Learning Walks: Learning From Others in Action

April 2019

Powerful professional learning experiences come from teachers watching each other in action. Teachers often think they don’t have time for this. I get it, we’re all busy. However, taking a few minutes to see another teacher in action fast-tracks professional learning experiences. We move beyond theoretical ideas and what-if’s to “Oooohhh. That’s what that looks like.” Watching other teachers in action helps remove that implementation gap - the concept of having information, but not knowing how to implement it in your lessons.

Creating the Culture

While there is a lot of learning that happens by watching videos of teachers and visiting other schools, there is even more value in seeing teachers within your own school implement strategies in their lessons. As a teacher, you are familiar with your colleagues, so there’s a certain amount of trust when you visit a colleague’s classroom. You also have the opportunity of seeing strategies and structures with the same student body that you work with on a daily basis. Meaning, the “that won’t work for my students” excuse is minimized.

So, how do you make it happen? How do you get teachers to visit each other? Coaches have a huge impact in creating this culture. It starts with conversations. And questions.

Teacher A asks pedagogical question.

Coach answers with “have you seen Teacher C or B? They do an excellent job __________. You should visit their classroom. I can go with you, if you’d like.”

Enter Colleague Accountability.

Coach mentions to Teacher C or B that _____________ would like to visit. Teacher C or B feels a little bit more empowered.

Teacher C or B approaches Teacher A. “I heard you were wanting to visit my classroom? When were you thinking?” Oooooo. Professional encouragement happening right there!

Teachers also need to know that this is a safe experience for all - the purpose is learning. Not evaluation.

Now you’ve started something, and it can only grow from there.

Facilitating with Q’s

As a coach, I like to accompany teachers on classroom visits to encourage conversation depth afterwards. However, once the culture spreads, you may not be able to keep up if teachers become accustomed to visiting each other on an ongoing basis. And that’s okay. Professional learning will happen. Provide the tools.

I took our PLC (professional learning community) leaders and department leaders on a learning walk to provide training on facilitating those conversations. I coach leaders, not just teachers. Teacher-Leaders are powerful, and have such voice with the staff. Let’s harness that and use their powers for good!

I provided our teacher-leaders with facilitating questions and protocols: Learning Walk Protocols

Even if I am unable to attend, I encourage teachers to visit classrooms as pairs or small groups - learning is social, even for adults. Visiting classrooms with another colleague means they will be able to have reflective conversations and process what they observed and how to apply strategies within their own classrooms.

Power of Reflecting

As part of the learning process, teachers share what they have observed and learned in a closed digital community. Teachers not only get a shout-out for what they are doing within their classrooms, but the reflecting teacher has an opportunity to clearly articulate what they learned from the visit and a goal for application within their own classroom. These reflections become powerful tools for teachers, as well as helping continue to build the culture of sharing and learning together.

- Ginny