Collaborate & Learn

(Facilitate Collective Professional Development)

Strategies to try...

Establish PLC's or Collaborative Teams

• Keys to getting PLC's (or collaborative teams) going:
  1. Organize staff into meaningful teams.
  2. Provide teams with time to collaborate.
  3. Clarify the work teams must accomplish
  4. Monitor the work of collaborative teams
  5. Support team needs and celebrate team successes
• Additional resources on PLC's, Collaborative Teams, and Data Meetings can be found here.

Talk to Teachers About What They Need

• Use a Google Calendar and have teachers sign up for 3 time slots to check in with you about their passion projects. These meetings should happen before, during, and after the passion projects are completed.

Make Collaborating About Learning The Norm

• Don't wait for formal professional development sessions to engage in learning. Instead allow learning to flow at all times. Share articles via email, post powerful infographics on bulletin boards, talk about data, and use every opportunity that the staff is physically together to engage in collective learning.

Build Common Time Into The Schedule

• Ensure that they have time to collaborate. Try to give teachers at least 1 free common plan period a week per grade level, team, or department. If this doesn't work, get subs to cover so you can provide them with collaboration time.

Create a Collective Learning Chart to Document Learning

• Use a Google Doc and create a chart that tracks school-wide professional development. 3 Columns: Existing Knowledge, Learning Goals, and Understanding. Teachers are able to see where others in the school have expertise so they can develop communities of support. You can also watch for reoccurring themes about what teachers want and need for additional PD. People can also see similar needs so they can group themselves.

Take a Reading on Staff Readiness

• Make sure school culture is positive before approaching PD this way. Trust and respect must be at the core of the organization for this to work. Some may be very ready for this type of PD and others might prefer the more traditional sit and get method. If so, find a balance or provide options.

Rebrand Staff Meetings

• Do not share information that can be shared via email or newsletter. Use staff meetings as professional development through collaborative learning opportunities - - Faculty Enhancement Opportunities (FEO's). During meetings they can break up into groups to discuss or learn things together.

Make Collective Learning The Norm

• PD needs to happen in one-to-one, in small groups, and as a staff so that everyone has ownership of the learning process. After 1-1 check-ins with staff, dedicate the rest of the faculty gatherings to learning opportunities in small groups or whole group. (exploring units, grade level team meetings, looking at data, etc)

Start a Collective Learning Committee

• Gather a team of teachers from every grade level or department and meet with them on a regular basis to discuss PD needs. This think tank serves as a voice for the entire staff when determining needs of your school. Like an advisory council.

Initiate Teacher-Led Sessions That Support Collective Learning

• Educators see the value in their own work when they can share ideas, resources, and plans with colleagues. If you're not ready for passion projects, at least try to differentiate learning by letting teachers choose topics to learn from.