Candidates manage their continued learning and professional development through continuous reflection about their teaching knowledge, dispositions, skills, and practices.

Domain 4

Teachers should take an active role in determining the direction of their continued professional development and learning because they are the ones who know best what areas of their teaching need to be developed. Additionally, teachers must realistically assess their workload to determine the level of professional development that can be realistically managed. No one but the teacher is close enough to the teachers experience to determine what level of professional development is appropriate. When teachers are allowed to make decisions regarding professional development, they will be more motivated to attend professional development courses and put what they learn into action.

One of the keys to growth in any area of life is periodic reflection on where youve been, where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there. Teachers must practice continuous reflection because they work in a culture that is constantly shifting, with students who are constantly changing. Teachers reflect on their practice by asking questions of themselves and others, having other teachers observe them and provide feedback, keeping journals, and various other methods. The key to generating awareness of self and the world around oneself is to reflect on activity of teaching and learning before the busyness of activity causes one to forget the real goal of all the activity in the first place.

When all of the above occurs teachers will be able to reflect on their learning with more accuracy. They will be able to reflect on past decisions, current practice, and future direction. Teachers should learn to reflect daily on their teaching experience, challenging themselves as to how effectively they are integrating professional development experience, and honoring themselves for the many successes they should find.