Questions are a powerful tool in reflecting about practice. While engaging in learning conversations and providing feedback and insights, two types of questions are typically leveraged: Clarifying and Probing. 

When it is done properly, feedback is a very specific kind of communication: it focuses on sharing with another person the impact of their behavior and its purpose is to help that person become more effective. 

This is a structured process for helping a team think more expansively about a shared Problem of Practice. In addition, the group will develop skills in asking probing questions.

This planning tool is based on the idea that collaborative work should always lead to action. The tool should help teams and team members with the answers to these questions: What action follows from our collaborative work/learning in this session? What change will we make in our work with students, their families or our colleagues? How should we plan to use our time at our next session?

For PLCs to plan for a Small Test of Change.

Technical vs. Adaptive Work: The most common source of failure in leadership is treating adaptive challenges as if they were technical problems. This resources gives you at-a-glance strategies to operationalize Adaptive Leadership.

Asynchronous Lecturette: Introduction to Adaptive Leadership  (Password: Abeo21)

Constructivist listening is an effective strategy for engaging in conversations that are both intellectually demanding and emotionally challenging. It is distinct from most forms of listening in that its purpose is for the benefit of the speaker, not the listener.

Note Catcher for notes taken during a Consultancy.

This tool provides guiding prompts to support PLCs in making decisions for  Continuous Improvement action.

This tool provides guiding prompts to support PLCs in making decisions for Continuous Improvement action.

This equity tool is designed to describe how discourse in schools often perpetuates the dominant culture without meeting the needs of students. Changing the discourse "pushes" on existing schooling practices and results by intentionally shifting language and, ultimately, beliefs.

This strategy creates a pause in processing to reflect and share learning, be reminded of shared goals/practices, and name what might be done better in the support of racial equity and inclusion. It’s a first step to notice, see and name the obstacles that get in the way of equity. 

This protocol supports teams with root cause analysis in order to arrive at a deeper understanding of the problem a PLC is trying to solve (before jumping into solutions).

This tool is designed to use with the Fishbone Diagram Protocol as teams identify root causes to arrive at a deeper understanding of the problem a PLC is trying to solve (before jumping into solutions).

Ignite is an innovative and fast-paced style used to deliver a concise presentation. During an Ignite Talk, presenters discuss their research using 20 image-centric slides which automatically advance every 15 seconds. The result is a fun and engaging five-minute presentation.

Examine individual dilemmas in connection to the Team’s Problem of Practice.

Identifying a problem of practice is the first step and element of continuous improvement. This resource provides criteria for a rich problem of practice (PoP).

A tool to support the development and documentation of a problem of practice and its root cause analysis - a popular and often-used technique that helps people answer the question of why the problem occurred in the first place.

This template supports monitoring the progress a team makes as they engage in continuous improvement.

Principles, informed by the work of Malcolm Knowles and other theorists, can serve as guideposts when working with adult learners. They encompass what is known about brain science, learning theory, behavioral and cognitive psychology, and to some extent sociology.

Six core principles for learning community networks focused on improvement efforts.

A reference guide for descriptions and purposes of a variety of continuous improvement tools and protocols for teams to use in their improvement efforts.

The 5-Whys is a simple brainstorming tool that can help teams identify the root cause(s) of a problem. Once a general problem has been recognized (either using the Fishbone Diagram or Process Mapping), ask “why” questions to drill down to the root causes. Asking the 5-Whys allows teams to move beyond obvious answers and reflect on less obvious explanations or causes.

This tool is designed to use with the 5 Whys Guide and Template as teams identify root causes to arrive at a deeper understanding of the problem a PLC is trying to solve (before jumping into solutions).