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Professor John MacBeath and Professor Stephen Dinham

The Foundations of Teaching for Learning programme is for anyone who is teaching, or who would like to teach, in any subject and any context - be it at school, at home or in the workplace. With dynamic lessons taught by established and respected professionals from across the Commonwealth, this eight course programme will see you develop and strengthen your skills in teaching, professionalism, assessment, and more. As you carry on through the programme, you will find yourself strengthening not only your skills, but your connection with colleagues across the globe. A professional development opportunity not to be missed.

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The Foundations of Teaching for Learning programme is for anyone who is teaching, or who would like to teach, in any subject and any context - be it at school, at home or in the workplace. With dynamic lessons taught by established and respected professionals from across the Commonwealth, this eight course programme will see you develop and strengthen your skills in teaching, professionalism, assessment, and more. As you carry on through the programme, you will find yourself strengthening not only your skills, but your connection with colleagues across the globe. A professional development opportunity not to be missed.

This course will emphasise what you can do to act professionally. This includes developing your own philosophy of teaching and making sure that you continue to improve your knowledge and skills. It also considers what it means to be part of a community of professionals, working with others to improve what happens in your school, community and profession.

Enhance your course by joining the Commonwealth teaching community on our website, Facebook and Twitter.

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What's inside

Syllabus

What it means to be a professional
This week we will consider what it means to be a teaching professional. We will ask you to think about your own beliefs about teaching and education in light of the expectations that society has for teachers. We will also reflect on the importance of the teacher and the school to the achievement and development of each child. At the end of this week you will have engaged in a personal reflective process to assist you to think about teaching, what is expected of teachers, and what teaching entails. This is something that we will continue to examine and develop in the remaining parts of the course.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Developers professional skills including ethics, codes of conduct, legal responsibilities, and ongoing professional development
Focuses on teaching as a profession, emphasizing ethics, codes of conduct, and professional development
Develops strategies for working with others to improve teaching and learning
Suitable for individuals new to teaching or seeking to enhance their skills without an undergraduate degree in education or extensive professional experience
Provides a strong foundation for teaching in any subject or context
Conducts lessons in a dynamic manner using professionals from across the Commonwealth

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Reviews summary

Foundations of teaching professionalism

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation (positive) in professional teaching. Students can expect to explore personal teaching beliefs (positive), gain detailed understanding of ethics, standards, and legal responsibilities (positive), and learn about the importance of being part of a professional learning community (positive) and engaging in continuing development (positive). The content is designed to help teachers understand what it means to act professionally and work effectively with colleagues. While specific student feedback is unavailable in the provided data, the syllabus suggests a comprehensive look at core professional aspects.
Focuses on future growth.
"Encouraged reflection and self-assessment for ongoing improvement."
"Helped me think strategically about future professional goals."
"Provided guidance on creating a personal professional development plan."
Guides development of teaching views.
"Helped me begin to articulate my personal teaching philosophy more clearly."
"Emphasized the importance of using evidence-based practice in the classroom."
"Gave perspective on teaching's impact on students and associated challenges."
Encourages deep personal thought.
"I found myself reflecting deeply on my teaching beliefs during this section."
"It helped me consider what is expected of teachers in the current environment."
"Assisted me in thinking about teaching as a complex and vital profession."
Explores value of collaboration.
"The insight into professional learning communities was very valuable."
"Underlined the benefits of collaborative learning forms among teachers."
"Discussed effective leadership approaches in teacher development."
Covers professional conduct in detail.
"The detailed look at professional ethics and standards was very informative."
"Helped me understand codes of conduct and appraisal processes better."
"Provided a useful framework for evaluating my own professional behavior."
Addresses important legal aspects.
"Understanding duty of care and its implications was crucial knowledge."
"Clarified the rights and responsibilities of students, parents, and teachers."
"Gave helpful insight into relevant statute, judge-made, and case law."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Being a Professional with these activities:
Join an online discussion group for teachers
Participating in an online discussion group will expose you to diverse perspectives on teaching, helping you to develop your own philosophy of teaching and further your understanding of ethics in education.
Show steps
  • Research different online discussion groups for teachers.
  • Join a discussion group that interests you.
  • Participate in discussions and share your own insights.
Create a blog post detailing the ethical considerations of teaching
Writing a blog post on the ethical considerations of teaching will allow you to apply your knowledge of the ethical responsibilities expected of you as a teacher. This will help you retain the course content more effectively.
Show steps
  • Identify the ethical principles that apply to teaching.
  • Research different ethical issues that teachers may face.
  • Develop your own perspectives on the ethical issues you have identified.
  • Write a blog post that presents your research and perspectives on the ethical considerations of teaching.
Read "The Reflective Teacher" by Donald Schon
This book provides valuable insights into the process of reflective teaching, which can help you develop your own philosophy of teaching and improve your practice.
Show steps
  • Read the book.
  • Reflect on the book's key concepts.
  • Apply the book's concepts to your own teaching.
Two other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all five activities
Contribute to an open-source project related to education
Contributing to an open-source project related to education will allow you to apply your knowledge and skills while also making a valuable contribution to the community.
Show steps
  • Find an open-source project related to education that interests you.
  • Learn more about the project and its goals.
  • Identify a way that you can contribute to the project.
  • Make a contribution to the project.
Mentor a new teacher
Mentoring a new teacher will provide you with an opportunity to share your knowledge and experience while also reflecting on your own teaching practice.
Show steps
  • Find a new teacher who is interested in being mentored.
  • Develop a mentoring plan together.
  • Meet with your mentee regularly to provide support and guidance.

