Matt's+Page

=**UPDATE FROM MATT ON 10/30**: I wrote a 2.5 page section on PLCs. See the discussion area to read it over, thanks!=

I found some very good articles concerning PLC's which may fit perfectly into our work. I've mentioned these before, but I'll have something concrete written up and posted here prior to our 10/28 meeting. Here's a small piece of each article that I found interesting:

=__**Source #1 - Professional Learning Communities: Overcoming the Roadblocks**__= LUJAN, N., & DAY, B. (2009). Professional Learning Communities: Overcoming the Roadblocks. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 76(2), 10-17. Retrieved from EBSCO MegaFILE database.

__**Research Questions (these give MAJOR insight into the purpose of the study)**__

There were two overarching research questions:
 * 1) What was the effect of the implementation of Professional Learning Communities on roadblocks to collaboration among teachers?
 * 2) If roadblocks were addressed, did the collaborative culture change?

In addition, the following questions were also explored:
 * 1) How did the implementation of Professional Learning Communities allow/disallow for sufficient time for teachers to collaborate?
 * 2) How did the implementation of Professional Learning Communities impact the isolated nature of the profession?
 * 3) How did the implementation of Professional Learning Communities impact conflicts that occur when divergent points of view are present?

__**Findings: What are the Roadblocks?**__
 * 1) Time Restraints
 * 2) Isolation among Teachers
 * 3) Divergent Views among Teachers
 * 4) Collaborative Culture Can Improve

__**Recommendations and Conclusions: Overcoming the Roadblocks**__ > and Assessment > Recommended
 * 1) Time Must Be Kept Sacred
 * 2) Include Deep Discussions about Planning, Instruction,
 * 1) Training for New Faculty is Essential
 * 2) Shared Planning Time during the School Day is

__**Conclusions**__ (Direct Quote, won't be done this way in the paper!) "Based on the data collected in this study there have been definite improvements to the collaborative culture. In the past, PLCs in the school where this study took place were meeting on an inconsistent basis and, based on observations, spent a significant amount of their meetings discussing superficial things such as field trips and fundraisers. After the implementation of PLCs, PLCs were meeting consistently, had norms in place to structure the meetings, had goals and assignments from the administration to accomplish during those meetings, to some extent shared teaching strategies, and to a greater extent discussed curriculum content and planned common assessments. Although the collaborative culture was still not the idealized version, it was an improvement. Is PLC the answer for everyone? Maybe, maybe not, but it was found to make a difference in the context of this study, and revealed the potential for continued improvement in facilitating collaboration in schools."

=__Source #2 - Leading Deep Conversations in Collaborative Inquiry Groups__= Nelson, T., Deuel, A., Slavit, D., & Kennedy, A. (2010). Leading Deep Conversations in Collaborative Inquiry Groups. Clearing House, 83(5), 175-179. doi:10.1080/00098650903505498.

The following major topics are explored and serve as guidance on how to foster deep discussion and not just sharing.


 * 1) Congenial Conversations and the Avoidance of Conflict
 * 2) Learning How to Foster Collegial Conversations
 * 3) Looking Closely at a Deep Conversation
 * 4) Energizing Shared Leadership for Deep Conversations About Teaching and Learning

There are some great ideas in this article, I'll show everyone a full copy on 10/28.