Groups at Work: Structures and Strategies for Professional Learning

Groups at Work:Structures and Strategies for

Professional Learning

Developed by Bruce Wellman & Laura Lipton, Co-Directors

WELCOME

“Should we start without them?”

Today’s Session

Crafting the Virtual Container Purpose-Driven Planning Framing the Discourse Organizing and Integrating

ConnectionsSchool improvement is primarily a problem of design; student failure is an outcome of ineffective design.

• What are some connections you are making between this quote and your work?

CRAFTING THE CONTAINER

STARTING the Conversation


STARTING the ConversationSTRUCTURING the Conversation


STARTING the ConversationSTRUCTURING the ConversationSUSTAINING thinking in the

Conversation

Seven Premises1. Groups develop, and their development can

be positively influenced.2. Human behavior has a biological and

sociological legacy.3. There are predictable dynamics in groups.4. Work sessions should be learning sessions.5. Investing energy in design saves energy in

delivery.6. Shaping the discourse determines direction7. You can’t lead where you won’t go.

Brainstorm and CategorizeWhat comes to mind when you

think of a productive meeting/work session?

The Group Leader’s Design Mind p.14


Three Stances for Leading Groups

PROCESS

• Structures • Strategies • Stances



The purpose today is. . . To revise the middle school math curriculum.

The purpose today is. . .

The Purpose

The purpose today is. . . To revise the middle school math curriculum.

To provide carefully sequenced skills and concepts that ensure math success for all middle school learners.

The purpose today is. . .

The Purpose

The purpose today is. . . To develop a bullying prevention plan.

Creating a Purpose Statement

Word Bankensure, promote, address, provide, optimize, maximize, clarify, guarantee, integrate

The purpose today is. . . To implement the new equity education mandates.



The purpose today is. . . To learn 15 strategies for teaching English Language Learners.



Knowledge

Declarative

Procedural

Conditional

Implement Transfer DesistAction

Product Performance/Skill Set

Decision

Result

Context: A new math curriculum has been developed for your district. You are a curriculum specialist charged with its successful adoption.

Planning Outcomes p. 17

Knowledge

Declarative

Procedural

Conditional



Decision

Result

Purpose: To increase equity and opportunity for success for a diverse population of math learners.

Task Outcomes:


Knowledge

Declarative

Procedural

Conditional



Decision

Result


Task Outcomes:


Knowledge

Declarative

Procedural

Conditional



Decision

Result


Task Outcomes:


Knowledge

Declarative

Procedural

Conditional



Decision

Result

Context: You are an elementary principal leading grade level teams to decide which graphic organizers will be taught at which grade levels.


Knowledge

Declarative

Procedural

Conditional



Decision

Result

Purpose: Collaborative engagement to produce aligned instructional strategies for greater student achievement.

Task Outcomes: Session One:


Knowledge

Declarative

Procedural

Conditional



Decision

Result

Purpose: Collaborative engagement to produce aligned instructional strategies for greater student achievement.

Task Outcomes: Session Two:


Knowledge

Declarative

Procedural

Conditional



Decision

Result

Context: You are a literacy specialist working with a team to create classroom based formative assessments.

Exercise: • Craft your purpose

statement.• Develop your first session

outcomes.


Individually:Construct an “elevator speech” that describes your understanding of the Designer’s Mind to someone who hasn’t participated in this session.Form pairs and

deliver your speeches.

Elevator Speech

Frames are mental structures that shape the way we see the world. As a result, they shape the goals we seek, the plans we make, the way we act, and what counts as a good or bad outcome of our actions.

George Lakoff

The Frame

The purpose

The outcomes

The boundaries

The intentions

The benefits

The logistics

The Frame p.22

Our purpose today is________________________________________________.

By the end of our session, we should be able to_________________________

____________________________. We can expect_______________________

___________________. My intention is __________________________in order to

accomplish__________________________________.

The Frame: Sample Templates p.23

Your team’s task is to __________________________________. To achieve this, you

will be ____________________________________. As a result, you will be able to

_______________________________. To begin, you will

__________________________________________.


This session is one in a series of _____________________________. There

will be meetings monthly, from ____________________________. The

overarching purpose for the work is to _________________________. There

are several ‘givens’ necessary to incorporate into the task. These

include: _____________________________________________. Given that,

please anticipate _________________________________. To begin, please be

aware that the process will include _____________________and is intended

to produce _______________.


Our purpose today is________________________________________________.

By the end of our session, we should be able to_________________________

____________________________. We can expect_______________________

___________________. My intention is __________________________in order to

accomplish__________________________________.

Our purpose today is to enhance the effectiveness of our new reading program.

By the end of our session, we will define selection criteria and quality standards for

adoptable materials. We can expect to work interactively, both in grade level and cross

grade level task teams . My intention is to provide process structures to guide the work in

order to accomplish our task within the allotted time frame.

The Frame: Sample Templates p. 25

Skilled leadersUse pronouns with

purpose

Principle for Leaders

Using space

Using body

Using voice

Using language

The Frame: Delivery p. 24

Using Space• Establish spatial anchors• Create a visual third point

The Frame: Delivery p.24

Using Space• Establish spatial anchors• Create a visual third point

The Frame: Delivery p.24

Using Body• Stand still• Frozen gesture• Physical focus on the third

point

credible voice

approachable voice

Using VoiceThe Frame: Delivery p.26

• Credible - for focusing attention

- for framing task & process- for presenting information

credible voice

approachable voice

Using VoiceThe Frame: Delivery p.26

• Approachable- for creating psychological

safety- for inviting thinking - for encouraging responses

Here’s What!

So What? Now What?new idea,insight,application

actions I mighttake, questions I still have

significance to my work

Here’s What! So What? Now What?

For next time

1. Craft and apply a frame using the template on p.42-43.

For next time

1. Craft and apply a frame using the template on p.42-43.2. Try one or more of today’s strategies:

GAW p.# Stem Completion p.90 Brainstorm & Categorize p.36 Elevator Speech p.65 Here’s What! So What? Now What? p.26

Be ready to share your reflections at the start of the next webinar.

Starting the Conversation

Structuring the Conversation

Sustaining Thinking in the Conversation

Structuring Decisions - p.5

Group size & composition

Length of time

Degree of structure

Structuring Decisions - p. 5

Group size & composition

Length of time

Degree of structure

A Principle for Leaders p. 66

Skilled leaders

Signal Stance Change

Application Burst

• Review the strategies/tips presented thus far

• Consider applications for your own work with groups

Documents

Groups at Work: Structures and Strategies for Professional Learning