My Professional Connections Map
Evaluation of impact two professional connections have had on my practice and professional community.
1. Within the School Connection is the Principal. She is a young and reasonably new principal of a very small school. By having a close working relationship with her, she has given me more responsibility and allowed me to be a part of different runnings of the school. She sees my potential and constantly phrases me on the job I am doing and is helping me to development into a school leader. Her style of leadership is both Distributed and Situational as with the trust she now has, she distributes responsibility out depending on the situation. Because of how she leads, I feel like a valued member of the school. The principal has direct connections with a number of the Connections Beyond School. Eventually I too will become part of these.
I think it is very important to have a good relationship with the principal, or other school management staff, as these are the people who have final says in the workplace and can help you to achieve goals that you may have set.
2. Google+ has never been much of an interest to me as I see it as yet another social media tool. However, since starting with the MindLabs I have found it to be a very valuable tool where I have kept my page professional and it has become a tool of resources which are provided by other professionals. Not only are my connections on Google+ just MindLabs, but I am also connected with prior colleagues and it is wonderful sharing our learning journeys and ideas with each other. I think as professionals, it is really important for teachers to be able to share ideas or ask for other's ideas. This shows personal growth and empathy toward student learning.
My potential connections are in differing areas. Ngati Whakaue is a local iwi in Rotorua who provide funding for educational purposes. I am hoping in the very near future to connect with them and access further learning support for some of our tamariki.
Adventist Education NZ speaks for itself. Being a Seventh Day Adventist School, it is important to continue learning about the Adventist Curriculum and keep up to date with the religious side of the classroom. I have met people in the head office though I am yet to meet officially with them and start doing Professional Development provided by them.
VLN I have accessed before but due to time restraints have slowly disconnected myself from the site. It is a valuable site for teachers with lots of resources and discussions. Once my studies with the MindLabs is over, I will have more time to reconnect with VLN.
I think it is very important to have a good relationship with the principal, or other school management staff, as these are the people who have final says in the workplace and can help you to achieve goals that you may have set.
2. Google+ has never been much of an interest to me as I see it as yet another social media tool. However, since starting with the MindLabs I have found it to be a very valuable tool where I have kept my page professional and it has become a tool of resources which are provided by other professionals. Not only are my connections on Google+ just MindLabs, but I am also connected with prior colleagues and it is wonderful sharing our learning journeys and ideas with each other. I think as professionals, it is really important for teachers to be able to share ideas or ask for other's ideas. This shows personal growth and empathy toward student learning.
My potential connections are in differing areas. Ngati Whakaue is a local iwi in Rotorua who provide funding for educational purposes. I am hoping in the very near future to connect with them and access further learning support for some of our tamariki.
Adventist Education NZ speaks for itself. Being a Seventh Day Adventist School, it is important to continue learning about the Adventist Curriculum and keep up to date with the religious side of the classroom. I have met people in the head office though I am yet to meet officially with them and start doing Professional Development provided by them.
VLN I have accessed before but due to time restraints have slowly disconnected myself from the site. It is a valuable site for teachers with lots of resources and discussions. Once my studies with the MindLabs is over, I will have more time to reconnect with VLN.
