Standard #5

Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership

Standard #5 

"Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources."

• Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
• Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others
• Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning
• Contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community

Developing a professional learning network (PLN) allows for teachers to participate and demonstrate their continuous learning and technology skills to others.  A PLN demonstrates the talents and professionalism of teachers to the rest of the community.  

Another example for how teachers engage in professional growth and leadership is through the "push and pull" techniques.  Teachers can pull information from the web and push/share the information from the web in the classroom or on their PLN.  This demonstrates growth; therefore, showing leadership to students and peers by being a role model for continuous learning.

The following video is testimonies from teachers participating in PLNs: