...There is no universal definition for professional learning community. But we can see a wide range of definitions are exits in the professional learning community framework. PLC may have nuances of explanations in different contexts. Mitchell and Sackney (2000, as cited in Wang, 2018) interpret that “PLC is a set of people sharing and critically interrogating their practice in an ongoing, reflective, collaborative, inclusive, learning oriented, growth-promoting way.” Bolam et al (2005) describes “an effective PLC has the capacity to promote and susutain the learning of all professionals in the school community with the collective purpose of enhancing pupil learning”. According to Hipp and Huffman (2010, as sited in Wang, 2018) they see PLC as “professional educators working collectively and purposefully to create and sustain a culture of learning for all students and adults”. Another definition by Liberman and Miller (1999) describes PLC as “places in which teachers pursue clear shared purposes for student learning, engage in collaborative...
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...about theories, history, change, and influential people. For my final reflection, I have chosen professional learning communities, conflict, and motivation as the three topics that I will address. I chose these topics for many reasons, but the main reason for choosing was simply that I wanted to follow my heart. It was important to me to choose topics that I could relate to or that I had a vested interest in. These topics are also very relevant in my current working situation. Through this reflection, I hope to gain further insight to these topics and to build my capacity as an instructional leader. Overview of Topics Professional Learning Communities A Professional Learning Community (PLC) is a group of educational professionals who come together to work collaboratively with the ultimate goal of improving student achievement. According to DuFour (2004), in a PLC, educators engage in on-going dialogue and questioning about teaching and learning. Engaging in meaningful collaborative conversations encourages deep professional learning, and this teacher learning may result in higher levels of student achievement (Dufour, 2004). The research conducted by Ferguson (2013) explored the struggles faced by a school administration in implementing a PLC. The study found that in spite of all of the frustrations associated with implementation, creating a professional learning communities created a more collaborative culture in which teachers worked together to benefit all...
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...Implementing Change through Professional Development Implementing Change through Professional Development As the instructional leader of the organization, I believe that the implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs) will be the most promising path for sustained and substantive improvement of our school. According to DuFour, DuFour, and Eaker (2008), leaders can take comfort in knowing that there is abundant research to support PLCs. The function of the instructional leader is to teach the employees what the characteristics of a learning organization are and how to achieve these characteristics within the organization. A true leader uses their power for good and gets their faculty on their side not by manipulation, but by taking the personal power route to gain full support and trust from his or her employees. Culture for organizational culture is a set of values, norms, and practices that prevail in an organization transformation-based direction of turnaround. This means enhancing the coordination between the people and to match resources with environment and capabilities. Cultural values are often embedded in people through their direct experience with family, most important, and thereafter in social groups of which they often perceived to be associated with. DuFour et al. (2008) stated that a leader could present the following findings from researchers both inside and outside education to convince those who find research persuasive. Schools should...
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... GIFTED CHILD TODAY Features Avenues to Professional Learning Online Technology Tips and Tools for Professional Development in Gifted Education Catherine A. Little1 and Brian C. Housand2 Abstract: The use of online methods for professional development activities is on the rise, with more schools exploring creative ways of providing teacher learning opportunities. Online professional development offers a promising direction for providing increased learning opportunities, promoting professional collaboration, and supporting teacher facility with technology resources. In gifted education, online activities may present effective ways of connecting gifted education professionals across multiple schools and districts and providing professional learning experiences in gifted education for colleagues in general education. In this article, the authors discuss key features of professional development and considerations for applying them in an online learning context. The authors emphasize the importance of coherence with the curriculum, active engagement, sustained attention, and administrative support. They then discuss five avenues or approaches for implementing online professional development, representing a range of interactive elements and opportunities for blending live and online components. Within each avenue presented, the authors share specific resources that would support implementation in the professional learning context. “ Online activities may present effective...
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...Reviews Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s) have become common place within educational communities. PLC’s are a collection of educators working collaboratively towards a common goal to increase positive outcomes of students in the learning process. Educators may be involved in multiple groups of PLC’s pertaining to the different groups of students that they serve through their job descriptors. PLC’s were born out of the newest attempt of educational reform surrounding educational standards, in order to focus on best practices within the classroom that achieve the best outcomes. The following websites have been reviewed as a part of research into PLC’s. www.ascd.org The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development...
