ments, the CCSS must allow students to:
“Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners …” and “Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others …”
As for teachers, it is imperative that educators share curriculum, effective instructional strategies, and assessment, in order for the school community to accomplish the goals of the common core.
How does a learning community benefit educators?
- It builds professional knowledge allowing educators to make meaning of work while providing best practice leading to student success.
- Learning communities are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be accessed from anywhere to everywhere.
- These learning communities remove educators from the isolation of their four walls and provide a supportive team rich in resources, reflection, and feedback.
- New resources, tools, methods, and research are constantly made available… many times within minutes of creation, production, or publication.
- They provide a way to promote and model life-long learning allowing for necessary transformation and change that has become a mandate in today’s education environment.
Developing a PLN or PLC is a process… not a destination. – Many educators have described this process in various stages. Over the last fifteen years I have attended numerous conferences, while also immersing myself in great reading material from excellent educational writers such as David Warlick, Jeff Utecht, and Alan November. I have also had a chance to provide in-services and have watched teachers across the country become familiar with learning communities. From my readings and observations I have noted that a learning community journey just might develop something like this:
The Ten Step Approach To Developing A Learning Community.
- Developing Awareness: Teachers must first develop the awareness of what a modern PLN or PLC is. The concept is not new… but it has expanded. While these communities have always existed as school grade levels, departments, and entire faculties… they never extended much farther. Becoming aware of this new community that extends beyond the school and district boundaries is a first step.
- Taking The Big Plunge: Becoming aware is important, but taking the plunge is necessary for the process to begin. The plunge involves not only learning about, but actually getting on the web to investigate the rich opportunities and possibilities. This sometimes means taking a step outside one’s comfort zone. The experience is well worth it… especially when the reward is the next step!
- Experiencing The WOW Moment: The plunge suddenly results in the “Wow Factor.” Educators become amazed and somewhat overwhelmed by all of the resources and opportunities. They begin to bookmark, copy/paste, commit to memory, and take notes on all the possibilities. It is in this phase that the art of curation becomes important. More on that later..
- Enter The Time Warp: Ever seen time fly by? Well, it sure begins to as goldmines of resources and amazing tools are discovered. Read this article, check out this app, watch this webinar, or wow… another cool website! By the way… what time is it? I think I forgot to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
- Making The Big Grade: The “WOW” becomes bigger and bigger as time goes by like the speed of light… or at least kind of close. Soon teachers must begin to do what they have always been known to do. That is, making the big grade, assessing the situation and all it’s possibilities.
- Experiencing The Light Bulb Getting Brighter: As the light bulb begins to illuminate this new path, discoveries are made. Educators realize they can’t connect with everyone nor can they read every collection of resources on the web. After all, they do have to teach and there are new things on the web everyday! Possibly there are some resources that apply best… and others people who can help and assist! Perhaps with the help of their growing and helpful new learning community they spend