Collegial Circles
Providing opportunities that enhance teaching and learning
Promoting a culture of collaboration
Encouraging continuous learning so that each member of the education team can attain the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to perform at the highest professional standards.
A collegial circle is designed to assist a group of educators who are committed to enhancing or
improving their professional practice through collaborative work. The group comes together on a regular basis to discuss a common goal, need, interest, or question. There is a shared
commitment to the purpose of the group.
Professional learning that takes place through collegial circles is often some of the most meaningful learning we do as educators. It is grounded in the real work going on in our classrooms/schools and its collaborative nature provides a safe environment for professionals to take risks and gather feedback. Perhaps most important, it is focused either directly or indirectly on student outcomes and what is happening with our learners.
Examples of effective structures to use in collegial circles:
Action Research
This structure allows participants to use research techniques to identify topics important to their
practice, examine their own practice, and/or explore how to become more effective. An action
research group first identifies an area of focus and develops a question(s) to be answered. Questions typically fall into one of these broad categories: student outcomes, individual practices, school/classroom environment. The next steps are to develop an action plan, collect and analyze data, report findings related to the question, and implement practices that improve student outcomes.
Literature Study
Participants who want to learn about a new idea or strategy with colleagues can do so through a literature study. In this structure, participants read a book or a series of articles related to a specific topic or strategy related to their practice. Through regular meetings, participants explore the new idea and how it can impact their work with students. They will implement those strategies, and reflect on those experiences collectively.
Strategy Implementation
Imagine a teacher who is excited about a new strategy or technique he/she wants to implement. Too often, working in isolation makes it difficult to implement new ideas as we lack the feedback and support of others that can enhance our learning. Collegial circles focusing on strategy implementation are designed to provide a collaborative environment for a group of teachers to implement new ideas together. They will implement those strategies, and reflect on those experiences collectively.
Process:
Proposals are submitted electronically to the Teacher Center.
Proposals are reviewed by a sub-committee of the Teacher Center Policy Board. The committee will either: Approve proposal and grant hours appropriate for credit (hours vary per proposal) or Send proposal back to contact person for clarification and revision.
Approved Collegial Circles meet and begin their work. A final Report of the Collegial Circle’s work is submitted to the Teacher Center for review.
What are the Expectations of a Collegial Circle?
Members participate fully in meetings in order to receive credit. The contact person facilitates meetings and keeps a log of the circle’s work Meeting logs include: A brief summary of each meeting; Record of attendance; Plans for the next meeting’s agenda.
Final Reports include: A log of strategies and techniques implemented, knowledge gained, and/or instructional tools developed; Samples of strategies, techniques, and/or instructional tools implemented; Data/evaluations to demonstrate impact or work on student learning; Assessment sheet to be completed by each member of the circle.
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