Solution tree works to raise student achievement and performance by providing customizable tools and strategies that empower educators and further teacher education. For example, as staff recognize their own skills and the skills of their peers, they practice selfawareness and social. Multiple sources include both quantitative and qualitative data, such as common formative and summative assessments, performance assessments, observations, work samples, performance metrics, portfolios, and selfreports. Spend the last 1015 minutes of the meeting reflecting on the session itself. Hord issued a white paper titled professional learning communities. Examples showing how the work of relational learning communities can improve teachers practice. The professional learning communities at work process is increasingly recognized as the most powerful strategy for sustained, substantive school improvement. Professional learning communities at work and virtual collaboration. Eaker, robert this book offers recommendations for those who seek to transform their school into a professional learning community as characterized by an environment fostering mutual cooperation, emotional support, personal growth, and. A view of teaching and learning as deeply relational and transformative. Professional learning communities plcs resources articles.
Developing professional learning communities appears to hold considerable promise for. Professional learning that increases educator effectiveness and results for all students occurs within learning communities committed to continuous improvement, collective responsibility, and goal alignment. Many k12 schools are working to become professional learning communities in the hope that student learning will improve when adults commit themselves to talking collaboratively about teaching and learning and then take action that will improve. On the tipping point of transformation now is the time to transform school culture. It offers educators specific, practical recommendations for transforming their schools into plcs so their students learn at higher levels and their profession becomes more. A prolific author and consultant, he was recognized as one of the leading authorities on helping school practitioners implement the professional learning communities at work process in. Five collaborative professional learning activities naesp. The idea of improving schools by developing professional learning communities is currently in vogue. Plcs occur when educators work together in a collaborative culture to. Shirley hord, an expert on school leadership, came up. Professional learning communities and collaborative structures like these provide a mechanism for teachers, principals, and other staff to make the improvement of student learning a priority. Plcs involve teachers working collaboratively to reflect on practice.
Dufour is the author of eight books and more than 40 professional articles, and for almost a decade, a quarterly column for the journal of staff development. Were adapting our classes, training sessions, and other events to fit the changing environment. The first section of the book contains an overview of the three big ideas that shape a plc, cultural shifts that are to be expected and keys to building highperforming. Adult, education, learning, training, workplace editors. Books about professional learning communities reclaiming our teaching profession 2011 by shirley m.
This book should be of interest to teachers, schoolleaders, teachereducators, policymakers and researchers. A handbook for professional learning communities at work 2006, 2010, 2016, which provided updated and expanded strategies for plcs, including the idea that the key to improved learning for students is continuous jobembedded learning for educators. The power of professional learning communities at work bringing the big ideas to life discover how your school can make the shift to a focus on learning, collaboration, and results to radically improve student learningeven in schools facing 21st century challenges like mobile populations, increasing numbers of english learners, and high poverty. The focus of plcs is ongoing jobembedded learning, rather than oneshot professional development sessions facilitated by outsiders, who have little accountability regarding whether staff learning is successfully applied. Professional learning communities at work institute orlando. Definition of professional learning communities plc.
New insights into professional learning communities. Nov 07, 2014 what is the 1 thing you feel is the most important aspect about professional learning communities that you must be aware of when planning one at your school. A prolific author and consultant, he was recognized as one of the leading authorities on helping school practitioners implement the professional learning communities at work process in their schools and districts. American educational research journal, 33 4, 757798. Please follow the covid19 information and advice page for the latest updates. According to huffman and hipp 2003, plcs are a way of working. Professional learning communities and communities of.
We used both a search of internet databases as well as a search of university library resources, utilizing key terms including professional learning communities, communities of practice, organizational learning, knowledge development, and knowledge management. The international journal of adult, community and professional. Professional learning communities at work and virtual. This study guide is a companion to the book learning by doing. Eaker published the book professional learning communities at work. Work teams in public schools usually organized around grade levels to. A focus on the cultural dimension in professional development for teachers. A professional learning community, or plc, is a group of educators that meets regularly, shares expertise, and works collaboratively to improve teaching skills and the academic performance of students. By combining the capacities of the plc at worktm process and powerful technology tools, teams of educators can meaningfully modify teaching and learning. This 10th anniversary sequel to the authors bestselling book, professional learning communities at worktm. Professional learning communities impact student success this school uses a professional learning community to target students needs. In revisiting professional learning communities at work pp. Each participant writes down the action they commit to taking before the next meeting.
