Professional Knowledge and Understanding

2.1 Curriculum and Pedagogy

2.1.1 Have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of Pedagogical and Learning Theories and Professional Practice

Professional actions

As an accomplished teacher you have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of:

• the stages of learners’ cognitive, social, emotional, physical and psychological development and know how to use this information to support every learner’s wellbeing
• approaches to pedagogy and practice: assessment, learning and teaching and curriculum where appropriate taking account of Gaelic medium, and Learning for Sustainability
• the most appropriate contexts and environments for learning, including outdoor learning, and how to apply appropriate pedagogies for these environments
• innovative and partnership approaches for learners with additional support needs
• digital technologies to support learning
• the significance of and practices in leadership of curriculum development and pedagogical practices
• how to take critical account of the gender, social, cultural, racial, ethnic, religious and economic context of learners and how to adapt practices accordingly

2.1.2 Have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of Research and Engagement in Practitioner Enquiry

Professional actions

As an accomplished teacher you have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of:

• how to access and apply relevant findings from educational research and contribute to research knowledge in areas of interest
• practitioner enquiry as stance in relation to your own professional learning, individually and/or collaboratively, to challenge and inform professional practice (pedagogy, learning and subject knowledge)
• a range of enquiry approaches, different data collection methods/tools, appropriate to the enquiry question/context

2.1.3 Have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of Curriculum Design

Professional actions

As an accomplished teacher you have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of:

• current principles (local and national) of curriculum and assessment design
• how to interpret and analyse current policy about curriculum design and assessment to ensure learners experience a curriculum that meets their needs
• the value of learning beyond curricular areas/ subject boundaries and of cross curricular subjects, e.g. literacy, numeracy, health and wellbeing, Learning for Sustainability and digital literacy
• the skills and competencies that comprise teacher digital literacy and know how to embed digital technologies to enhance teaching and learning
• the need to adapt and enhance learning experiences for learners with additional support needs
• the need to explore and adopt a wide variety of technologies and learning spaces within and beyond the classroom, including the use of outdoor learning

2.1.4 Have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of Planning for Assessment, Teaching and Learning  

Professional actions

As an accomplished teacher you have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of:

• approaches to pedagogy and practice: assessment, learning and teaching and curriculum #
• the gender, social, cultural, racial, ethnic, religious and economic context of every learner and how to adapt practices accordingly
• the features of inclusive learning contexts which motivate and value every learner
• how to engage with a range of literature, research and policy and how to use this individually and collaboratively to inform, evaluate and analyse practice
• individual and collaborative leadership approaches to curriculum development and pedagogical practices
• approaches and practices employed to enable positive and purposeful relationships with every learner to discuss and support their progress through meaningful feedback and agreed next steps
• the most appropriate contexts and environments for learning and how to apply appropriate pedagogies for these environments

2.2 Professional Responsibilities

2.2.1 Have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of Education Systems

Professional actions

As an accomplished teacher you have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of:

• how to actively consider and critically question national and international influences on educational policy, practices and systems development
• frameworks, systems and processes to support and enhance teacher professionalism
• current policy context and how that impacts on educational change and teaching and learning and meaningfully links to inform and change practice
• how to ensure a culture which recognises and realises the rights of all children and young people and in which every learner meaningfully participates in decisions related to their learning and wellbeing
• biases and their impact on people and practices and how to identify and challenge these

2.2.2 Have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of Learning Communities

Professional actions

As an accomplished teacher you have an enhanced and critically informed understanding of:

• the roles and responsibilities of teachers in establishing positive relationships across the learning community and how to individually and collaboratively support, develop and sustain these relationships
• local and wider learning communities and how to draw on these to enrich learning experiences for every learner
• the contexts and complexity in which teachers operate and the dynamic and complex role(s) of professionals within the educational community including Gaelic medium ethos where appropriate