Learning Forward
Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.
Through learning communities, schools can change to strengthen educator practice and improve student learning outcomes. So can districts. For 20 years, we have helped states, districts, and schools in the United States and Canada implement Whole-Faculty Study Groups, a design for learning communities. During the 2010-11 school year, we reconnected with colleagues across the United States to discover how their work with learning communities through the Whole-Faculty Study Groups design transformed the culture of schools and districts, strengthened educator practice, and improved student learning. Their experiences demonstrate three key lessons: Educators must focus on outcomes and inquiry cycles. Learning teams, learning communities, and schools need ongoing support and pressure. Sharing is essential. These key points support the Outcomes standard of Learning Forward’s Standards for Professional
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Principles of Whole-Faculty Study GroupsÂ
- Students are first.
- Everyone participates.
- Leadership is shared.
- Responsibility is equal.
- Improvement requires learning.
- The work is public.
Site Professional Learning System
District expectations for the Site Professional Learning System in Springfield (Mo.) Public Schools include:
- Teachers use contract time to actively engage in collaboration/learning.
- Data drives each team’s work and classroom instruction.
- Plan and work must align with the school improvement plan and exhibit cycles of improvement.
- Teams document work and monitor outcomes.
- Leader provides written and verbal feedback to collaborative teams and opportunities to make the work public.
References
Langlois, J.C. (2010, December). Raising Louisiana achievement through job-embedded professional development. Conference session presented at the Learning Forward Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Learning Forward. (2011). Standards for Professional Learning. Oxford, OH: Author.
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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