Reflective Analysis of Portfolio Artifact Rationale/Reflection InTASC Standard: Standard #9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice

The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.

Brief Description of Evidence: As part of my EDUC 200 course during the fall semester of
2013, I collaborated with a group of my peers to create a Parents Night Out event. To make this event happen I was required to orchestrate a large group of peers to come together and complete many small tasks to help create the finished product. Three letters were written and delivered to important figures in the community. Fliers and registration forms were created and distributed to promote the event. I was required to contact people in the community. I created an informative flier to handout to parents. Together we organized an evening of movies, educational games, food, and fun. This night was to show parents the importance of having childcare.

Analysis of What I Learned: I learned that working with a group to accomplish a

monumental task could decrease and increase the stress on an individual. As the group leader I was constantly worried that tasks would not be completed on time. I had to create a timeline and hold my peers to it. I discovered that there would be times, in any group project, where the leader of the group wonders why there is a group. Having to try and create the project the way I want it to be, and keeping my group members happy was an impossible task. I learned that when collaboration occurs the best ideas are discovered. While including my ideas and those of others into the plans I also had to tell some people no. This led me to learn to always have reasoning for my actions. If I were required to take out someone elses idea then I should have a reason to lesson the effects my choices have on my peers, and potentially the learners and their parents.

How This Artifact Demonstrates my Competence on the InTASC Standard: I

discovered in this project how my actions and decisions affected those in my group. When I decided to not have any crafts I eliminated the jobs that some of my peers had been working on. I realized this and so I created other tasks for them to complete. I recognized their potential to help make this project great, and so I directed them to create more games. This way the learners that attend the event will be able to learn and interact with peers while having fun. Some group members suggestions were to make this event holiday centered. However, taking

into consideration that some of the learners and parents may celebrate differing holidays I had to make this event about winter.