Module 1: Why PLCs - Putting it All Together
What do we need to think about in order to make PLCs work?
This is a critical discussion which should involve all stake-holders at the school and district level when the concept of implementing Professional Learning Community is introduced. Assessing where you are and where you want to be is the first step to strong implementation. What do you know about PLCs? What do you want to know? What do you need to know? What questions do you have? Research shows that thoughtful and inclusive introduction of PLC is critical in its long- term effectiveness.
Careful planning, sharing the growth of collaborative work and honest reflection are foundation blocks to the creation of trust needed for educators to productively de-privatize their practice.
Envisioning what PLC success will look like is a valuable exercise in beginning this process. How to get there is the action plan that this guide will help you implement.
Putting It All Together
Professional Learning Communities engage in a number of practices with the goal of improving student learning. Each school and district will take its own unique path to developing a Professional Learning Community, but there are some common elements that all schools and districts should consider.
Beginning the process of becoming a Professional Learning Community requires deep thought and preparation by all those considering embracing this collaborative work. Critical to this process is:
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This is a critical discussion which should involve all stake-holders at the school and district level when the concept of implementing Professional Learning Community is introduced. Assessing where you are and where you want to be is the first step to strong implementation. What do you know about PLCs? What do you want to know? What do you need to know? What questions do you have? Research shows that thoughtful and inclusive introduction of PLC is critical in its long- term effectiveness.
Careful planning, sharing the growth of collaborative work and honest reflection are foundation blocks to the creation of trust needed for educators to productively de-privatize their practice.
Envisioning what PLC success will look like is a valuable exercise in beginning this process. How to get there is the action plan that this guide will help you implement.
Putting It All Together
Professional Learning Communities engage in a number of practices with the goal of improving student learning. Each school and district will take its own unique path to developing a Professional Learning Community, but there are some common elements that all schools and districts should consider.
- Using protocols to de-privatize practice and look at student and teacher work, offering support and feedback in a climate of trust, which allows risk-taking and experimentation in instructional practice.
- Employing text-based seminars which encourage participants to read and share professional journals, videos, websites and software programs using question-driven protocols which guide learning to application.
- Looking at student work, teacher work and a broad range of assessment data collectively to inform teacher practice and student learning.
- Creating collaborative Common Assessments which provide critical data on learning outcome equity.
- Using structured agendas which allow time to be used well.
- Implementing Learning Walks and Peer-to-Peer Observations which focus on teacher-based, data-driven questions arising from practice, data and theory.
- Creating a purposeful and community climate of shared values and vision fostered by a common level of expectation for students and teachers that drives collaborative efforts supporting both collective creativity and personal practice.
- Engaging in lesson study cycles to craft lessons that address identified challenges and increase their effectiveness.
Beginning the process of becoming a Professional Learning Community requires deep thought and preparation by all those considering embracing this collaborative work. Critical to this process is:
- Coming to a common understanding of what success will look like
- Creating a solid schedule that allows for teams to meet
- Implementing structures and practices that allow teams to learn together
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