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...Odyssey. As a good friend, Mentor was asked by Odysseus to watch over his palace and his son when he left to fight in the Trojan War. In this position of responsibility, Mentor coached and counseled Telemachus, Odysseus' son, guiding him in his development from infancy to early-adulthood. A significant number of organizations, such as commercial ones, are adopting mentoring programs as a vital part of their professional development plans. Mentoring is an effective tool to foster professional development to both the mentor and mentee. The practice of mentoring beginning teachers emerged in the 1980s as a professional development strategy for achieving a variety of goals. Teacher mentoring programs are now perceived as an effective staff development approach for beginning teachers. Cooper and Miller (1998) state that the benefits of mentoring include :faster, more effective integration of new teachers, retention of quality professionals, increased transfer of skills from one generation to another; gains in productivity and performance; increased learning from professional development activities; enhanced communication, commitment, and motivation; and a stabilizing factor in times of change. Zimbabwe introduced the attachment model for the first time in 1995. Shumbayawonda (2001) says “In 1995 Zimbabwe introduced the attachment model where student teachers were placed under the charge of experienced qualified teachers”. Definition of terms Mentor Furlong and Maynard (1995)...
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...EDU 695 Week 5 DQ 2 Professional Learning Communities NEW To Buy This material Click below link http://www.uoptutors.com/edu-695-ash/edu-695-week-5-dq-2-professional-learning-communities-new Professional Learning Communities One component of the 21st Century Professional Development framework encourages sharing knowledge with fellow faculty, using face-to-face, virtual and blended communications. When we think of sharing knowledge, we often think of using professional learning communities. In several of your courses, the concept of a professional learning community (PLC) is presented and elaborated on. A professional learning community consists of individuals with an interest in eduction. The focus of a professional learning community can be taking measures to ensure students learn, creating a culture of collaboration in the school, for school improvement and more (DuFour, 2004). In this discussion, you will deliberate about the use of professional learning communities as they relate to the 21st Century Professional Development framework with an emphasis on technology. Initial Post: Think about the 21st Century Professional Development framework and technology when working in your mock professional learning community. Next, imagine your state legislatures have asked the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office to advise them regarding the creation of a blended professional learning community across the districts within the state. As an educator who is well versed in employing...
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...change is either ignored or left to others, especially the client, to implement” (p. 165). Dufour and Eaker (1998), report that trying to change beliefs and habits will be complex and difficult to achieve. They state, “…if a change initiative is to be sustained, the elements of that change must be embedded with in the culture of the school” (p. 133). As stated by Fullan (2008), “Systems can learn on a continuous basis. The synergistic result of the previous five secrets in action is tantamount to a system that learns from itself” (p 14). Performance and outcomes will always change so the system will have to learn from itself in order to move forward with changes for continual success. In addition, Bandura (1997) supports the idea of a system learning from itself when he says that people can and do control their own...
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...Sickels Implementing Change through Professional Development July 11, 2012 As an assignment to reorganize this learning organization to be a more professional learning community there will be numerous suggestions submitted that will make this change happen. Even though these changes will cause a great deal of pain and discomfort in some, overall the goals of this plan are to move the organization to the next level and make us a more acceptable educational institution. Hopefully, this will strengthen our capacity and we will be able to grow substantially because of these changes. As you may or may not know, the basis of many of these changes will be taken from suggestions made from the work of DuFour, DuFour, and Eaker’s research which has taken many years of research and development. These suggestions will serve as the framework into our new future and will serve us for years to come. The Professional Learning Communities (PLC) concept As a development design the Professional Learning Communities (PLC) concept will be employed as the foundation to the schools reorganization. How does and what exactly is PLC as it relates to reorganization will be described as follows: In order to better understand PLC a clearer view of learning organizations will assist in this process. Learning organizations are united by a shared vision of student and staff learning together. They have common values of respect,...
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... 1. Describe key areas of the selected company’s code of conduct that are of significant importance to the business, and explain why. State all the areas covered by the code of ethics. Describe each element in detail and explain why they are important to business. Discuss each area/ element in a specific paragraph. 2. Explain the key steps that the company should take to ensure that employees follow the code of conduct. Clearly state the steps the company should take to ensure that the employees follow the code of conduct. Discuss each step in detail. 3. Suggest three (3) ways in which the restaurant can engage in socially responsive activities in the community within which it operates. Specify three ways in which the restaurant can engage in socially responsive activities in the community in which it operates. Discuss each way in a specific paragraph. Describe the strategy and the advantage to the business. References Be sure to cite all your sources. Each reference must have a correspondent in-text citation. Here are examples of references (please deleted and replace...
