a month. This is not possible, as everyone has to find time to meet on a scheduled place and time. My best option is to email other Physics teachers for help or clarification.

For moderation of my Internal Achievements Standards, I will need the help of a Physics teacher who will be willing to moderate my work.  Some teachers have volunteered to do this for me and this will be a great help.

I, at times, need clarification for certain practical experiments that needs to be done in year 13. Again flicking an email to my professional practice group is the way to resolve the issue.