RSA #5 Critical and Transformative Practices in Professional Learning Communities

ERIC # EJ810651

In chapters 8 - 11, Palloff & Pratt (2007) discuss community engagement. Community engagement can occur through collaborative learning, Transformative learning or assessment and evaluation of online learning communities. Transformative learning is “learning that is based on reflection and on interpretation of the experiences, ideas, and assumptions gained through prior learning” (Palloff & Pratt, 2007, p.185).

Servage (2008) discusses professional learning communities. She discusses how Tranformative learning is not often a part of these learning communities but needs to be. Many times professional learning communities are concerned with “transformation of the school or the school culture, not transformation of the individual” (Servage, 2008, p.67). Transformative learning encourages critical thinking and self evaluation. By PLC participants engaging in transformative learning, they will gain more trust with each other and be more open to collaboration.

When working in an online learning community, Transformative learning may naturally occur. Lincoln (2010) describes how she teaches students in a hybrid online high school class. She designs activities to evaluate online information and students work collaboratively to make the work meaningful to themselves. I read this article with the focus on evaluation but then felt that it was a good example of Transformative learning.

Transformative learning is important in any type of learning community. Teachers and administrators should be encouraging the Transformative learning process by asking questions that encourage critical thinking skills and self evaluation. This may happen more naturally in an online course but in face-to-face groups or class the process needs to be initiated. “When students are empowered to become experts at their own learning, they cannot help but be transformed as people” (Palloff & Pratt, 2007, p.202).

References

Lincoln, M. (2010). Information Evaluation and Online Course Work. Knowledge Quest, 38(3), 28-31. ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ888063.

Palloff, R. M. & Pratt, K. (2007). Building Online Learning Communities. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Servage, L. (2008). Critical and Transformative Practices in Professional Learning Communities. Teacher Education Quarterly, 35(1), 63-77. ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ810651.