Richard dufour, edd, in a distinguished career spanning four decades, was a publicschool educator, serving as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. The concepts that were to be addressed during this book study were. A handbook for professional learning communities at work. The international journal of adult, community and professional learning. Solution tree conferences, workshops, events, and other training for teachers focus on. What is professional learning communities plc igi global. The book also touches upon the four themes that emerged through sedls work and research during the creating communities of continuous inquiry and improvement cccii project and discusses how a school can begin establishing a professional learning community. The tools for 21st century learning teams is a tremendously useful addition. The most extensive, practical, and authoritative plc resource to date, it goes further. He is leading authority solution trees professional learning communities at work model. Best practices for professional learning communities. Professional learning communities at work events for.
It has now been 10 years since we wrote professional learning communities at work. Professional learning communities at work institutes. This is not a standard plc theory and research dump. Dailyweekly reflections on lessons reflective teaching free journal. This book study was organized to meet once a week for a total of six sessions. The professional learning communities at work journal is unique because it not only assists the individual teacher, but also guides the collaborative team planning and processes essential to schools that operate as plcs. People use this term to describe every imaginable combination of individuals with an interest in educationa gradelevel teaching team, a school committee, a high school department, an entire school district, a state department of education, a national professional organization, and so on. Professional learning communities impact student success. Hord and ed tobia drawing from a wealth of research and experience, this book shows educators how to use the transformative power of professional learning in community to raise the professional stature of educators. Professional learning community definition the glossary of. Learning by doing provides comprehensive guidance that can help educators overcome the challenges they may face as they turn. The authors have done a great job of organizing building a professional learning community at work, starting each chapter with a reallife story and ending with a set of practical tools that have been well thought out. He has written articles for the journal of staff development, research in.
Building a professional learning community at work stands out as the most teacherfriendly explanation of plcs that ive read. The nook book ebook of the professional learning communities at work tm. A professional learning community plc is more than a group of individuals meeting together to read a common book or discuss a relevant issue. Professional learning communities casel schoolguide. This institute gives you and your team the knowledge and tools to implement this powerful process in your school or district. See more ideas about professional learning communities, instructional coaching and. Eric ed426472 professional learning communities at work. The book presents five types of structured journals, each with a specific purpose, that can be used by professional learning communities plcs. Learning by doing provides comprehensive guidance that can help educators overcome the challenges they may face as they turn their. Winner2010 national staff development councils staff development book of the. New insights for improving schools by richard dufour, rebecca dufour, and robert eaker. Resources a big picture look at professional learning communities. Clients and students will also be contacted directly with specific information.
In journals as frameworks for professional learning communities, the author demonstrates how school teams can use the structured journal process to consider research, reflect on opportunities, and implement new practices that will also address accountability mandates and enhance teachers instructional repertoire. Professional learning communities provide an important opportunity to integrate sel into existing practices, work collaboratively on the goals of schoolwide sel, and cultivate their own social and emotional competencies. Professional development in relational learning communities. The influence of professional learning communities on student. Data from multiple sources enrich decisions about professional learning that leads to increased results for every student. Building a professional learning community at work. Search results were further refined through the use of. Professional learning communities have become one of the most talked about ideas in education today. The concept of school as professional learning community was used to frame. Each of these five activities book studies, looking at student work, learning walks, lesson studies, and developing consistent expectationshas.
Best practices professional learning communities for create protocols for talking and behaving. The most productive context for the continuous learning of professionals is the professional learning community plc. This website is intended to clarify the concept of a plc in the minds of those who are interested in learning more, and who want to work toward developing strong plc schools, supported by their districts. Rick dufour, a former public school educator, is an education author and consultant. A handbook for professional learning communities at work helps educators close the knowingdoing gap as they transform their schools into professional learning communities plcs. Amle research summary professional learning communities 2012. Rentfro the professional learning community plc model gives schools a framework to build. Professor john hattie a professional learning community plc in schools involves collaboration, sharing and. Professional learning communities linkedin slideshare. Help educators develop a common vocabulary and consistent understanding of key plc concepts. Journals as frameworks for professional learning communities. Best practices for enhancing students achievement by richard dufour, robert due to covid19, orders may be delayed. The term is also applied to schools or teaching faculties that use smallgroup collaboration as a form of professional development. Revisiting professional learning communities at work.
424 825 47 626 873 578 994 1317 223 1433 1431 956 1491 851 923 1217 492 1407 1428 737 1648 123 47 616 45 240 358 507 1286 1186 1354 505 95 368 112 1668 772 884 654 371 1117 423 304 393 801 1158 1283 693 661 878