professional learning communities

Professional Learning Communities

http://www.tellohio.org/

Copyright © 2013 New Teacher Center. All Rights Reserved.

Blackboard Collaborate Communication Tools

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Copyright © 2011 New Teacher Center. All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2013 New Teacher Center. All Rights Reserved.

Collaborate Tools

Sliders adjust mic and speaker volume

Press to Talk and activate Video

Chat Tool

Participant Tools:

Emoticons

Step Away

Raise Hand

Polling

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Participant FeaturesAudio Setup Wizard Audio Setup Wizard

Audio & Video Settings

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Testing the Audio Setup Wizard

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Participant FeaturesAudio & Video

Volume Controls

Video On and Off

Talk On and Off

Video Preview

Keep the Talk and Video off when not speaking.

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Questions?

① Please raise your hand.

② Wait to be called on.

③ Turn on Talk (and Video!) button.

④ Ask your question.

⑤ When done, please turn off Talk button.

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Connections to Survey Results

Q9.1dTeachers work in professional learning communities to develop and align instructional practices.

Q9.1eProvided supports (i.e. instructional coaching, professional learning communities, etc.) translate to improvements in instructional practices by teachers.

Q9.1hTeachers have autonomy to make decisions about instructional delivery (i.e. pacing, materials and pedagogy).

Q2.1bTeachers have time available to collaborate with colleagues.

Q2.2bIn an average week, how much time do you devote to the following activities during the school day?

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Professional Learning Community: A Definition

A community with the capacity to promote and sustain the learning of all professionals in the school community with the collective purpose of enhancing student learning.

*Bolam, et al. 2005.

http://eledblog.com/


Just because they are called

“Professional Learning Communities”

… doesn‘t mean they are.

How can we support teachers not only to be collaborative, but to help build and lead a collaborative culture focused on student learning?


What are the four core principles of PLCs?

http://www.philipdudalaw.com/


1) PLCs strive to ensure student learning

• What do we want each student to learn?

• How will we know when each student has learned it?

• How will we respond when a student experiences difficulty in learning?

http://www.teachthought.com/learning/project-based-learning/11-tools-for-better-project-based-learning/


2) PLCs operate in a culture of collaboration

• Have a systematic process for teachers to work together to analyze and improve their classroom practice

• Engage in ongoing cycle of questions that promote team learning and lead to higher student learning.

http://www.funnydogsite.com/pictures/Group_Effort.htm


Collaboration Enablers

• Focus on what students learned• Allocate time to collaborate• Less excuses for failing to collaborate

• Find a way to make it happen

http://powerlisting.wikia.com/wiki/Pyro-Spark_Manipulation


3) PLCs are led in an inquiry process

• Team leadership stimulates members to formulate and share their own perspectives on questions

• Differentiated to accommodate the different developmental and experiential levels of the members

• Facilitation• Division of labor• Materials

• Inquiry process is protected by norms to make the process structured and safe for members


4) PLCs focus on results and data

• Identify current level of student achievement• Set goal to improve• Work together to achieve that goal• Gather evidence of progress

• Must embrace data, even if it is brutal

http://www.supersonicstrack.com/category/results/


Applied Learning

• Observe the short video of a PLC in action• Use the PLC Video Note Taking Guide to capture

evidence of these core principals

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/multimedia/images/2010/iotw/observe_moon_night.html


What did you observe? Examples, Evidence, Language

Collaborative

Student Focused

Data Driven

Inquiry Based


What are the developmental levels of a high functioning PLC?

http://library.sasaustin.org/questioning.php


Four Levels

Forming

Storming

Norming

Performing


Forming

• High expectations• Anxiety of fitting in• Dependent on a leader

or facilitator to create structure

• Members are polite but guarded

http://www.space.com/14832-hubble-views-grand-star-forming-region.html


Storming

• Members rebel against each other and the structures, the group, and the assigned tasks

• Jockey for power• People tempted to opt

out at this point or mentally check out

http://russellhylton.blogspot.com/2010/08/being-calm-in-storm.html


Norming

• Overcome resistance• Develop cohesion• Emerging trust and

support• Building skills and

procedures for doing the work

• Confronting issues and not teammates

http://rapgenius.com/341036/Jean-grae-going-crazy/Drown-beers-like-im-norm-avoidin-vera-in-cheers


Performing

• Work interdependently• Share leadership• Flexible, adaptive• Close• High support

http://www.denver.org/what-to-do/attractions/detail?memid=380


A Quick Assessment• Consider the current state of PLCs in your school• Use the graphic below to plot where PLC groups reside• If you do not know, take the time to consider what steps

you might take to assess your PLCs

ExampleForming

6th grade Language Arts (three beginning teachers)

Storming

8th grade Science7th grade Science

Norming

Foreign Languages6th Grade Social Studies

Performing

7th Grade Math6th Language Arts


How Can I Promote PLC Development?

http://watchusplaygames.com/tag/we-have-an-assignment-to-encourage-and-inspire-people-to-go-higher/


Enable Trust to Develop

• Analyses from previous surveys suggests that there are a couple of important components to building trust

• Model consistency in your actions• Include the entire team in decision making processes• Commit to a clear, shared vision

http://wenatcheeyouthcircus.com/performerpage.aspx?performerid=9


Consider Your Words

• How you speak can have a powerful impact on PLC development

• Framing questions• Active listening• Acknowledging and

Clarifying what you are hearing

• Summarizing and organizing ideas

• Ability to move between Instructive, Collaborative, and Facilitative postures

http://maxbizvalue.blogspot.com/2012_07_01_archive.html


Develop Norms

• Agreements generated by the team

• Intended for all team members to uphold

• Aligned with the function and context of the team

• Subject to change as the team’s development or task changes

http://www.communityorganizer20.com/2009/01/12/social-media-etiquette-roundup-understanding-cultural-norms/


Develop an Effective Agenda

• Sent out ahead of the meeting• Posted or distributed during meeting• Have clear outcomes• Communicate norms• Assign roles of participants if needed• Allot times for each intended activity• Include next steps, timeframe and responsibilities• Include all team members in providing feedback

and input on next agenda

http://radbusinessassociation.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/tuesday-october-23-2012-meeting-agenda/


For Additional Resources

http://teachingconditions.org/




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