Did you know the Ontario College of Teachers licenses, governs and
regulates the Ontario teaching profession in the public interest? The
College is responsible for approving teacher education programs, and
setting high professional and ethical standards.
So what does this mean exactly?
The Ethical Standards and the Standards of Practice describe what it means to be a teacher – or indeed a teaching professional.
Every teacher working in a publicly funded school is certified to
teach and in good standing with the College. Not only do Ontario
Certified Teachers (OCTs) have the knowledge and skills needed to help
children learn and succeed, they’re also guided by a set of professional
and ethical standards. These standards are something we put into
practice in our classrooms every single day. They serve to remind us of
our commitment to student learning and well-being. They encourage us to
strive for greatness and reflect on what we might do to improve. They
challenge us to stay current and to be compassionate. Most of all, they
show the public that teachers are qualified, professional and
accountable – just like other regulated bodies: doctors, accountants,
engineers and nurses, to name a few.
You can read more about the Professional Standards here: http://www.oct.ca/public/professional-standards/
Beyond the service the College provides for the public they also
provide important resources for teachers that will support their
classroom practice, setting a standard for great teaching.
If you are looking for professional learning opportunities the College’s website has many resources to help support you.
The “Find an AQ”
tool in the members section gives you three options to search for
additional qualification courses that suit your needs. You can search by
AQ name, Provider or by City. Each of these search options provides you
with links to more information that will help inform your decision on
what professional learning opportunities best suit your needs.
The College also provides an official publication called Professionally Speaking
that includes feature articles about teaching, current news and ongoing
learning. It’s a great resource, but if you are pressed for time and
you want to keep current with College news, you can also read the
College’s monthly e-newsletter called Your College and You.
Each issue provides brief, newsworthy items about the College and
issues relevant to the teaching profession, like the College’s Top 10
most popular educational books and eBooks.
Speaking of books, if you’re looking for useful academic research or educational resources, the College’s Margaret Wilson Library
has thousands of books, eBooks, DVDs and journal articles on everything
from seating plans to cellphones in the classroom. Any member can
borrow items, free of charge, whether you visit the library person in
Toronto or request materials by mail from Thunder Bay. Simply sign in
using your College Registration Number and Members section password.
Calling aspiring teachers! If you are considering joining the
teaching profession in Ontario, the College website has section to help
guide you through all the stages from apply to Teachers College to
finding a job. There is also a great resource in the Transition to Teaching section that you can read to get informed about job trends and statistics.
Want to learn more about the Ontario College of Teachers and how they are setting the standard for great teaching? Visit http://www.oct.ca/
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