RSA #2 Leading Professional Learning

http://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=7620

Module 3 discusses learning community outcomes and the promise of professional learning communities. The learning community outcomes can be seen as either actions or products that vary depending on the purpose and participants in the PLC. The promise of professional learning communities are the benefits seen by changing the school culture to include PLCs.

“Leading Professional Learning” by Michale Fullan discusses ways to implement a successful PLC in schools and the results that can be seen if this is accomplished. He gives six implications to establishing a lasting PLC in schools. The main emphasis is on changing the culture in schools. There needs to be collaboration between schools and not just within one school. “Breaking down the walls of schools is a concomitant part of breaking down the walls of the classroom” (Fullan, 2006, p.4). “Teachers Talking Together: The Power of Professional Community” discusses all the advantages of professional learning communities in schools also. However, this article states, “the key is for every school to find its own solution” (Nathan, 2008, p.3). This goes strongly against Michale Fullans’ emphasis on schools working together in a district.

A functioning school PLC will make schools more accountable to the public and increase the collaboration with students and parents in order to ensure success. Leadership will also be increased in the schools. “Leadership is not about making clever decisions… It is about energizing other people to make good decisions and do better things” (Fullan, 2006, p.5). By changing the culture in schools, we will be creating professional learning communities that “can provide the structures and processes that support learning while doing, responsive rather than reactive behaviors, and the capability of making informed decisions about curriculum priorities” (Martin-Kniep, 2008, p.151).

References

Fullan, M. (2006). Leading Professional Learning. The School Administrator, 63(10). Retrieved from http://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=7620

Martin-Kniep, G. (2008). Communities that Learn, Lead, and Last. San Francisco, CA: Jossy-Bass.

Nathan, L. (2008). Teachers Talking Together: The Power of Professional Community. Horace, 24(1). ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ849815.