FOCUS AREA, (with

descriptor)
Meet professional
ethics and
responsibilities
(Understand and
apply the key
principles described in
codes of ethics and
conduct for the
teaching profession.)

ELABORATION

Teachers should always adhere to their professional ethical

obligations, including the codes of conduct established by
various regulatory authorities such as TRB, and also the
ethical responsibilities imposed by the school in which they
work, which may vary significantly depending on Catholic,
independent and public schools.
Ethical use of ICTs may be very different from school to
school, and as I said previously it is important as teachers
that we monitor the use of ICT in our classrooms, as part
of our duty of care to our students. Many schools have
blocks on certain websites, showing inappropriate material
or adult only content. This however does not always
prevent cyber bullying and harassment, and as teachers we
should always be hyper vigilant that the wellbeing of our
students is being upheld.

7.1

Students should be encouraged to use digital media in a

constructive, productive and responsible manner, and
teachers should always monitor their use in a learning
context, to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the digital
classroom.
Comply with
legislative,
administrative and
organisational
requirements
(Understand the
relevant legislative,
administrative and
organisational policies
and processes
required for teachers
according to school
stage.)

It is important as teachers to stay on top of the ICT policies

and administrative procedures and organisational
requirements of the school they work in, which may be
very different depending on the religious, economic and
value base of the school.
It is also different depending on national and state level.
Teachers should make sure they understand the access and
implementation of ICT in the school they work in,
particularly the value and philosophy which underpins it
and which can be of use in understanding the holistic digital
context and the ways in which it operates.

7.2

The TRB (Teacher's Registration Board) is a useful resource

for teachers, as it provides the relevant state legislation for
South Australian teachers, and can also be accessed by the
general public. DECD also set out the organisational
requirements of teachers. Furthermore, it is essential that
teachers familiarise themselves with the individual school
procedures and requirements, particularly their policies on
internet use and cyber bullying.
This training should be renewed regularly, given the ever
changing and dynamic nature of online resources and the
updates in technology that occur every year.

Engage with the

parents/carers
(Understand
strategies for working
effectively, sensitively
and confidentially with
parents/carers)

7.3

Teachers should understand that when

interacting with students in their classroom,
and throughout the wider learning process,
there is secondary interaction with parents and
the broader community that occurs at the
same time. Parents entrust teachers with their
children's education and safety while at school,
and we should honour this trust by always
acting with professionalism, efficiency and
integrity.
Technological developments have unlocked a
variety of resources with which teachers can
engage and involve parents in the learning
process. Email is a highly useful tool in
keeping parents up to date with their child's
development, as well as alerting them to key
assessments and homework requirements.
Teachers should keep in mind issues of
confidentiality when using bulk email, and
enlist the BCC tool to keep conversations
private. Avoiding spam, junk mail and viruses
is also very important, as I doubt any parent
appreciates getting a bug from their child's
teacher.
A site like Edmodo is also very helpful,
particularly in the areas of English and History,
as it sets up a course outline detailing

assignments, rules, due dates and other useful

resources. Parents can be given access to this
which means that the child's learning and
development is transparent and easily
navigable. Engaged parents can be very useful
for teachers as they can continue the learning
process in the home, and support their child in
further deepening their educational
experience.
Engage with
professional
teaching networks
and broader
communities
(Understand the role
of external
professionals and
community
representatives in
broadening teachers
professional
knowledge and
practice.)

7.4

It is important for teachers to acknowledge

that the teaching and learning process does
not occur in a vacuum. Your fellow teachers
and teaching administrators form a vital
network of communication, shared learning
and experience that is invaluable, not only for
a new teacher just starting out, but also for
those who are embedded in the profession as
well. Sharing ideas helps to breathe new life
into the curriculum, to promote interesting and
engaging activities and to build up a network
of committed, professional educators.
There are a plethora of useful online resources
for teachers to network and communicate.
Facebook has several, such as English and
History teachers of Adelaide/South Australia.
Then there are associations such as CESA for
subject specific guidance. More generally,
there are a number of forums and online
groups dedicated to the teaching profession.
In History there are websites such as
schoolhistory.co.uk and johndclare.net that
are very useful online resource-sharing sites.
Sharing, collaboration and the provision of
feedback are essential elements for teachers,
to enhance and enrich the learning process. It
is so important for teachers to engage with

their fellow professionals, to learn and develop

from them, and create a support structure to
help them in what is often quite a challenging
profession.