Professional Learning Communities…really?Collaboration-is it a myth or a reality?

October 22, 2014PROCEDE

Jim

How

den

Marc

h 2

2,

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Coaching teachers in a PLC or a Collaborative Inquiry

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Are you stressed ????

The 3 Levels of Ignorance

Level 1-Things you “know.” Level 2-Things you “know you don’t

know.” Level 3- Things you “don’t know you

don’t know.” But an innovation expert  thinks there

might another dimension or level.Level 4- Things you “don’t know you

know.” Stephen Shapiro

Teaching as a Subversive Activity Postman and Weingartner

« There can be no significant innovation in education that does not have at it’s center the attitudes of teachers and it is illusion to think otherwise. »

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Clay Shirky

“We have greatly overestimated the value of access to information

and greatly underestimated the value of access to each other."

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I learn….

I learn when…I learn because…I learn if…I learn with…

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EMPATHIC LISTENING

Talking is a needListening is an art.

Goethe

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It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.

Charles Darwin

Change is like 2 elephants mating

 

It's done at a high level.

It's accomplished with a great deal of roaring and thrashing.

It takes two years to produce results.

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A continuumA continuum

Conservatives Moderates Innovators

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What are the connections between this scenario and an

effective PLC?

Albert Einstein

« Insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over and expecting different results. »

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A few questions

Do teachers collaborate already? Do

teachers entering the profession feel

that they belong to a community

within a school board? Within the

school? Do YOU collaborate?

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And a few more…

Let’s talk about the same thing; how does a collaborative culture translate into action in your reality?

What are some concrete examples of how to CREATE and not only form Professional Learning Communities? How? Why? When? What are they!?

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My thoughts!

A Professional Learning Community is enhanced by and is further developed by a level of collaboration based on a reflective dialogue: meaning a dialogue about pedagogy, learning, teaching and students.

A climate of mutual respect increases the level of growth amongst teachers.

Mutual respect is conceptualized as follows:

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Risk-taking:Accepting errors and one’s capacity to re-adjust

Accepting others’ errors as natural to the process of personal and professional growth

Assistance:Recognizing that I can help;

Understanding that someone might need help; Accepting to make the effort to help and to ask for help.

Democracy:Respecting the rights of all;

Accepting the diversity of opinions, talents and experiences; Validate everyone’s importance

Involvement:Making an intellectual effort;

Making an interpersonal commitment to resolve conflicts.

Openness to others:Making the first step towards others-intellectually and emotionally;

Accepting that differences lead to creativity and not conflict.

Trust:Trusting in self with support of others;

Trusting others.

Empathic Listening

Making connections with your school board

Values of a collaborativeCulture

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Values of your school board

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CREATING A PLC

Creating a PLC based on a collaborative culture is not a simple « check-list »…it is a non linear , constant challenge - and a passion!

Dufour,2008

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AEFO/ADFO

An approach to implementing PLCs in schools: 1. Mission 2. Vision 3. Values 4. Building team cohesiveness

14. Analyzing data THOUGHTS????

Please understand me! ( Kiersey)

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Accept one another

Benefit from one another

Celebrate with one another

Do I have to answer this question? No one told me we'd be asked this question. It is not on the agenda!

Hmmm, I don't know. What do you think? Maybe we should ask the others. By the way, that is a lovely glass. Did your mother give it to you?

Is the glass half empty ? half full?

Is the glass half empty ? half full?

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Well, due to the irregular shape of the glass, a guess based on a visual cue would be inaccurate. Hmmmm why don't you do this: Make a mark on the glass (make sure you mark it at the bottom of the meniscus), then pour the contents into another, bigger, glass……

Are we going to fool around with glasses all day? I've got a party to go to at 4:45!

The Golden Rules

Establish explicit norms for PLC communication and collaboration in order to build openness and trust among members.

How to better structure your Professional Learning Communities?

Know how to collaborate Common training Exchange of best practices Shared knowledge and competence

Ability to collaborate Constitution of the actual team Common language Time and space management

Want to collaborate Conviviality Collaborative culture

And………..

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Inspiré de Le Boterf Conseil 2005Inspiré de Le Boterf Conseil 2005

Working together is not enough-you have to structure collaboration within your PLC

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1. Consider the composition of the PLC.2. Invest in the team! (affective before cognitive).3. Create interdependence within the PLC.4. Identify the collaborative skills necessary for completing the task.5. Reflect on the process as well as evaluate the group product.