Career center

Learners who complete Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Being a Professional will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Teacher
Teachers provide instruction in a variety of academic subjects to students in a school setting. Based on the information provided, the course will help prepare you for this role by emphasizing what you can do to act professionally. This includes developing your own teaching philosophy and making sure that you continue to improve your knowledge and skills. It also considers what it means to be part of a community of professionals, working with others to improve what happens in your school, community and profession.
Education Administrator
Education administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of schools and other educational institutions.
School Counselor
School counselors provide guidance and support to students in a school setting. This includes helping students with academic, career, and personal/social development.
Curriculum Developer
Curriculum developers create and evaluate instructional materials and resources.
Instructional Designer
Instructional designers create and develop educational materials and experiences.
Education Researcher
Education researchers conduct research on educational topics, such as teaching methods, curriculum, and student learning.
Policy Analyst
Policy analysts research and analyze public policy issues.
Nonprofit Manager
Nonprofit managers oversee the operations of nonprofit organizations.
Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers oversee the human resources functions of an organization.
Training and Development Manager
Training and development managers oversee the training and development programs of an organization.
Educational Consultant
Educational consultants provide guidance and support to schools and other educational institutions.
Corporate Trainer
Corporate trainers develop and deliver training programs for employees of a company.
Museum Educator
Museum educators develop and deliver educational programs for museum visitors.
Librarian
Librarians provide access to and support for information resources in a variety of settings.
Archivist
Archivists preserve and provide access to historical records and documents.

Reading list

We've selected 14 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Being a Professional.
Classic work on the art of teaching. It provides insights into the nature of teaching and learning, and offers practical advice on how to be an effective teacher. The book is written in a clear and engaging style and valuable resource for all teachers.
Practical guide to becoming a reflective teacher. It helps teachers to develop their skills in self-assessment, goal-setting, and professional development. The book is written in a clear and concise style and is packed with practical tips and advice.
Challenges the traditional view of teaching and learning. It argues that teaching should be a subversive activity that helps students to question the status quo and to develop their own critical thinking skills. The book is written in a provocative and engaging style and valuable resource for all teachers who are interested in challenging the traditional view of education.
Provides a practical guide to teaching for understanding. It helps teachers to develop their skills in planning, instruction, and assessment. The book is written in a clear and concise style and is packed with practical tips and advice.
Explores the concept of reflective practice. It helps teachers to develop their skills in reflecting on their experiences and to improve their practice. The book is written in a clear and engaging style and valuable resource for all teachers.
Provides a practical guide to teaching reading. It helps teachers to develop their skills in teaching phonics, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. The book is written in a clear and concise style and is packed with practical tips and advice.
Provides a practical guide to teaching mathematics. It helps teachers to develop their skills in planning, instruction, and assessment. The book is written in a clear and concise style and is packed with practical tips and advice.
Provides a practical guide to teaching social studies. It helps teachers to develop their skills in planning, instruction, and assessment. The book is written in a clear and concise style and is packed with practical tips and advice.
Provides a practical guide to the skills of teaching. It helps teachers to develop their skills in communication, classroom management, and assessment. The book is written in a clear and concise style and is packed with practical tips and advice.
Provides a practical guide to culturally responsive teaching. It helps teachers to create inclusive and equitable learning environments for all students. The book is written in a clear and concise style and is packed with practical tips and advice.
Provides a unique perspective on the art of teaching and learning. It shows how LEGO bricks can be used to create engaging and educational experiences for students of all ages. The book is written in a clear and engaging style and valuable resource for all teachers who are interested in using LEGO bricks in the classroom.
Provides a practical guide to using LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0. It helps teachers to develop their skills in building, programming, and troubleshooting LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 robots. The book is written in a clear and concise style and is packed with practical tips and advice.

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