As I was skimming through other people’s posts this seems to be a common one that was chosen, as it should be. Not only is technology constantly evolving, but new uses for technology are being found. I’m sure Twitter wasn't original touted as being great for classroom technology when it first appeared, but now many school boards and classrooms use it to connect to the community. 

Since technology is evolving, so should our teaching practices and this can really only be done by actively seeking out learning opportunities. Collaborating with others to learn from their experiences is part of this, and as we know from online PD like this course, your teaching practices can evolve from this. The term ‘ongoing’ implies that there is no end date, which is important since  technology will continue to evolve throughout our entire teaching career. 

In essence, Professional Knowledge involves internalizing implicit and explicit educational standards and practices. As noted on the OCT site, this includes curriculum and research and this needs to be reflected in teaching practice. The curriculum makes reference to technology and current research shows that technology can ENHANCE a student’s ability to meet learning goals. This means that we, as educators, have a duty to use technology in our practice, and use it to the best of our ability (which is continually updated through ongoing learning).

Connecting the learning goals of this course to the Standards of Practice is another component of my reflective practice. Not only does the act of taking this course fulfill some components of the Standards of Practice, but the learning, collaboration and assignments further meets these components. In order to be an effective educator, professional learning, knowledge and collaboration must be actively and continue engaged in. No educator exists alone and there will always be something to learn. Being a 'student' never stops and I think this is what the spirit of the Standards of Practice encompasses.