A study in creating professional learning communities : two schools' experiences

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Date
2006
Authors
van Zandbergen, Corey
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Education
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education, 2006
Abstract
Throughout the province of Alberta many schools are working to attain the somewhat elusive goal of becoming a "Learning Community". This study is about the journey two schools in East Central Alberta, separated by distance and a lack of cooperative tradition, undertook to become a Learning Community. It is also a study that looks at the nature of a Learning Community, and the consequences - intended and unintended - that result when school staffs engage in professional development with the learning community as an organizing principle. It is clear that professionals, working in a supportive and nurturing context, will be motivated to seek out meaningful professional development (PD) opportunities that will benefit their classrooms. Parents and students expect that teachers will network in order to seek out the PD that will create the most positive changes within their classrooms. However, trust and motivation among teachers are the essential intrinsic ingredients in the creation of a Professional Learning Community (PLC), and as the schools involved in this study have shown, they cannot be encouraged or developed overnight. These ingredients have to be slowly mixed in for the PLC model to become sustainable over the long term.
Description
iv, 128 leaves ; 29 cm. --
Keywords
Teachers -- In-service training -- Alberta , School management and organization -- Alberta , School personnel management -- Alberta , Teachers -- Professional relationships -- Alberta , School improvement programs -- Alberta
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