RSA#1 Professional Learning Communities, Leadership, and Student Learning

RSA #1 Professional Learning Communities, Leadership, and Student Learning

http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ807417

The article that I choose to share is a study of six middle schools in the process of implementing professional learning communities.  The authors purposed five questions, to address if these schools were meeting the goals of a professional learning community. One question purposed was, is there a relationship between professional learning communities, leadership, and student learning? (Thompson 6) The researchers looked at both urban and suburban schools. Being a teacher in an urban school I felt this gave validity to the study. This article is in line with the topic of the learning module this week.

 In order for a school to be a learning community all members including teachers and the principle have to have a common focus and student learning and be able to come to together collaboratively to accomplish this goal. They need to create and maintain this goal or mission so that all teachers especially new teachers entering the building are invested in it. According to the criteria in the continuum (DuFour, 82) for professional Learning communities at work these schools are all “sustaining” the PLC’s in their schools.

Team learning must focus on group interaction through dialogue and skillful discussion. (Thompson 1) School districts across the United States are working toward implementing PLC’s in their schools. The research on this topic tends to support this initiative. Through a collaborative effort on the part of teachers administrators and parents with a focus on student learning our nations schools can improve in all areas. As to the question, is there a relationship between PLC’s and student learning, yes. There is a strong relationship between factors.

References

DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., & Many, T. (2010). Learning by doing. (2nd ed. ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.

Research in Middle Level Education

David Hough, Ph.D., Editor Missouri State University Springfield, Missouri

2004            •            Volume 28            •            Number 1            ISSN 1084-8959