“One of the most underused resources available to educators is the community of colleagues with whom they work.” (Caine and Caine, 2010).
And that’s what Professional Learning Communities are all about! This PLC overview from ASCD provides more information on the “what” and “why” of Professional Learning Communities.
In addition, the Arkansas Department of Education has provided this short PLC informational video to support the PLC process. While a portion of this presentation focuses specifically on the Solution Tree program in P-12 schools, the fundamental principles apply to Professional Learning Communities at all levels … from Pre-School through Higher Education.
One additional resource is this PLC panel discussion where several ATU professors review the PLC process and talk about its importance as part of a collaborative, supportive school culture.
Developing a PLC is an ongoing process that starts with Three Big Ideas:
- A focus on learning
- A collaborative culture (collective responsibility)
- An orientation on results
The Six Core Principles of a PLC are …
- Shared vision, mission, values, and goals
- Collaborative teams focused on learning
- Collective inquiry
- Action orientation and experimentation
- Commitment to continuous improvement
- Results (outcomes) orientation
Whether it’s a department-level team, a district-level team, a building-level team, or a content-based team, the members of a PLC should always be working collaboratively to answer these Four Essential Questions:
- What do we want our students to learn?
- How will we know if each student learns it?
- How will we respond when some students have not learned it?
- How can we extend learning for students who already know it?
To be truly effective, every PLC meeting must be have a clear goal, and at least one of the four essential questions must be addressed each time. It’s also important for PLC meetings to occur regularly. Properly implemented, this process can help educators maintain a sustained focus on learning.
The PLC’s In Action mini-poster provides a visual reference on the ideas, principles, and questions listed above.
Finally, the Six Steps of the PLC Process are …
- Identify Essential Standards
- Creating Pacing Guides (unit guides)
- Create Common Assessments
- Administer Common Assessments
- Collect and Analyze Data
- Apply Interventions and Extensions
References:
Caine, G. and Caine, R. (2010). Strengthening and enriching your professional learning community. Alexandria, Va.: ASCD.
DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., Many, T., & Mattos, M. (2016). Learning by Doing. Bloomington: Solution Tree Press.
DuFour, R. (2004). What Is a Professional Learning Community? – Educational Leadership. [online] ASCD.org.
Mattos, et al (2016). Concise Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Professional Learning Communities at Work. Bloomington: Solution Tree Press.