Effective Teaching Practices: Insights from an Experienced Australian Secondary School Teacher

Introduction

The essential aspect of teacher professional development is the pursuit of a learning experience that will lead to student engagement, learning, and holistic development. The paper aims to draw on research-based ideas concerning effective teaching which are multifaceted. As a result, the paper explores the insights and experiences of a good Australian secondary school teacher. The interviewee (Anonymous) who has been in this field for over a decade, provides the most valuable insights when it comes to teaching English, History, and Social Sciences. The interview included a range of topics related to effective classroom practice, including planning, communication, ethics, legal issues, and responsible use of technology. This discourse aims to highlight the critical role that instructors play in the learning process and to illustrate the complexity and nuance that go into building a learning environment that supports the growth and development of learners. We want to discover more about the methods, difficulties, and accomplishments that shaped the career of a remarkable educator who is committed to teaching and learning throughout the interview. We utilize this field to distill the pertinent information and suggestions that affect educators, legislators, and other stakeholders engaged in enhancing the caliber and equality of secondary education in Australia.

Communication

Efficient communication plays a significant role in educational settings, it serves as the heart of the classroom that enables more interaction, understanding and teamwork. Research consistently points to strong communication as the cornerstone of effective teachers' relationships with their students, including the engagement of students, and learning outcomes. Successful teachers apply a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication techniques to transfer information, explain concepts, and give feedback that is adapted to the students' needs and abilities (Kivunja, 2015). Furthermore, they help create a welcoming and trustworthy classroom environment where everyone speaks their mind and feels respect from their classmates thus building a sense of belonging and bestowing trust upon each other (Archer & Hughes, 2011; Kivunja, 2015). In the interview, the teacher revealed that communication is the most vital part of relationship-building with students and their beneficial learning environment. They stressed the importance of active listening skills like paraphrasing and clarifying to students so they can feel heard and understood. Along with that, they focused on different forms of communication, such as oral instructions, visual aids, and digital channels which then is designed to cater to varying learning styles and promote better retention. This commitment to effective communication resonates strongly with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) Standard 3: Organize the Strategic and Effective Instruction and Learning Specifically, Standard 3. 5 highlights the significance of using appropriate communication techniques to aid students' comprehension and engagement (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, 2017). By ensuring focused and meaningful communication between the teacher and the student, the teacher indicates the ability to provide a learning atmosphere that is supportive and inclusive, permitting students to attain their maximum levels of achievement.

Planning

The planning is the base of teaching practice, it is the road map that helps to deliver purposeful and engaging instruction which also meets the needs of the students who are different in their learning styles. Some authors have highlighted the critical role of detailed preparation that is needed to give a sense of flow, linkages, and meaning to the experiences students gain (Killen & OToole, 2022). Excellent teachers can make interactive curriculum materials, explaining what students are supposed to learn and how assessment tasks will be connected to instructional strategies thus making learning a process of student progression from difficulty to ease. Besides, they highlight the flexibility and versatility in their planning, which is up to date with the assessment data and student feedback, then they modify their lessons according to the emerging needs and they promote a deeper understanding (Marsh et al., 2014). While talking during the session, the teacher highlighted the role of planning righteously for getting the best learning outcomes for students. This part involved the backward planning strategy, by first identifying the learning aims and then matching the resources and assessment instruments to facilitate students realization of the learning goals (Gibbs, 2022). Besides, the instructor talked about the significance of differentiation in the planning of lessons, by taking into account the different needs and learning styles of students in their class. By making use of different educational techniques and supplies as the main approach, they maximise the probability that all students get appropriate and sufficient access to the curriculum and opportunities for success. Effective planning aligns closely with AITSL Standard 3: Elaborate on and Carry out Efficient Lesson Plans and Instruction, Standard 3. 2 is the specific part that emphasizes the significance of planning and implementing well-structured learning and teaching programs that are student-centered and encourage learning (AITSL, 2017). Therefore, educators should be able to demonstrate their ability to design effective and specialised teaching strategies as part of their professional duty and to ensure that students can learn well and perform better.

