The central word in professional learning communities is learning. Unfortunately, the learning often goes missing in many professional learning communities. In this five-week e-learning program, author and educator Lois Brown Easton takes an organic approach to purpose-driven professional learning and offers tools and strategies for focusing the work of learning communities on educator learning and student achievement. Participants will analyze their current learning communities and share strategies for strengthening existing professional learning communities and building new communities from the ground up. Through weekly live sessions and collaborative group activities, participants will learn and share strategies for building trust within a learning community, purposefully engaging colleagues in dialogue, and maintaining focus on a learning community’s purpose.

All program participants will receive a print copy of Easton’s book, Professional Learning By Design: Putting the Learning Back Into PLCs.

In addition, program participants will:

• Understand the professional learning structures and practices that lead to effective professional learning;
• Know how to link purpose to structure within a learning community;
• Understand the key elements of organizing a professional learning community;
• Explore strategies for helping colleagues work better in groups;
• Learn key skills related to facilitating dialogue and soliciting feedback; and
• Examine the purpose, mission, vision, organization, and other key elements of a community in which they currently participate.

The program runs Oct. 25-Nov. 22, with weekly live sessions Tuesdays at 1-2 p.m. Eastern time.

Program fee is $199 for Learning Forward members; $249 for nonmembers. For groups of four or more, the fee is $149 per person.

Visit www.learningforward.org/elearning/programs for more information or to sign up.