Apollo 13

Confronted with a challenge never faced before, and with limited resources and time, the team has to react!

Success or failure will have a direct impact on many people.

Apollo 13 astronauts were quoted saying « Failure is not an option » « Let’s concentrate on what we have and not

on we de don’t have! Let’s work together! »

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We learn by doing if we reflect on

what we have done. Dewey 1932

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The End of my presentation…..your turn!

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Talking is a needListening is an art.

Goethe

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Do I have to answer this question? No one told me we'd be asked this question. It is not on the agenda!

Hmmm, I don't know. What do you think? Maybe we should ask the others. By the way, that is a lovely glass. Did your mother give it to you?

Is the glass half empty ? half full?

Is the glass half empty ? half full?

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Well, due to the irregular shape of the glass, a guest based on a visual cue would be inaccurate. Hmmmm why don't you do this: Make a mark on the glass (make sure you mark it at the bottom of the meniscus), then pour the contents into another, bigger, glass……

Are we going to fool around with glasses all day? I've got a party to go to at 3:30!

Generational Descriptors

Veterans Boomers Gen X’ers

Gen Y’s

Defining idea…

Duty Individuality Diversity Optimism

Success because…

Fought hard & won

Born and should have it

Have two jobs

Tenacity

Style… Team player

Self-absorbed

Entre-preneur

Team player

Leisure is…

Reward for hard work

The point of life

Relief Part of life

Generational Descriptors

Veterans

Boomers Gen X’ers

Gen Y’s

Education is…

A dream A birthright

A way to get ahead

Life-long

Surprises in life are…

Some good, some bad

All good Avoid them all – All bad

Can be good

Future is…

Rainy day to work for

Now is more important

Uncertain, but man-ageable

Can be planned for

Managing money…

Save Spend Hedge Spend parent’s $

Generational Descriptors

Veterans

Boomers Gen X’ers

Gen Y’s

Sex… On your honey-moon

In your car Over the Internet

Back to basics

The phone is…

Rotary Touch tone

Cellular Wireless

Technology

Slide rules

Calculators

Spread-sheets

Nintendo

Source: Rocking the Ages, Smith, J. Walker and Ann Clurman

Veterans Values

Dedication/sacrificeLaw and orderStrong work ethicRisk averseRespect for

authority

PatienceDelayed rewardDuty, honor, countryLoyalty to the

organization

Boomer Values

OptimismTeam workPersonal

gratificationHealth and wellness

Promotion and recognition

YouthWorkVolunteerism

Gen X Values

DiversityThinking globallyBalance in lifeComputer literacyPersonal

development

FunInformalityIndependenceInitiative

Gen Y Values

OptimismCivic dutyConfidenceAmbition/

achievementTradition

EducationIdealismFunDiversity

The Way They See the WorldVeterans

Boomers Gen X’ers Gen Y’s

Outlook Practical Optimistic Skeptical Hopeful

Work ethic Dedicated

Driven Balanced Determined

View of authority

Respectful

Love/Hate Unimpressed

Polite

Leadership by

Hierarchy

Consensus Competence

Pulling together

Relationships

Personal sacrifice

Personal gratification

Reluctance to commit

Inclusive

Turnoffs Vulgarity Political incorrectness

Cliché, hype

Intolerance

Veterans at Work

Assets

StableDetail orientedThoroughLoyalHard working

Liabilities

Inept w/ambiguity and change

Reluctant to buck the system

Uncomfortable with conflict

Reticent when they disagree

Boomers at Work

AssetsService orientedDrivenWilling to “go the

extra mile”Good at

relationshipsWant to pleaseGood team

players

LiabilitiesNot naturally “budget

minded”Uncomfortable with

conflictReluctant to go against

peersPut process ahead of

resultsSensitive to feedbackJudgmental of those who

see things differently

Gen X’ers at Work

AssetsAdaptableTechno-literateIndependentNot intimidated by

authorityCreative

LiabilitiesImpatientPoor people skillsInexperiencedCynical

Gen Y’s at Work

AssetsLoyaltyOptimismTolerantMulti-taskingFast-thinkingTechnological savvy

LiabilitiesNeed for

supervision and structure

Inexperience, particularly with handling different people issues

Messages that Motivate Veterans

“Your experience is respected here.”

“It’s important for the rest of us to hear what has, and hasn’t, worked in the past.”

“Your perseverance is valued and will be rewarded.”

Messages that Motivate Boomers

“You are important to our success.

“We recognize your unique and important contribution to our team.”