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...The Gap Analysis Model |[pic] |The “Gap Analysis Model” is a simple yet powerful visual tool to help clarify objectives, current realities, and action steps. The model has application to a wide | | |variety of personal and organizational situations, and can easily be used with students as well. As you examine the model, be sure to follow the section numbers and | | |start on the right side with the “ideal situation.” | Leadership Gap Analysis: 3.1 Equity Leadership Gap Analysis: 3.2 Distributed Leadership Leadership Gap Analysis: 3.3 Effective Governance Leadership Gap Analysis: 3.4 Learning Community Leadership Gap Analysis: 3.5 Professional Development Gap Analysis Worksheet: Core Agreements [pic] ----------------------- 3) CLOSING THE “GAP” This section contains the specific strategies that are designed to close the gap between the actual and the ideal. EXAMPLE: To close the gap, Central High...
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...Justify why you chose this theme; g) Provide a brief one paragraph outline for each of 6 readings or articles that are relevant to this theme (articles in the reader can be used); h) In the light of the theme develop either a booklet, or a policy relevant to your role as a leader The nurturing and development of teachers in Catholic Schools is a constant consideration for all educational leaders. A successful Catholic education facility needs to demonstrate consistent commitment to the ongoing development of the whole child. This development needs to reflect the Gospel teachings, while offering current theories and practices embedded in student learning opportunities. Professional development and mentoring of staff is a vital component in order for all staff to stay abreast of the latest pedagogy. Professional development should be purposeful, ongoing and reflective and it takes many forms depending on the individual needs and the needs that are influenced by the context of the school. Individual, target groups, whole staff, pedagogy and practice, content...
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... 2013 Part A: Issues related to teaching and learning and the larger context As we have studied this semester and prior to, teaching and learning is the foundation of school improvement. In the Jefferson High School case study, it is evident that a focus on the instructional design and development of teachers is essential to the reestablishment of its success. It is important for the leader to recognize and consider the larger context and the effect of the issues related to teaching and learning in order to build a positive and sustainable culture Jefferson High School has had tremendous shifting for approximately seven years, which has affected the school culture and is subsequently shown according to the state assessment data. There are several examples of teaching dysfunctions including (i) low expectations with students being viewed as problems rather than valued learners (ii) professional development and collaboration is nonexistent where teachers and administrators have been slow to change to meet the educational needs of the current students and (iii) new ideas, approaches or suggestions for improvement bring complaints, criticism and distrust. As a result, functions of learning have been affected including (i) low interest in post-secondary education (ii) poor academic performance on all measures and (iii) deteriorated morale as a result of minimized accomplishment. The central issue of teaching and learning at Jefferson is the lack of focus and shared vision...
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...of Education and Training, ACT Government, PO Box 1584, Tuggeranong ACT 2901. Produced for the ACT Department of Education and Training by the Measurement, Monitoring and Reporting Directorate. Telephone: Canberra 6205 9214 Fax: Canberra 6205 8353 ACT Government Homepage address 2 Introduction The purpose of this paper is to provide a research base for the ACT Department of Education and Training’s discussion paper for ACT government school teachers: Teachers and school leaders: making a difference through evidence-based practice. Evidence-based practice is defined as the collection and analysis of relevant data and research and the application of this evidence to teaching and learning and to whole school improvement. The conceptual framework of the School Excellence Initiative underpins the paper. This places student achievement and learning at the centre of any discussion. In the research literature, there are many, often contradictory definitions of data, information and knowledge. This paper will use ‘data’ as a collective (singular) noun and define terms as follows: • data: a collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn and judgements made • research: a thorough inquiry and investigation into a subject, including the collection and application of data • information: the result of processing, manipulating and organising data • knowledge: information that is shaped, comprehended and embedded in meaningful contexts ...
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...of action‟” that determines each implementation (Rowan, Correnti, Miller, & Camburn 2009): TargetTeach Five Step Process instructional practice instructional leadership student achievement TargetTeach focuses on both the short-term and long-term results that ENI customers seek as outcomes of their school reform endeavors. A school‟s instructional leadership interrelates with its patterns of instructional practice to comprise a system of transformation, as indicated by the two-directional arrows. * TargetTeach® is a registered trademark of Evans Newton Incorporated for its school improvement model comprising proprietary products and professional services to align curricula to state and local standards, fill gaps in instructional sequences, implement benchmark testing to guide instruction, and deliver professional development at all...
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