PROFESSIONAL+LEARNING+COMMUNITIES

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES

**Is it Smarter to Travel in Groups?** //You decide..//.

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 * The WHAT and the WHY **

A collaborative environment to improve teaching and learning.
The most notable proponent of professional learning communities is Dr. Richard DuFour, whose studies and use of PLCs shifted the notion of staff development from "sit and get" to professional conversations that focus on learning and the teaching that is required to achieve the desired learning. As noted in the May 2004 issue of //Educational Leadership//,* DuFour notes that the focus of each PLCconversation is to asnswer the following questions: By answering the 3rd question, schools separate themselves from the typical school because they have made a commitment to ensure learning, not just measure it. The results of these conversations have produced a myriad of strategies to respond to different learning styles, rates of learning, and levels of achievement. The multi-tiered systems that address the various places students find themselves on the continuum of learning are both a result of these PLC discussions and implemented through PLC discussions.
 * 1) What do we want each student to learn?
 * 2) How will we know when each student has learned it?
 * 3) How will we respond when a student experiences difficulty in learning?

To ensure student learning, schools embracing and engaging in the professional learning community philosophy must respond to student learning needs in a timely manner; emphasize intervention rather than remediation; and require student participation to achieve mastery rather than just invite them to participate in the process. In addition they must create a culture of collaboration and move teachers away from the isolation they are accustomed to and help them become willing participants in the collaborative conversations that affect teaching and learning. This requires teachers move out of their comfort zones and become willing to examine their own practices, have open conversations about teaching and learning, and reflect on student performance within their own classroom. These professional conversations must be on-going as they attempt to answer the questions of how to improve teaching and learning.

Many prominent educational researchers and educational organizations have embraced the need for collaboration and specifically the professional learning community concept.

In his book, //Results Now//, Mike Schmoker states: " A successful face-to-face team is more than just collectively intelligent. It makes everyone work harder, think smarter and reach better conclusions than they would have on their own." The title of Chapter 8 in his book speaks volumes by noting that "Professional Learning Communities: [are the] The Surest, Fastest Path to Instructional Improvement."

The goal of the //National Staff Development Council// (now Learning Forward) is that "teachers have professional learning every day so every student achieves." This could not be accomplished without the conversations that happen in professional learning communities. More information can be found on the rationale behind this goal on their website: []


 * What does Effective Collaboration Look Like? **

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 * RESOURCES **


 * Richard DuFour, "What is a Professional Learning Community," []

or in pdf form


 * A Big Picture Look of the Big Ideas of PLC's**


 * 4 Column KWL using PLC vocabulary**


 * Ideas for Establishing Norms (protocols) and Meeting Agenda/Minutes Forms**


 * S*M*A*R*T Goals**


 * Collaborative Scenarios: What does PLC look like?**


 * Team Development Is Not a Straight Line Drive ** this article by Sean Glaze seeks to help you develop a better team by understanding that the most direct approach may be efficient but not always the best learning tool for adults or students. True collaboration takes time and energy and is definitely not linear. You gain power by empowering others.

VIDEOS media type="custom" key="6672883" media type="custom" key="6672213"
 * What is a PLC? **
 * Effective Systems: Putting teachers in a collaborative system **

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 * Shifting our thinking from teaching to learning: Rebecca DuFour **

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 * PLC Organizational Options **

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 * Is your PLC a team or a group or does it matter? **