Understanding of Ethical and Legal Responsibilities

A deep knowledge of ethical and legal requirements is a must for effective teaching practice as educators should always follow professional standards and create a safe and inclusive learning environment. Good teachers should show that they are highly informed on moral codes and legal rules relating to the profession, being concerned with confidentiality, duty of care and compliance (Marsh et al., 2014; Churchill, 2018). They value and promote students' welfare and privacy, as well as ensure that their integrity and confidentiality are respected between them. Also, good teachers include ethical factors in their decision-making process, thus, they make sure that their actions are in line with ethical standards and benefit the students and the bigger school community (Marsh et al., 2014). In the interview, the teacher is ready to talk about the ethical aspect of the future practice and give the first priority to the welfare of students above their own. The process was centred on keeping confidentiality while handling private information about students and families as well as seeking consent and consulting relevant stakeholders before committing actions that could influence either student learning or well-being. Moreover, the teacher stressed their determination to be an example of ethical behaviour and to create a culture of respect and integrity in the classroom. A thorough understanding of ethical and legal requirements aligns with AITSL Standard 7: Strike professional relationships with your colleagues, parents/carers, and the community (AITSL, 2017). Standard 7. 1 underlines the need to uphold high ethical standards and conduct in all behaviour. Through maintaining ethical principles and legal obligations, teachers fulfil their professional responsibilities to create a safe and supportive learning environment that enables students to be healthy and to grow.

Administrative Duties

The administrative functions and duties are crucial tasks that teachers have to oversee in order to have focus and efficiency in the classroom and also be able to improve administrative tasks. Professional and effective teachers are highly proficient at performing the tasks of record-keeping, reporting and attending meetings to then effectively utilize their time and resources that are necessary for supporting students learning (Howell, 2014). They give importance to the tasks according to the impact they have on teaching and students' outcomes, using organizational techniques to simplify their work and meet deadlines. In addition, great teachers take into consideration the aspect of working with their colleagues and school administration, in order to design their teaching based on the provisions of the school and to achieve it as the top priority (Stronge, 2018). During the interview, the teacher explained to me how they dialogue with administration obligations while carrying out their teaching roles. They stressed the need for prioritization and time management, for instance, by a-listening specific times during the week for tasks like grading, lesson planning, or attending meetings. Additionally, the instructor emphasised building cohesion among staff thus, providing them with an opportunity to learn from each other and share resources for supporting each other well. Proficiency in managing administrative duties aligns with AITSL Standard 6: Get involved with Learning Sessions by passing them through (AITSL, 2017). Standard 6. 2 stresses the need for professional exchange and constant learning for the sake of improving teaching practice and student results (AITSL, 2017). Effective administration and teamwork are proofs of their dedication to enhancement in education for they endlessly strive for a kind education that lifts the students.

Appropriate Use of Technology

Integration of technology into teaching practice should be done in such a way that teachers can use it in a manner that is safe, responsible and ethical which helps learning by students. Research evidences the fact that technology in education offers an array of opportunities to improve engagement, collaboration, and personalized learning experiences at large (Hill et al., 2018). The best teachers use technology to vary the teaching methods, make the resources available to all students, and create interactive and student-centred learning activities. Also, they promote digital citizenship training enabling students to possess the abilities and knowledge to navigate online environments responsibly, safely, and ethically (Wong, 2020). In the interview, the teacher spoke about their strategy to utilize technology in the teaching process while maintaining ethical and safe use by students. They stressed the role of modelling digital citizenship behaviours and creating clear rules for the use of technology in the classroom. Also, the instructor brought up how digital tools can be used to differentiate instruction and provide individual learning experiences for students who have different learning needs and favour specific learning styles (Ahadi et al., 2021). Through the combination of technology as a tool and purpose, the teacher will improve student engagement while helping the students of the digital age develop the digital literacy necessary for success. Effective integration of technology aligns with AITSL Standard 2: Know the Content and How to Teach It. Standard 2. 6 highlights the fact that one must choose and use the digital tools and resources that facilitate the student's engagement and learning (AITSL, 2017). By showcasing competence in the use of technology in the teaching process, teachers comply with their professions responsibilities to offer students high-quality teaching which has the capability of meeting the ever-increasing demands of the learners and making them ready for the future technological world.

