Learning Conversations

IDEAS

Learning conversations

By Diane Zimmerman and William A. Sommers

Categories: Facilitation, Implementation, Learning designs

February 2020

Vol 41, No. 1

Education experts generally agree that reflection on practice is essential for improving teaching. Yet, in our experience, professional learning communities (PLCs) spend little time engaged in reflective practices. In light of the increasing demands on educators for excellence and accountability, reflective practice conversations ought to be front and center in PLC work — that is, reflective practice needs to become public. To put it simply, public reflective practice is a check-in: How are we doing, what are we learning from practice, what changes are making a difference, and so on. Teachers have these kinds of conversations privately but rarely have a chance to think out loud with others about what they are coming to understand about teaching and learning. That is a missed opportunity. One

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Authors

Diane P. Zimmerman and William A. Sommers

Diane P. Zimmerman (dpzimmer@gmail.com) is a writer and independent consultant and William A. Sommers (sommersb4@gmail.com) is a leadership coach and independent consultant and a former member of the Learning Forward board of trustees.

References

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York-Barr, J., Sommers, W., Ghere, G., & Montie, J. (2016). Reflective practice for renewing schools (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.