1. With Learning communites
1.1. Teachers collaborated on teaching and learning.
1.2. teacher developed expertise through shared knowledge
1.3. teaching was driven by the belief that all students can learn
1.4. Active student engagement
1.5. Enhanced student learning
1.6. Comment- If learning communities are working well then there tends to be more teacher satisfaction and higher morale. teachers feel more effective in the classroom and have higher student success.
2. Learning Communities Lieberman and Miller page.16
3. What happens in schools?
3.1. Without Leaning Communities
3.1.1. Teachers work in isolation
3.1.2. Have little opportunity to talk and engage with one another
3.1.3. Instruction is more text focused and teacher directed
3.1.4. Students work in isolation
3.1.5. Routine assignments
3.1.6. Educators graded on the curve
4. What is a Professional Learning Community?
4.1. Professional learning communities are groups that meet regularly for the purpose of increasing their own learning and that of their students.
4.1.1. Comment- There are many different definitions of what a PLC is. However at its core the main goal is improve student achievement.
4.2. Who is involved?
4.2.1. Starts with a group of teachers and principal
4.2.2. This group can merge with other learning networks which can include.
4.2.2.1. Groups of schools
4.2.2.2. Support Staff
4.2.2.3. Superintendants
4.2.2.4. Directors
4.2.2.5. Parents
5. Resources http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/plc.pdf Professional Learning Communities: A Model for Ontario Schools http://tribes.com/about/professional-learning-communities/ Professional Learning Communities- By Bonnie Benard http://professionallyspeaking.oct.ca/june_2005/plc.asp Professional Learning Communities: Model for collaborative teaching or the latest bandwagon? by Leanne Miller http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/may04/vol61/num08/What-Is-a-Professional-Learning-Community%C2%A2.aspx What Is a Professional Learning Community?-Richard DuFour http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/best-practices-for-professional-learning-communities.shtml Best Practices for Professional Learning Communities http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alma_Harris/publication/249752354_Professional_learning_communities_and_system_improvement/links/0deec538876907eea3000000.pdf Professional Learning Communities and System Improvement- Alma Harris and Michelle Jones http://learningforward.org/docs/august-2011/lieberman324.pdf?sfvrsn=2 LEARNING COMMUNITIES- The starting point for professional learning is in schools and classrooms by Ann Lieberman and Lynne Miller
6. Material taken and Modified from Learning Communities Lieberman and Miller page.17
7. Taken and Modified From Professional Learning Communities: A Model for Ontario Schools
8. Challenges of having a PLC
8.1. Cultural Change
8.2. Structural Change
8.3. Time
8.4. PLC Sustainment
8.5. Comment- PLCs can promote many positive changes in the school. However with change comes challenges. Changing the culture and structure of the school can cause conflict and unease. It takes time for people to accept a different approach to help student learning. Not only is it structurally and culturally challenging but PLCs require time to create. If not supported properly then what good has been done can be lost. Creating a culture of shared values, collaboration, and commitment to learning of teachers and students requires that people work hard to maintain it.
9. Material taken and Modified from LEARNING COMMUNITIES- The starting point for professional learning is in schools and classrooms by Ann Lieberman and Lynne Miller and Professional Learning Communities and System Improvement- Alma Harris and Michelle Jones
10. Material Modified and taken from What Is a Professional Learning Community?-Richard DuFour, Professional Learning Communities- By Bonnie Benard and Professional Learning Communities: A Model for Ontario Schools
11. Components of a Professional Learning Community.
11.1. 1. Ensuring Learning for all students
11.1.1. What do we want each student to learn?
11.1.2. How will we know when each student has learned it?
11.1.3. How will we respond when a student experiences difficulty learning?
11.1.3.1. Comment- On of the interesting parts of a PLC is that instead of just having one teacher solve the problem or challenge it is a group doing it together.
11.2. 2. Focus on Results
11.2.1. Identify the current level of the Student/Subject
11.2.2. Establish a goal to improve the current level
11.2.3. Work together to achieve that goal
11.2.4. Provide periodic evidence of progress
11.2.5. Comment- Collecting data is very important to this process. Decisions on where to go with student learning are made based on assessment that includes observation, analysis of student work, and data collected.
11.3. 3. Relationships
11.3.1. Sharing with others
11.3.2. Open discussion of beliefs and practices
11.3.3. Being open to question and inquiry
11.3.4. Ecouraging feedback
11.3.5. Comment- This I think this a challenge in the PLC. Teachers need to be confident and open with other teachers. In these types of situations people can get defensive if their teaching practices and viewpoints are different. There is sometimes conflict. This however is a good moment to strengthen relationships with other teachers and be comfortable with open discussions about teaching practices.
11.4. 4. Collaborative Inquiry
11.4.1. Team Teaching
11.4.2. Teacher Moderation
11.4.3. Study Groups
11.4.4. Action Research
11.4.5. Classroom Walk-Throughs
11.4.6. Mentoring
11.4.7. Peer Coaching
11.4.8. Comment- This collaboration between teachers gives such a great opportunity to share ideas and data with one another. I am fortunate enough that I work in a school that collaborates quite a bit. Each teacher has a teaching partner and we work together to come up with lessons and forms of assessment for our students. We also address any problems we have with each other. In our school we also collaborate on curriculum and determine what the progress of students should be as we progress through the grades.
11.5. 5.Leadership
11.5.1. Leaders need to
11.5.1.1. promote supportive environments
11.5.1.2. Foster reflection
11.5.1.3. Encourage risk taking
11.5.1.4. Challenge status quo when it comes to student learning.
11.5.2. Comment- PLC's require good leaders. It can start with a principal or VP then progress to a senior staff member or team leader. I think that the leader should act more as a facilitator guiding the PLC rather than one who dictates what happens. It is important that the leader keeps everyone on track and mediates any disagreements or conflict.
11.6. 6. Alignmnet
11.6.1. Teachers from the same grade or division collaborate to promote high levels of learning in each classroom.
11.6.2. Staff accept the responsibility of the success of all students, not just their class or grade.
11.6.3. Comment- In terms of alignment I think it is important that everyone is on the same page and works towards a common goal. Some things we have done in our own school it to collaborate and ensure that marking and assessment is clear. We try and make sure all teachers are aligned in how they assess and evaluate students.