July 2014 3 keys to keep learning communities focused on the learning Professional learning communities have proliferated dramatically over the past several years, becoming almost commonplace as a strategy for addressing student learning problems. Much to the disappointment of many educators, though, the presence of learning communities does not always bring significant changes in student…

May 2014 Build trust for professional learning Trust is integral to educator learning and student success. From teachers to policymakers, understanding how trust contributes to professional learning and how to build it is critical at all levels. This is especially important during times of major changes, such as when systems are implementing college- and career-ready…

January 2014 Develop effective vendor relationships in professional learning While effective professional learning necessitates identifying and leveraging the expertise that exists in schools already, external vendors and technical assistance providers also have an important role to play in building educators’ capacity. Expectations for these third-party vendors are shifting and may now include reframing their roles…

November 2013 Leveraging technology in professional learning Using technology for professional learning offers the possibility of improving current processes, stretching resources, expanding the learning environment, and improving learning designs and results. New possibilities for improved learning now exist that were not available before. However, to avoid being an empty promise, technology must be part of…

March 2014 Evaluating professional learning: Measuring educator and student outcomes Educators want to know that their professional learning is effective; system and state leaders want evidence that their planning and funding are producing results; and community members want to know that educators are spending their time and tax dollars wisely and, most importantly, achieving results…