What is your vision for this project?”

“You are valued.”

Messages that Motivate Gen X’ers

“Do it your way.”

“We’ve got the latest computer technology.”

“There aren’t a lot of rules here.”

“We’re not very corporate.”

Messages that Motivate Gen Y’s

“We provide equal opportunities here.”

“Your mentor is in his/her sixties.”

“You are making a positive difference to our company.”

“You handled that situation well.”

Working together is not enough-you have to structure collaboration

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1. Consider the composition of the school teams/department.2. Invest in the team! (affective before cognitive).3. Create interdependence within the team.4. Identify the collaborative skills necessary for completing the task.5. Reflect on the process as well as evaluate the group product.

A Few Comments…A Few Comments…

The number one predictor of becoming and staying effective is the ability of the members of an organization to confront and resolve conflict -- and they must learn those skills -- they are not in us automatically.

The most common skill or attitude in all job adds relates to communication skills and interpersonal skills, as well as, being able to work as part of a team.

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A Few Comments…A Few Comments…

Vygotsky, Piaget, Dewey, Skinner all argued Vygotsky, Piaget, Dewey, Skinner all argued that learning is socially constructed.that learning is socially constructed.

Neurologists argue that talk is essential for Neurologists argue that talk is essential for intellectual growth.intellectual growth.

Expert research argues that experts evolve Expert research argues that experts evolve through their engagement with others. They through their engagement with others. They do not work in isolation.do not work in isolation.

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A COLLABORATIVE CULTURE :

A GRADUAL PROCESS

Accommodation Independence Cooperation Collaboration

McEwan, 1997

Apollo 13

Confronted with a challenge never faced before, and with limited resources and time, the team has to react!

Success or failure will have a direct impact on many people.

Apollo 13 astronauts were quoted saying « Failure is not an option » « Let’s concentrate on what we have and not

on we de don’t have! Let’s work together! »

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Structure your success!66

We learn by doing if we reflect on what we have done.

Dewey 1932

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The End of my presentation…..your turn!

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Let’s explore another aspect of PLCs-a plan that could be a reality for English Second

Language teachers in Quebec

On-line Professional Learning Communities

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Participants in on-line learning communities are both the recipients and the providers of professional development.

There is a high level of accountability to the process.

Can you see this working with the teachers that you work with? Why? Why not?

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The Way They See the World

Veterans Boomers Gen X’ers Gen Y’s

Outlook Practical Optimistic Skeptical Hopeful

Work ethic Dedicated Driven Balanced Determined

View of authority

Respectful

Love/Hate Unimpressed

Polite

Leadership by

Hierarchy Consensus Competence Pulling together

Relationships Personal sacrifice

Personal gratification

Reluctance to commit

Inclusive

Turnoffs Vulgarity Political incorrectness

Cliché, hype Intolerance

71

Generational Descriptors

Matures Boomers Gen X’ers Gen Y’s

Defining idea…

Duty Individuality Diversity Optimism

Success because…

Fought hard & won

Born and should have it

Have two jobs

Tenacity

Style… Team player

Self-absorbed

Entre-preneur

Team player

Leisure is…

Reward for hard work

The point of life

Relief Part of life

Generational Descriptors

Matures Boomers Gen X’ers

Gen Y’s

Education is…

A dream A birthright A way to get ahead

Life-long

Surprises in life are…

Some good, some bad

All good Avoid them all – All bad

Can be good

Future is… Rainy day to work for

Now is more important

Uncertain, but man-ageable

Can be planned for

Managing money…

Save Spend Hedge Spend parent’s $

Generational Descriptors

Matures Boomers Gen X’ers Gen Y’s

Sex… On your honey-moon

In your car Over the Internet

Back to basics

The phone is…

Rotary Touch tone Cellular Wireless

Technology Slide rules

Calculators Spread-sheets

Nintendo

Source: Rocking the Ages, Smith, J. Walker and Ann Clurman

Reciprocal teaching and other structures

Adapted from: Rita Carter - Mapping the Mind Visuals : Kagan, S. Provided by: Monique Mainella

Visual Cortex-Reading Vocabulary, words

Broca

Listening- Auditory cortex Discussions, being engaged in the process

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Working together is not enough-you have to structure collaboration

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1. Consider the composition of the school teams/department.2. Invest in the team! (affective before cognitive).3. Create interdependence within the team.4. Identify the collaborative skills necessary for completing the task.5. Reflect on the process as well as evaluate the group product.