Professional Learning Community

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Professional Learning Community
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Results Now

• Instruction itself has the largest influence on
  achievement.

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Results Now

• Most instruction, despite our best intentions, is
  not effective but could improve significantly and
  swiftly through ordinary and accessible
  arrangements among teachers.

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• "Teachers in successful schools are undeniably
  interdependent. Professionals working in concert
  produce cumulative effects in student learning.
  As more schools, districts, states, and provinces
  develop and attempt to implement clear standards
  and high expectations, the need for collaborative
  energy becomes increasingly clear.
• Garmston and Wellman, Christopher Gordan, 1999

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• The key notion in the definition of teacher
  leadership is that leadership is about learning
  together, and constructing meaning and knowledge
  collectively and collaboratively.
• Linda Lambert, ASCD,1998

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Session Goals

• Understand the elements of a professional
  learning community
• Consider how NCOSP tools and resources can
  support you in establishing effective
  professional learning communities

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Becoming a professional learning community

• What observable actions or behaviors would you
  expect to see in a group that was functioning as
  an effective professional learning community?

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Toward a shared understanding of Professional
Learning Community

• Review the component and indicators listed in the
  observation tool
• Compare and contrast the ideas your table
  generated with those outlined in the observation
  tool

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Heavy and Light PLCs

• Review the ideas about supportive and
  development practices?
• Discuss how a Science Coach can support PLCs in
  adopting developmental practices

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Time for a break!

• Be back in 15 minutes!

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A PLC in action

• Context
• Process
• View video clip with PLC Observation Protocol
• Identify behaviors and actions group members are
  using that support or hinder effective
  collaboration

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• Insert three clips here
• Insert text from PLC observation protocol after
  each clip to focus observations.

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Building collaborative groups

• What behaviors or actions among teachers working
  in groups limits their ability to collaborate
  effectively?

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Norms of Collaboration

• Tools for productive communication between group
  members
• Skill vs norm

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Foreshadowing.

• Review the 7 norms
• Reflect on your own behaviors in a group
• Identify 1-2 norms you think are areas where you
  could improve
• During the PLC simulation after lunch,
  intentionally, but authentically, practice that
  norm

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Coach Support

• Discuss how you can begin to build a professional
  learning community among the teachers you are
  supporting
• Discuss how the NCOSP tools and resources shared
  so far can support your efforts