Element 2

Communication

• While the incorporation of the interactive learning approach was slightly different from what I am familiar with as the best practice, the alignment with active listening and creating a harmonious classroom atmosphere reminded me of what I have been trained to believe is the best practice.
• My emerging teaching philosophy reiterates the significance of verbal and non-verbal communication, among others, for the development of an inclusive, participatory learning environment where all students are respected and valued (Efimova et al., 2021).

Planning

• The discussion did not delve into differentiation in planning, as the interviewee had anticipated. Having said that, alignment was clear considering the focus on slag reuse and flexibility.
• The discussion highlights the need for thorough planning which helps to be different in many ways and thus serves different students adequately. It highlights the necessity of flexibility as regards devising lessons from the data of the said ongoing assessments and the students' feedback and likewise, it should be ensured to provide meaningful learning experiences for all the students (Efimova et al., 2021).

Understanding of Ethical and Legal Responsibilities

• The interviewee spoke of responsibilities as a general way of decision-making on complex ethical problems (conflicts of interest, impartiality etc.). But conformity can be seen in the fact that both of them concentrated on confidentiality and they both also believed in safeguarding students' welfare.

Establishing proactivity in considering ethical considerations at different stages of instruction is a priority of my emerging teaching philosophy, and it includes decisions, research, classroom dynamics, student-teacher, teacher-colleague, and teacher-stakeholder interactions (Robinson et al., 2018). This conveys the fact that how maintaining professional integrity and transparency helps deal with ethical conflicts and builds the integrity of all parties affected.

Administrative Duties

• The interviewee explored no point about how technology could be used to automate administrative tasks, a process which is following the best practices. On the other hand, the congruence in their approach was revealed in the prioritization of some issues over others and teamwork with co-workers.
• My new philosophy stresses the functionality of technology, like digital calendars and e-mail services, to do more jobs with less time. By emphasizing the use of technology as tools to auto-stream workflows, time management and ease of collaboration among educators, the focus swings to actual teaching and care for students (Efimova et al., 2021).

Appropriate Use of Technology

• The interviewee did not pinpoint the issue of students input and contribution in devising technology integration strategies, which generally follow the recommendation of best practices. Nevertheless, such a pattern was observed as they recommend digital citizenship values and offer differentiated learning based on technology.

• Empowering students with technology integration through a process that emphasizes their collaborative ability, creates a situation of being owners and responsible for the digital learning experience (Mhlanga, 2023). It signals the importance of students input into the discussions regarding the technology usage and thus their opinions will be taken into account during the learning process (Adams et al., 2023).

Plan for Development

Communication

I will be pursuing my communication skills further by attending workshops or courses instructing strategies for communication in the educational environment. Besides that, my journey continues with obtaining feedback from my peers and sharpening my skills in verbal and nonverbal communication through classroom observation.

Planning

One of my main objectives is to hone my planning skills through participation in seminars on curriculum making and the writing of lesson plans. Furthermore, I would coordinate with my peers to put planning strategies along with resources and also enquire for the same and take theirs to make my plan coherent and result-oriented.

Understanding Ethical and Legal Responsibilities

I will attend seminars or online conferences on the code of ethics and legal obligations of a learning facilitator. Reviewing the same relevant legislation and the professional codes of conduct will be routinely accomplished. Similarly, a series of interactions with these experienced members and a continuous reflection will enable me to become more skilful in ethical decision-making.

Administrative Duties

I will make use of the available online resources for operation management and organizational skill modules to improve my proficiency. I will be striving for an apprenticeship under veteran teachers to acquire administrative acumen. The periodic assessment of my administrative procedures as a learning tool is an integral part of the progress to come.

Appropriate Use of Technology

I will sign up for either an e-learning course or a workshop to ensure I am conversant with appropriate technology use, digital citizenship, and how I can introduce technology responsibly in the education sector. In addition, I plan to understand educational tech blogs and other resources so that I am abreast of the latest technology-based tools and methods.

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