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Variations On A Theme

As needs change, new models of critical friends groups emerge

By Learning Forward
Categories: Learning communities, Learning designs
August 2015
These days, there is a lot of talk in schools. There are conversations about research-based practices, authentic assessments, accountability, effective evaluation, standardized tests, and much more. In all of this chatter, three ideas are emerging: For schools to become better places for kids to learn, adults have to continue learning­ — and at higher levels than ever. They have to learn to work together in unfamiliar ways, think differently about students, and even redefine fundamental assumptions (Breidenstein, Fahey, Glickman, & Hensley, 2012). Many conversations in schools, even those that are specifically designed to support much-needed adult learning, have marginal impact (Guskey & Yoon, 2009). Despite increasing evidence of the value of coherent, collaborative adult learning in schools (Bryk, Sebring, Allensworth, Luppescu, & Easton, 2010), schools

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Authors

Kevin Fahey and Jacy Ippolito

Kevin Fahey (kfahey@salemstate.edu) is a professor and Jacy Ippolito (jippolito@salemstate.edu) is an associate professor at Salem State University in Salem, Massachusetts.

References

Breidenstein, A., Fahey, K., Glickman, C., & Hensley, F. (2012). Leading for powerful learning: A guide for instructional leaders. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Bryk, A.S., Sebring, P.B., Allensworth, E., Luppescu, S., & Easton, J.Q. (2010). Organizing schools for improvement: Lessons from Chicago. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Fahey, K. (2007). Leadership learning: What happens after they get the license? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.

Fahey, K. (2011). Still learning about leading: A leadership Critical Friends Group. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 6(1), 1-35.

Fahey, K. & Ippolito, J. (2013). Learning about leading across the K-12 and higher education divide: The power of combining principal and university Critical Friends Groups. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA.

Guskey, T.R. & Yoon, K.S. (2009). What works in professional development? Phi Delta Kappan, 90(7), 495-500.

Hargreaves, A. & Shirley, D. (2009). The persistence of presentism. Teachers College Record, 111(11), 2505-2534.

Ippolito, J. (2013). Professional learning as the key to linking content and literacy instruction. In J. Ippolito, J.F. Lawrence, & C. Zaller (Eds.), Adolescent literacy in the era of the Common Core: From research into practice (pp. 235-249). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.

Ippolito, J., Charner-Laird, M., & Dobbs, C. (2014, June). Bridge builders: Teacher leaders forge connections and bring coherence to literacy initiative. JSD, 35(3), 4.

McDonald, J.P., Mohr, N., Dichter, A., & McDonald, E.C. (2013). The power of protocols: An educator’s guide to better practice (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Moore, J. (2012). Online teacher professional learning communities: Lessons learned from a virtual Critical Friends Group. Paper presented at the annual convention of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, Louisville, KY.

National School Reform Faculty. (2012). NSRF self-guided tour of Critical Friends Groups. Bloomington, IN: Author.


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Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.


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